Why A Unique Beer In Washington is Banned in 15 States

Washingtonians are searching for one of the world's most potent drinks. It's banned in over 25 percent of the United States! Who wants beer that’s seven times stronger than your typical light beer? 30 Percent ABV Beer Available in Washington. The Boston Beer Company is releasing an extreme version of Sam Adams.

The new Samuel Adams Utopias 2025 has an impressive 30% ABV, making it one of the strongest beers ever brewed. It is the highest ABV in company history. Utopias is non-carbonated and intended to be served at room temperature in one-ounce pours, similar to fine Cognac. Each bottle can be resealed and enjoyed over time. Every limited-edition bottle comes in a hand-numbered ceramic decanter and is blended with beers aged up to 30 years in barrels that previously held Irish whiskey, Cognac, and more.

Sam Adams

The flavor is described as layered and rich, with hints of caramel, oak, dried fruit, smoke, and citrus. The beer was brewed across several of the company’s facilities, from Cincinnati to Delaware.

Illegal In 15 States

This beer is so potent that it's illegal in 15 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia.

Keep Reading: What are the most popular beers in Washington?

However, it is legal in Washington, so residents can legally purchase it. Oregon and Idaho residents will cross the border to sample this unique beer.

Samuel Adams founder Jim Koch says reaching 30% ABV was the result of a decades-long goal of "pushing the boundaries of what beer can be.”

Sam Adams

Beer Costs $240, Where to Find in Washington

If you want to taste this beer, it'll cost you. The suggested retail price is $240 for a 24.5-ounce bottle. Utopias 2025 is now available in select specialty beer, wine, and liquor stores across Washington.

Keep Reading: The Top Beers in Each State

LOOK: Best Beers From Every State

To find the best beer in each state and Washington D.C., Stacker analyzed January 2020 data from BeerAdvocate, a website that gathers user scores for beer in real-time. BeerAdvocate makes its determinations by compiling consumer ratings for all 50 states and Washington D.C. and applying a weighted rank to each. The weighted rank pulls the beer toward the list's average based on the number of ratings it has and aims to allow lesser-known beers to increase in rank. Only beers with at least 10 rankings to be considered; we took it a step further to only include beers with at least 100 user rankings in our gallery. Keep reading to find out what the best beer is in each of the 50 states and Washington D.C.

Gallery Credit: Angela Underwood

20 Photos That Perfectly Capture Small-Town Life in the 1970s

Take a trip down memory lane — and down Main Street — with these photos from the 1970s that capture small-town life before social media and smartphones, when things were simpler, slower, and full of real-world experiences.

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz

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