(Boston, MA) – I always seem to be late on these Samuel Adams LongShot postings.
John Holl of BeerBriefing.com and publications various reported early last month that he’d helped judged Boston Beer Co.‘s LongShot competition which resulted in the following lists of finalists:
Munich Dunkel by Corey Martin of Round Rock, TX
Berliner Weisse by Ariel Friedman of Arcata, CA
Russian Imperial Stout by Joe Formanek of Bolingbrook, IL
Specialty Beer by Phil Moore of Columbia, SC.
Two of those beers will be selected to be part of a mixed 6-pack that Boston Beer will release next spring.
The other beer to be selected is a homebrew from someone employed at Boston Beer. It looks like these are the label approvals for those finalists (though unconfirmed). Four other labels marked “Sample” also received approval and I’m assuming that those correspond to the above finalists.
Elderberry Ale
Ginger Ale
Sticke Ale
The winners will be announced at the Great American Beer Festival in late September.
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Samuel Adams Third Voyage Double IPA: This unique double IPA takes the style’s origins a step further. IPAs were born out of making an ale that could sustain a long voyage. For our take, we were inspired by the indomitable Capt. James Cook whose third voyage made him the first to navigate a treacherous route from England to New Zealand to the Pacific Northwest. Using Cascade hops from each of these regions we created a brew that’s citrusy, earthy, and full of bold character. At Samuel Adams, we love experimenting. This series of limited edition brews represents some of our favorite small batch creations.
HUB [Hopworks] Pig War NW Style Ale: Our estate NW style ale uses both Willamette and Cascade hops grown exclusively for Hopworks on San Juan Island. These hops impart a fresh, crisp and stunning fruitiness, coupled perfectly with aromatic floral herbaceousness. A rich malt body and warming finish are followed by a subtle, balancing hop bitterness.
The name, Pig War, commemorates the confrontation in 1859 between American and British authorities over San Juan Island. 8% ABV. 19.8 Degrees Plato. 80 IBUs.
He’Brew Genesis 15:15 Barrel-Aged Harvest Barleywine Ale: Ale brewed with pomegranate juice, fig juice, date and grape juice, aged in rye whiskey barrels
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Yet another batch of new ones…a busy Saturday morning!
Samuel Adams Tasman Red: The back of the label says, “Batch no. 1.” Interesting… Label copy reads, “This wily red IPA gets its character from the Tasmanian hops that are full of grapefruit, pine and earthy notes creating a bold flavor that threads throughout the taste. The hops are balanced by a core of roasty malts that give this brew body and richness with hints of toffee. This flavorful brew is rounded and smooth with a dry and citrusy hop finish.
At Samuel Adams, we love love experimenting. This series of limited edition brews represents some of our favorite small batch creations.”
Sierra Nevada Pitch-a-Tent: Beer Camp #55 / ale brewed with honey and with lavender added
Magic Ghost by Brasserie Fantome (Imported by Shelton Brothers)
Stoudts Revel Red Hoppy Ale
Fathom and League Dungeness Dunkle Weizen
Flying Fish Piney Ale
Penobscot Bay Maine Homebrewers Competition Winnah 2011
Camel Thorn Bokbeer from Namibia (Imported by Shelton Brothers)
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Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale: Production of Goose Island at one of Anheuser-Busch’s facilities is one step closer to fruition with this keg label approval.
Samuel Adams The Vixen Chocolate Chili Bock: Ale brewed with cinnamon and with spices and cocoa nibs added / 8.5% ABV
Samuel Adams Third Voyage Double IPA
Cigar City Auld Alliance Scotch Ale
Epic Barrel Aged IPA
East End Old Nebby Stock Ale
Chi-Town Lake Shore Lager
Sprecher Rock the Green Special Amber Vienna Style Lager
Kissmeyer PilNZer Dry Hopped Pilsner (Imported by Shelton Brothers)
High and Mighty Fumata Nera Smoked Black Rye Beer
High and Mighty Fumata Bianca Smoked White Rye Beer
[Disclaimer: Beernews.org is a leader in craft beer news and is the original source of this article. If you would like to check out more, please visit the original site. Thanks!]
