Michelob AmberBock - Anheuser-Busch

bullwinkle88

Isle of Man

3.81/5  rDev +32.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I gotta say I really like this beer. Its appearance is very dark, with a thick frothy head. I poured it into a glass with a rounded bottom, per the instructions, and the head retained for the length of my drinking. Really nice malty taste. I could have a ton of these. I've always enjoyed Michelob Light as one of my favorite Macros, as its a good balance of taste and drinkability, but I've never really experimented with the offerings of the Michelob brand. Mich Lager is like a beefed up Budweiser, but not so amazing that it needs to be tried. The RYE-P.A. was a tasty but short lived experiment, and michelob ultra is no good at all. But the Amber Bock was something I've passed by for years without trying and I'm glad i gave it a shot. The hallertau hops are a great smelling variant and the caramel malts are loud and proud here. You may be surprised how tasty this is. Its a beer that I feel I could grow tired of if its all I ever had, but then again that can be said with just about anything. You really ought to give this a try as I feel this is something that could be discontinued with lousy sales and I really would miss it.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 02:55:40 | More by bullwinkle88

TheSixthRing

California

2.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance - Pours a fairly clear dark amber with an off-white, finger width head. Sub-par retention. Little in the way of surface sheeting, mostly crowding around the edge of the glass. Virtually no lacing to speak of.

Smell - Sweet aroma. Light caramel. Slight grain. Not much.

Taste - Very light on flavor. What is there is sweet and malty, touching on moderate caramel and hints of grain. Starts and finishes much the same.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium body, with decent carbonation. Crisp bite. Goes down smooth and easy.

Overall - Hardly what most would consider to be a good bock. It may not even be considered average by many. In the very least, it's inoffensive. Needless to say, my childhood curiosity has been snuffed, though not sated. I imagine this is the first and last time I will ever drink this beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 04:33:48 | More by TheSixthRing

Ilafan

Minnesota

2.88/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Look. Michelob stinks. You know it. I know it. The American people know it. In fact, their Ultra could be the worst beer made in America today. However, this Dark Lager Amber Bock isn't half bad. My expectations were very low for this, but I was encouraged with the darker pour. No smell of any note is present. As for taste, it is clean and fresh. There is a slight splash of vanilla or caramel in the taste, and the after taste is refreshing. Will I ever spend the $5.99 for a six-pack on this again? Only if I am broke. But for the price, it's not bad. Still, if I want cheap beer, I'll take Pabst Blue Ribbon or Grain Belt Premium.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 20:56:12 | More by Ilafan

scottbrew4u

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours into pint glass a clear amber to light brown color with a bubbly tan head that settles fast.

S: Some brown bread, raisins, huskiness, with some band aid aromas. Hops are not noticeable but roasted malt is represented decently.

T: Some caramel, and brown bread with slight fruity esters and no perceived hops. Light metallic taste not desireable though.
M: Light to medium body with extra crisp carbonation.

O: Meh! Tasty enough to not complain about it much but still having that mass produced feel to it.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 01:33:43 | More by scottbrew4u

SometimesIfart

Michigan

2.53/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A - Pours a dark copper with a two-finger slightly off white head. Left no lacing.

S - Starts off with a little bit of cinnamon then it tappers off to a small amount of rice and corn.

T - Pretty minimal. Some very slight toasted malt and creamed corn. Virtually nothing else.

M - Thin watery body with heavy carbonation.

O - Overall, It pretty much tasted like a dark adjunct lager. I could have it with friends or to wash food down but I doubt i'd have it in any other situation.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 03:43:50 | More by SometimesIfart

jsisko01

Michigan

3.76/5  rDev +31%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Appearance - Pours a very dark amber.brown color with a half inch head that dissipates quickly leaving a nice lacing.

Smell - Feint aromas of roasted malts, butter, and bread.

Taste - It has a nice sweetness to it which seems different from other beers.. Roasted malts, buttery caramel, nutty, very bready, and a slight fruity essence in the finish. Almost no bitterness.

Mouthfeel - Light-medium bodied with medium carbonation.

Overall - Easy to drink on.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 04:29:07 | More by jsisko01

secondtooth

Indiana

3.23/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Attractive deep amber in color, with limited suds and no real lace to speak of.

Nose is subtle, with hints of fruit and a lightly roasty tone. Not much here, though.

Flavor is malty and sweet, even watery, but smooth. I get a hint of roastiness in the malts, as well as some touches of dried fruit. This one's subtle, and most definitely lacking in complexity, but, nonetheless, a decent choice as opposed to the usual adjunct lager swill.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 01:51:34 | More by secondtooth

kshizzle101

Washington

3.28/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into pint glass

A - Very dark amber in color with a 2inch off-white head which does not linger.

S - smells faintly of hops, roasted malts, and some dried fruits - plums maybe?

