This is the episode we've been building towards for years as we finally crack open one of the most legendary beers in the world: Sam Adams Utopias. After years of searching, a lucky find in the US, an anxious journey across the Atlantic, and plenty of excitement (and nerves!), we sit down together in the same room to experience Joanne's ultimate bucket-list beer. We dive into what makes Utopias so extraordinary, from its eye-watering 30% ABV and unique fermentation process to decades of barrel ageing, blending techniques and the remarkable story behind one of craft beer's most iconic releases. Along the way we explore why this beer inspires such devotion among drinkers and whether any beer can ever live up to that level of hype.

Of course, simply tasting Utopias once wasn't enough for us. We experiment with serving it in different ways, compare it to fortified wines and spirits we'd heard it likened to, and pick apart every aroma and flavour as we try to work out exactly where it sits between beer, barley wine and something entirely its own. There's plenty of geeky beer chat, honest first impressions, a healthy dose of apprehension about whether we'll actually like it, and the usual laughs as we inevitably question whether we're committing beer heresy before we've even taken the first sip. If you've ever wondered what all the fuss is about, or whether a £200 beer could possibly be worth it, this is the episode for you.

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com