(Boston, MA) – The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE: SAM) reported a second quarter core product depletions increase of 7% as compared to the second quarter of 2010.
Second quarter 2011 net revenue was $134.0 million, an increase of $4.4 million over the same period last year, mainly due to shipment volume gains. Net income for the second quarter was $28.0 million, or $2.01 per diluted share, an increase of $11.7 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, from the second quarter of 2010. This increase was primarily due to the $20.5 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, cash payment received by the Company in settlement of its potential claims arising out of the 2008 product recall and core shipment volume increases, partially offset by increased investments in advertising, promotional and selling expenses and the negative impact of the Freshest Beer Program on shipment volume. Excluding the impact of the recall settlement, net income for the second quarter decreased $1.0 million, or $0.04 per diluted share. The Company estimates the negative earnings impact of the Freshest Beer Program for the second quarter was $0.05 per diluted share.
Highlights of this release include:
· Depletions growth of 7% for the second quarter and 7% year to date.
· Gross margin of 57% for the second quarter and 54% year to date; and full year gross margin target of between 54% and 56%.
· Advertising, promotional and selling expense increase of $5.4 million, or 15%, for the second quarter and $11.8 million, or 18%, year to date primarily due to planned increased investments behind the Company’s brands.
· Reduced inventory at participating wholesalers as a result of the Freshest Beer Program of an estimated 190,000 cases as of the end of the second quarter, reducing reported earnings per diluted share by approximately $0.05 for the second quarter and $0.07 year to date.
· Earnings per diluted share of $2.01 for the quarter and $2.29 year to date.
· Estimated full year depletions growth of between 7% and 8%, reduced from previously communicated target of 9%.
· Excluding the impact of the recall settlement of $0.92 per diluted share, and as a result of the reduction in expectations for full year depletions and increased energy costs, the Company is reducing its full year 2011 earnings per diluted share projection to between $3.20 and $3.60 from the previous range of $3.45 and $3.95.
· The full year 2011 earnings per diluted share projection of between $3.20 and $3.60 includes the estimated negative earnings per share impact of between $0.10 and $0.20 due to reduced shipments related to the implementation of the Freshest Beer Program.
· On July 26, 2011, the Board of Directors approved an increase of $25.0 million to the previously approved $225.0 million share buyback expenditure limit, for a new limit of $250.0 million.
Jim Koch, Chairman and Founder of the Company, commented, “We achieved record total depletions in the second quarter against a very strong second quarter of 2010. We believe that our depletions growth is attributable to our strong sales execution and support from our wholesalers and retailers. We are still seeing expanded distribution of domestic specialty brands and craft brands. Despite this, we grew our flagship Samuel Adams Boston Lager®, Samuel Adams® Seasonals and the Samuel Adams®Brewmaster’s Collection. We also introduced several exciting new beer styles which were well received by drinkers. We are happy with the health of our brand portfolio and remain positive about the future of craft beer.”
Commenting on the Freshest Beer Program, Mr. Koch continued, “Our ‘Freshest Beer Program’ is continuing to build on many of our past investments to help every Samuel Adams reach our drinkers with the same flavor and fresh taste that I enjoy when I have a Samuel Adams at one of our breweries. We are pleased with the results so far, and currently have 15 wholesalers signed up and at various stages of inventory reduction. We believe that in the long term this program will deliver better, fresher Samuel Adams to our drinkers and should reduce costs and improve efficiency throughout the supply chain. We are still targeting that 50% of our volume will be on our Freshest Beer Program by the end of 2011.”
2nd Quarter 2011 Summary of Results
Depletions grew 7% for the quarter, primarily due to increases in Twisted Tea®, Samuel Adams Boston Lager®, the Samuel Adams® Brewmaster’s Collection and Samuel Adams® Seasonals, partially offset by declines in Sam Adams Light®.