T - tastes of malts and dried fruits which adds a good amount of sweetness. Some slight hoppiness at the beginning and follows up with malt backbone at the end

M - Light bodied, good carb. about right

O - Nothing spectacular but not poor tasting. A little bland

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 06:38:18 | More by kshizzle101

KYGunner

Kentucky

2.3/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

It seems as if Amber Bock has been weakened over time. This bottle poured a weak brownness and missed the blackness of old. The scent was of sweet malts but sort of metallic on the nose. The taste was weak, no burning overtones, or malt backbone to speak of. I remember this was a rather tasteful beer at one time, one I was embarrassed to say I liked, but I believe that Michelob has changed the recipe to keep costs down and Amber Bock has suffered because of it.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 20:57:13 | More by KYGunner

mjurney

Texas

3.76/5  rDev +31%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance:
Amber-brown color, clear. Lots of fine carbonation rising up. Soapy head. Leaves a little lacing behind.

Aroma:
Barley malt, sweet, slight toasted, crisp.

Taste:
Sweet barley malt up front, caramel, toasted, slight roasted nut. Hop bitterness is very mild. Crisp finish. Body is light, crisp, a little dry, very smooth, well carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 01:07:03 | More by mjurney

jucifer1818

Florida

3.2/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

appearance: a darker color than other beers of this price, but still, its pretty stone cold avragness

smell: decent. nothing offensive, but nothing that I really enjoy. Avrageness yet again

taste: once again, its just ok. Ive drunk this by the pitcher before, and it had been good nights, but nothing I expressly enjoy

mouthfeel: whatfeel? not much here eather. I'm sorry to run on a tangent, but this is average yet again.

overall: 4/5

wait, why that rating? I said that this beer is the perfect example of a perfectly average beer
price point makes me add an extra point. even at the shittiest bar, this beer is still available, and is always a cheap, easy to get option.
If funds are tight or options are low, get this beer
you at least, will not be disappointed (but nor will you be impressed)

if you can get another brew do so
thats all I have to say about this one

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 03:32:52 | More by jucifer1818

Winston_Smith

Kentucky

3.33/5  rDev +16%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: After the head recedes, it looks a lot like cola, maybe a little prettier. Amber Bock pours a dark... well, amber. Not an ugly brew, being kind of translucent-dark when held up to a light but quite bubbly.

Smell: Colds keep bothering me when I'd like to review beer, but I smell roasted barley, and some general mild earthiness.

Taste: Good, with more flavor than a typical macro, even if it is somewhat watery.

Mouthfeel: Again, it's not quite as thick/creamy as some other bocks I've tried. Very drinkable, but somewhat watered down to others of the style. It might be a tad over carbonated, too. As with lots of other beers worth drinking, it gets better when it isn't as ice-cold.

Overall: I've been going to this one for a while as the only dark available on tap in a few pubs I've frequented. Reasons being: far more flavor than you would get from the macro straw-colored beers available, and less expensive than a truly nice beer. She's my go-to middle of the road dark. Quite a cheap date, Michelob Amber Bock.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 23:31:33 | More by Winston_Smith

ToddL

2.95/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I end up drinking this dark beer more than I would like because it is usually available everywhere and is sometime the only dark around. The appearance and smell are average the taste has nothing that offends . A little watery. But still better than a lighter lager in my opinion

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 15:14:45 | More by ToddL

jjamadorphd

Florida

3.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This particular beer had a malty scent underneath a hearty head that stuck around for quite a while. I tasted a distant flavor of caramel, but it was mostly bitter from the hops. Overall, it looks great in the glass but was lacking from a watery taste that was mostly bitter.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 01:42:28 | More by jjamadorphd

metter98

New York

2.5/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A: The beer is crystal clear amber in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high off white head that died down but consistently left patches of bubbles covering the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of caramel malts in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the taste has flavors of caramel malts along with a hint of malty sweetness.
M: It feels light-bodied and a bit thin on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is a lot lighter in body compared to other beers in the style, making it easier to drink for people that are used to drinking American Adjunct Lagers and Light Lagers.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 15:21:50 | More by metter98

Treyliff

West Virginia

2.38/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

A- pours a dark copper, cola like color with a good size foamy white head that reduces to a small layer, no lacing.

S- not much at all, a bit of faint sweet malt.

T- similar to smell, a bit of sweet malt, no hops traceable, seltzer water.

M- medium body and high carbonation. Too much carbonation for me, finishes a bit slick.

O- the color of this beer is very deceiving. You expect it to have a nice malty character, that is not the case. Another example of a watered down Michelob product from AB.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 15:32:48 | More by Treyliff

JamesHenjum

Florida

3.73/5  rDev +30%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This review was made after Michelob turned this beer into a craft, non-adjunct lager.

