A single bottle of Samuel Adams limited edition Utopias raised a whopping $2125 for charity.
The auction was a benefit for The Leary Firefighters Foundation, the organization founded by actor/comedian Denis Leary, star of FX's "Rescue Me". Leary set up the foundation in 2000, after a cousin and a childhood friend, both firefighters, were among 6 killed fighting a fire in Worcester, MA. The charity works to provide fire departments with much-needed funding, training and resources.
For 2007, there were just 12,000 ceramic bottles of Utopias produced, each one numbered. Jim Koch, of course, got bottle number one, which he autographed for inclusion in a charity auction. The auction included a "Rescue Me" coffee table book autographed by Leary, and a custom made Samuel Adams snifter by Reidel. Those treats are were snapped up on eBay, with an impressive bid of $2125.00.
Most beer fans have heard of the Samuel Adams Utopias, although they're probably not in most budgets. An extreme beer by almost any definition, Utopias may have more in common with a fine port or rich cognac than it does your average ale. The beer is non-carbonated, and intended to be served at room temperature. At 27% alcohol, you'd do well to sip a small glass, assuming your budget can handle the normal $120 price tag.