Core shiment volume was approximately 646,000 barrels, a 3% increase over the same period in 2010. The increase in shipments for the quarter is due primarily to increases in Twisted Tea®, Samuel Adams® Seasonals and the Samuel Adams®Brewmaster’s Collection, partially offset by declines in Samuel Adams Boston Lager® and Sam Adams Light®.
The second quarter gross margin of 57% represented a 1 percentage point increase over second quarter 2010 gross margin. Minor pricing increases and lower ingredients costs were partially offset by a slight change in our core product mix.
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses were $5.4 million higher than those incurred in the prior year, primarily as a result of higher costs for additional sales personnel and increased investments in local marketing and advertising activities, as well as increased costs of freight to wholesalers.
General and administrative expenses increased $0.6 million compared to the second quarter of 2010, due to increases in stock compensation expense and salary and benefit costs.
The Company’s effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2011 was 38%.
Year to Date 2011 Summary of Results
Depletions grew 7% year-to-date, primarily due to increases in Twisted Tea®, Samuel Adams Boston Lager®, Samuel Adams®Seasonals and the Samuel Adams® Brewmaster’s Collection, partially offset by declines in Sam Adams Light®.
Core shipment volume was approximately 1,144,000 barrels, a 6% increase over the same period in 2010. The increase in shipments through the second quarter is due primarily to increases in Twisted Tea®, Samuel Adams® Seasonals, the Samuel Adams® Brewmaster’s Collection and Samuel Adams Boston Lager®, partially offset by declines in Sam Adams Light®.
Net income increased $9.4 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, to $32.0 million, or $2.29 per diluted share, compared to the same period last year, due to the $20.5 million, or $0.92 per share, recall settlement and increases in core shipment volume, partially offset by higher selling expenses and the negative impact of the Freshest Beer Program on shipment volume. The Company estimates the unfavorable earnings per share impact was $0.07 due to the reduced shipments related to the implementation of the Freshest Beer Program.
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses were $11.8 million higher than those incurred in the prior year, primarily as a result of higher costs for additional sales personnel and increased investments in advertising, point of sale materials and local marketing, as well as increased costs of freight to wholesalers.
General and administrative expenses increased by $2.4 million over the same period in 2010, due to increases in salary and benefit costs and consulting expenses, and also due to the fact that in the first quarter of 2010 there was a $0.9 million reversal of a 2009 expense for an option that did not vest.
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the second quarter totaled $66.3 million.
During the first half of 2011, the Company repurchased approximately 266,400 shares of its Class A Common Stock at a cost of approximately $22.6 million and repurchased an additional 91,800 shares during the period June 26, 2011 through July 29, 2011 at an approximate cost of $8.2 million. As of July 29, 2011 the Company had approximately $30.1 million remaining on the $250.0 million share buyback expenditure limit set by the Board of Directors.
As of July 29, 2011, the Freshest Beer Program is now active at 15 wholesalers representing approximately 20% of the Company’s business.
Depletion and Shipment estimates
· Based on information in-hand, year-to-date depletions through July 2011 are estimated by the Company to be up approximately 6% from the same period in 2010.
· Year-to-date shipments through July 2011 are up approximately 6% compared to the same period in 2010. The Company no longer provides information on orders in-hand due to changes to the ordering process for Freshest Beer Program wholesalers.
· The Company believes that inventory levels at the end of the second quarter at those wholesalers who are not participating in the Freshest Beer Program were similar to the levels in previous years.
Fiscal 2011 Outlook
Excluding the $0.92 per diluted share impact of the recall settlement, and as a result of the reduction in expectations for full-year depletions and increased energy costs, the Company is reducing its full year 2011 earnings per diluted share projection to between $3.20 and $3.60 from the previous range of $3.45 and $3.95. The Company’s actual 2011 earnings per diluted share could vary significantly from the current projection.
