I was among several bloggers and media types lucky enough to be invited to sample the world’s strongest beer as verified by the Guinness Book of World Records. It’s Samuel Adams’ new limited-edition Utopias — an “extreme” beer which is released every odd year — and suffice it to say I was so looking forward to tasting it as well as finding out what a 27% ABV beer would do to me. On average beer usually has 4 or 5% ABV and my fave beer, St. Bernardus ABT 12 has 10%. So would that mean it would take one 2-ounce serving of Utopias to do to me what two and a half servings of St. Bernardus does? I’d find out soon enough.

The beer dinner was held at meat lovers’ paradise, Animal Restaurant, on Fairfax where Chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo created an appropriately hearty menu which was then paired with a variety of Samuel Adams beers. The Utopias was saved for the end of the meal.

During the dinner, Shook introduced each course detailing what about the designated beer inspired him to come up with each dish, while Sam Adams master brewer Bert Boyce went over the tasting notes of each brew.