Underlying the Company’s current projection are the following estimates and targets:
· Depletions growth of 7% to 8% and shipment growth of 6% to 7%, reflecting an estimated aggregate inventory reduction at wholesalers participating in the Freshest Beer Program of between 300 thousand and 500 thousand case equivalents.
· The Company is exploring opportunities for price increases in the second half of 2011 or early 2012 as it expects significant barley cost pressures from the 2011 crop. Revenue per barrel for the full year is currently expected to increase approximately 1% excluding any benefit of further 2011 price movements.
· Full-year 2011 gross margins of between 54% and 56%, which could be negatively impacted by further increases in energy costs.
· Increased investment in brand support of between $12 million and $18 million for the full year 2011, not including any increases in freight costs for the shipment of beer products to the Company’s wholesalers. Approximately $10 million of this increase has been incurred in the six months ending June 25, 2011.
· Full-year 2011 effective tax rate of approximately 39%.
· Full-year capital expenditures of between $15 million and $25 million, most of which relate to continued investments in the Company’s breweries and additional keg purchases.
About the Company
The Boston Beer Company began in 1984 with a generations-old family recipe that Founder and Brewer Jim Koch uncovered in his father’s attic. After bringing the recipe to life in his kitchen, Jim brought it to bars in Boston with the belief that drinkers would appreciate a complex, full-flavored beer, brewed fresh in America. That beer was Samuel Adams Boston Lager®, and it helped catalyze what became known as the American craft beer revolution.
Today, the Company brews over 25 styles of beer. The Company uses the traditional four vessel brewing process and often takes extra steps like dry-hopping and a secondary fermentation known as krausening. It passionately pursues the development of new styles and the perfection of its classic beers by constantly searching for the world’s finest ingredients. While resurrecting traditional brewing methods, the Company has earned a reputation as a pioneer in another revolution, the “extreme beer” movement, where it seeks to challenge drinkers’ perceptions of what beer can be. The Boston Beer Company strives to elevate the image of American craft beer by entering festivals and competitions the world over, and in the past five years it has won more awards in international beer competitions than any other brewery in the world. The Company remains independent, and brewing quality beer remains its single focus. While the Company is the country’s largest-selling craft beer, it accounts for only approximately one percent of the U.S. beer market. For more information, please visit www.samueladams.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in this press release that state the Company’s or management’s intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements. It is important to note that the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the years ended December 25, 2010 and December 26, 2009. Copies of these documents may be found on the Company’s website, www.bostonbeer.com, or obtained by contacting the Company or the SEC.
[Disclaimer: Beernews.org is a leader in craft beer news and is the original source of this article. If you would like to check out more, please visit the original site. Thanks!]
Samuel Adams Black and Brew Coffee Stout: Recall that a coffee stout was one of two Beer Lovers’ Choice beers in 2008. It lost to the Blackberry Wit which was brought into the rotation in 2009 but every dog has its day. Label copy…”Our Coffee Stout is a full-bodied, rich stout that supports the espresso character of the coffee. We use 1.5 pounds of Sumatran coffee per barrel. Rich and toasty, the flavor leads with coffee and follows with underlying notes of chocolate, caramel and dark fruit.”
Florida 321 Beer: Following the news of AB InBev trademarking area codes, Flordia Beer Co. submitted a label approval application for 321 Beer. 321 is the area code for Brevard County in Florida. Goose Island, of course, has 312 Wheat Beer in Illinois.
Southern Tier 5 Boroughs and I-90: Speaking of local branding, Southern Tier has approval for 5 Boroughs Belgian Style Pale Ale (7% ABV) and I-90 Pale Ale (6% ABV). Both just keg collars at the moment…
Others…
Urban Chestnut Baeren Weisse Ale (with strawberries and colored with fruit and vegetable juice) Urban Chestnut Apothesis Farmhouse Ale
Bull City Pratt Pilsner
Bull City Bonnie Brae Ale
Lucette The Farmer’s Daughter Ale
Highland Sam’s Li’l Mild Ale
Flat Rock Inclined Plane Ale
[Disclaimer: Beernews.org is a leader in craft beer news and is the original source of this article. If you would like to check out more, please visit the original site. Thanks!]
Coming back from a rare day off, here’s the first batch of new beer labels…
Samuel Adams Double Pumpkin: Just a keg collar for now, no guarantee of bottles but bottle labels sometimes do come in right after the keg ones…8% ABV
White Birch Belgian Style Wheat Wine: “A style created in America using copious amounts of wheat, resulting in a rich full bodied ale. We take it a step further by using our house yeast for a fun Belgian-inspired twist on an American original.”
White Birch Deviant Monk: Apprentice Series release…”With this release by David Sakolsky, our fifth brewer apprentice, we bring you an inspired ale. Complex, malty, dark, nuanced by oak, and fermented using his favorite Belgian yeast strain. This is a beer you can enjoy today as well as age for years to come.”
Others…
Fort Collins Jumpin’ Jack Stout
Fort Collins Suicide Blonde
Fort Collins Light My Fire Ale
Crabtree Oatmeal Stout
[Disclaimer: Beernews.org is a leader in craft beer news and is the original source of this article. If you would like to check out more, please visit the original site. Thanks!]
Dogfish Head: Beer Business Daily‘s Jennifer Litz enjoyed a canal ride with the Calagiones yesterday. After the voyage, she broke the news on Craft Business Daily that Tim Hawn, the former brewing manager of a MillerCoors plant that is apparently the epicenter of Blue Moon production in the United States, will take over the reigns as Brewmaster (thanks, Jack!). Here’s a pic of Hawn though admittedly not a great one. Floris Delée is no longer in the role.
With Head Brewer, Bryan Selders, leaving for web design earlier this year and Assistant Brewmaster, Jon Carpenter, leaving to be the brewmaster at Golden Road Brewing, that is a lot of turnover high up on the brewing team in a short period of time. You, too, can even be a manager on the brewing team now.
Meanwhile, the status of Brewmasters’ episode six is still up in the air. I get the vibe that Dogfish Head isn’t happy with The Discovery Channel at this point.
Deschutes / Boulevard: The video above features Brewmasters, Larry Sidor of Deschutes Brewing and Steven Pauwels of Boulevard Brewing, providing details on their upcoming collaboration beer, White IPA. I believe that the Behind the Pint Series has some affiliation with the New School Brew Blog (though I’m not positive). The beer will debut next month.
The Bruery: Was selling 100% Barrel Aged Cuir at Provisions yesterday (still available?) as well as Provisions Series Tart of Darkness. Oh, and…Project Quercus begins.
Lompoc Brewing: A couple interesting beers on tap per today’s newsletter…”Drunken Robin, our Condor Pale Ale fermented in bourbon barrels with 35 pounds of sour cherries; Lompoc Sour Draft, our LSD brewed in February 2008 then aged in Maryhill Winery Merlot barrels for two years. This sour ale has an oak aroma and lots of cherry and berry flavor; Sour Willy, a blend of 5 different beers for a light, complex, slightly sour beer with a fruity aroma and mellow cherry, oak flavors”
Cascade Brewing: More interesting Portland-area taps…from Cascade’s newsletter, “Summer Gose 2011: This NW sour beer is a re-creation of a historic German wheat beer style that was nearly lost to time. This light, slightly soured beer is spiced with coriander and sea salt. Soft creamy wheat and spice greet you in the nose, while a light spice bite and hint of lemon cross the palate. It finishes off with a soft lingering sour bite and just a slight dusty lemon note. 5.5% ABV, $4.50/teardrop glass.”
Note I: A creative example of marketing from Amstel Light. Free beer for the Boston Bruins player that ordered an Amstel Light as part of a $150k spending spree. No idea whether the player has been named yet.
[Disclaimer: Beernews.org is a leader in craft beer news and is the original source of this article. If you would like to check out more, please visit the original site. Thanks!]
(Boston, MA) – It is with sadness that the Board of Directors of The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE-SAM) announces the death of one of its longest serving members, Charles Joseph Koch, Jr. at the family farm in Georgetown, Ohio on June 13, 2011.
The elder Mr. Koch was a guiding light for his oldest son, Jim, in the creation of The Boston Beer Company. He contributed his immense knowledge of brewing, as well as his sound business advice. But his greatest gift lay in an old trunk stored in his attic. That trunk contained family brewing memorabilia and beer recipes dating back to the 1800′s. Indeed, he handed over to his son what he considered the best of the family beer recipes. That beer was first brewed in 1984 and soon appeared in taverns and restaurants in Boston under the name Samuel Adams Boston Lager. The success of Samuel Adams Boston Lager is widely credited as a catalyst for the American Craft Beer Revolution.
Mr. Koch was born in Cincinnati on November 14, 1922. He graduated from Withrow High School and the University of Cincinnati, where he majored in chemical engineering and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He became the fifth generation of eldest Koch sons to become a brewer. His career in brewing began in the beer industry’s pre World War II time of many local small breweries and reached all the way to today’s resurgent craft beer revolution. Mr. Koch apprenticed in some of Cincinnati’s leading breweries of the day, including Wiedemann, Hudepohl, Burger, Bavarian and Schoenling Brewing Company. He also graduated from America’s oldest brewing school, the Siebel Institute of Technology in Chicago in 1948 and served as Brewmaster at the Wooden Shoe Brewery in Minster, Ohio. In coming full circle, The Boston Beer Company bought the Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewery in Cincinnati in 1996. At the conclusion of a major renovation to the renamed Samuel Adams Brewery in 2005, one of the brewery’s two, new copper brew kettles was named in honor of Charles Koch.
Mr. Koch reluctantly left the beer business when he saw that the taste for full-flavored beers was on the wane. In 1958, he co-founded Chemicals, Inc., a distribution company of brewing and industrial chemicals in Cincinnati, Ohio and retired in 1987. He served as a member of The Boston Beer Company’s first Board of Advisors and then on the Board of Directors from its initial public offering in 1995 until his death.
In 1945, Charles Koch married Dorothy Kautz; they were married for 63 years. They have four children: Charles James (Jim), William, Lisa Green, and Susan Koch. He leaves 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
In addition to his role in the American beer business, Mr. Koch was an avid collector of automobiles, both antique and modern. Every year he was a sponsor and supporter of the Ault Park Concours d’Elegance, one of the premier classic car events in the Midwest.
Funeral services for Charles Joseph Koch are private. Donations in his memory can be made to the Georgetown High School Scholarship Foundation (c/o Eric Toole, 987 Mr. Orab Heights, Georgetown, Ohio 45121) or to the Cincinnati Concours Foundation (346 Stanley Avenue, Suite One West, Cincinnati, Ohio 45277).
[Disclaimer: Beernews.org is a leader in craft beer news and is the original source of this article. If you would like to check out more, please visit the original site. Thanks!]
(Boston, MA) – Craft beer pioneer Jim Koch, founder and brewer of Samuel Adams beer, invites drinkers to explore the most extreme beer with the unveiling of the 2011 batch of Samuel Adams Utopias®, available this May. Meant to be savored like vintage fortified wine or fine cognac, this strong, rich, uncarbonated dark beer is best served as a two-ounce pour at room temperature in a snifter glass.
Samuel AdamsUtopias is brewed in small batches, blended, and aged in the Barrel Room at the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery. Following its first release in 2002, Utopias received the coveted title of world’s ‘strongest beer commercially available’ in the Guinness Book of World Records. The 2011 offering of Samuel AdamsUtopias weighs in at 27 percent alcohol by volume. The average beer is around 5 percent.
“Each time we begin the process of crafting our next evolution of Samuel Adams Utopias, we strive to make the new vintage more unique than the last, and the 2011 brew is no exception. The brewers and I spent years perfecting it, experimenting with different barrels and aging techniques until we felt it lived up to the long-standing heritage of Samuel Adams Utopias — a quest to push the boundaries of beer,” said Koch. ”Since I first brewed Samuel Adams Boston Lager in my kitchen, I’ve made it my life’s work to elevate beer and make people rethink the possibilities of what beer can be.”
The 2011 batch of Samuel Adams Utopias is a blend of liquids which have been aged in a variety of wood casks for up to 18 years. This complex aging process enhances the beer’s distinct vanilla, maple and cocoa notes, and it offers an aroma of ginger and cinnamon. Sherry casks from Spain and Portugal add nutty oak, toffee and honey notes, while Madeira and port casks offer a slightly more elegant, dark fruit aroma, imparting earthy flavors inherent to fine European spirits. The complex flavors intensify individually over time, making Samuel Adams Utopias a very special brew that becomes even better with age.
Samuel AdamsUtopias is brewed with both ale yeast and a variety typically reserved for champagne. A unique blend of several malts gives the beer its rich ruby color and three varieties of Noble hops — Spalt Spalter, Hallertau Mittelfrueh, and Tettnang Tettnanger — give the beer its floral character and spicy note.
The limited edition 2011 Samuel AdamsUtopias comes from just 53 barrels, all brewed, blended and aged at the Samuel Adams Brewery in Boston. This limited distribution brew is hand-bottled in numbered, ceramic brew kettle-shaped decanters, available at select specialty beer and liquor stores this May in honor of American Craft Beer Week. Hitting shelves just in time for Father’s Day, Samuel Adams Utopias is sold at a suggested retail price of $150.00 per bottle. For more information, visit www.samueladams.com.
The History of Samuel AdamsUtopias
In 2002, the first batch of Samuel AdamsUtopias was introduced, with an incredible alcohol by volume of 24 percent. Samuel Adams Utopias was brewed again in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009, when Koch continued to push for more complexity and strength, producing astonishing brews with alcohol levels reaching 27 percent alcohol by volume.
For more than 27 years, Koch has been committed to elevating American beer drinkers’ appreciation for full-flavored beer and changing people’s perception of beer. From the introduction of Samuel Adams® Triple Bock in 1993 to this most recent iteration of Samuel Adams Utopias, Koch has carved out a new category in the craft beer world, challenging American palates and introducing drinkers to “extreme brews.” The 2011 Samuel Adams Utopias continues to push the outermost boundary of beer and champions the respect this noble beverage deserves.
THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY BACKGROUND
The Boston Beer Company began in 1984 with a generations-old family recipe that Founder and Brewer Jim Koch uncovered in his father’s attic. After bringing the recipe to life in his kitchen, Jim brought it to bars in Boston with the belief that drinkers would appreciate a complex, full-flavored beer, brewed fresh in America. That beer was Samuel Adams Boston Lager®, and it helped catalyze what became known as the American craft beer revolution.
Today, the Company brews more than 30 styles of beer. The Company uses the traditional four vessel brewing process and often takes extra steps like dry-hopping, barrel-aging and a secondary fermentation known as krausening. It passionately pursues the development of new styles and the perfection of its classic beers by constantly searching for the world’s finest ingredients. While resurrecting traditional brewing methods, the Company has earned a reputation as a pioneer in another revolution, the “extreme beer” movement, where it seeks to challenge drinkers’ perceptions of what beer can be. The Boston Beer Company strives to elevate the image of American craft beer by entering festivals and competitions the world over, and in the past five years it has won more awards in international beer competitions than any other brewery in the world. The Company remains independent, and brewing quality beer remains its single focus. While Samuel Adams is the country’s largest-selling craft beer, it accounts for just under one percent of the U.S. beer market. For more information, please visit www.samueladams.com.
[Disclaimer: Beernews.org is a leader in craft beer news and is the original source of this article. If you would like to check out more, please visit the original site. Thanks!]