A: Very dark brown, yet see through. White head.

S: Roasted malts all day long.

T: Almost Guinness extra stout like in taste. A lot of roasted flavors but much more watered down. But it is watered down in a good way. It keeps it unoffensive and keeps away the bitterness. Pretty smooth and very good tasting.

M: Kind of creamy but still fizzy and lager like. Kind of a coffee/chocolatey aftertaste.

O: I liked this beer a lot. Good with food, but not so much a session beer, though it could be done. For the price it can't be beat.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 20:19:51 | More by JamesHenjum

beergoot

Colorado

3.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A nice looking but unexceptional body. Honey-brown color with a thin white head.

There is the barest trace of roasted malt, perhaps a smidgeon of cocoa.

Taste is not bad at all. There is a distinct dark malt character with a faint bit of bitterness in the finish. Clean and dry finish.

The overall score reflects the quick disappearance of what good flavor and taste exists with this beer. Definitely a cut above more mundane beers from Budweiser or Miller, but otherwise unexceptional.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 19:07:56 | More by beergoot

ahemahem

California

1.65/5  rDev -42.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1

I'm not partial to American mass market beers (although I am an American consumer). Disclosure: I did not even drink beer until I lived in Canada for a while--couldn't stand American beer. Now that I'm back I'm picky.

This tastes like the typical US fare--it's Michelob. It could easily be Bud, Miller, etc. but a slightly deeper lager (because it's a Bock).

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 00:59:19 | More by ahemahem

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

From the bottle: "This dark mahogany lager has a rich, nutty aroma. With a gentle hint of caramel malt sweetness, this American bock-style beer has a deep, malty body that pours a tall head."; "An American Bock-style lager brewed with three unique malts including roasted and caramel specialty malts."

Okay, it poured with a massive two-plus fingers of light-tan head, but the retention was lousy, making like a cheap magic trick and disappearing before my very eyes. Gee, I had no idea that "mahogany" = deep-amber with NE-quality clarity. Very edifying. Equally edifying was the nose, which imparted caramel, but also a huskiness that was not required. Mouthfeel was medium and the taste was too sweet for this kid. I like when lagers are given a chance to really age and dry out, but to each his/her own. It finished with a semi-dryness, but not enough to be compelling. I bought it as a single from my neighbor who had some in the singles case recently, and just like a good hippie, I will try anything once. This was a once and done for me, however.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 18:17:57 | More by woodychandler

hardy008

Minnesota

1.9/5  rDev -33.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Brown with a small off white head with poor retention and no lacing. Smells like caramel malt and grain. Not much going on here. The aroma is weak.

The taste has caramel malt and grain. Just like the aroma, the taste is weak. Sweet, but not complex, and not very good.

Thin bodied, above average carbonation, watery. Not good by any means, and can't compare at all to the best Bock beers at all. Avoid.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 02:44:29 | More by hardy008

tdm168

North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep amber with a dense layer of soft, off white head that has decent retention. The nose is sweet with notes of coffee and toffee. The flavor is sweet with heavy caramel notes. There are some underlying flavors as well; ripe fruit, toffee. The mouthfeel is medium bodied though a little crisp.

This isn't a bad beer. It's enjoyable and drinkable, but ultimately, forgettable. If I were looking for a cheap beer on the shelves this could work its way into the conversation.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 01:03:35 | More by tdm168

intensify

Colorado

2.75/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Decent head qith no lacing to follow. Small hints, and i mean small of caramel. Not much going on in the smell. Decent amount of carbonation which makes this beer refreshing and not really a lip smacker. Caramel and a touch of biscuit quickly hit the palate before disappearing completelt. Very thin bodied. Imo it is a poor job by michelob for a bock.. but i will always have a place in my heart for this beer since it introduced me to a slight different style of beer during my bud light days.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 07:48:12 | More by intensify

hopfacebrew

Colorado

2.83/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Note: This review was a re-post from my former account, jmkratt, which was hacked and I lost all my reviews...sorry for the redundancy.

Review from 1/30/2011 notes while on vacation in Vail. Poured from tap at Mid Vail bar to a pilsner glass.

A - The beer pours a reddish brown color with maybe a 1/4inch head that quickly dissaptes with no noticeable lacing.

S - Not much to report here. Slightly noticeable roasted malts and caramel malts.

T/M: The beer was thin from the get go. There are the roasted malts and bready almost nut tastes with a slight amount of bitterness. It came accross sweet. Undercarbed and thin. Not a good representation of a bock, in my opinion.

D - Meh. I mean I had 2 pints to really get a feel for it and it wasn't hard to put down but not exactly memorable.

Overall, I came into this beer with an open mind having both rave reviews and people dogging it for being a macro brew. I thought it had potential but it seemed like a great bock that was mixed with a few ounces of spring water. Had 2 drafts and don't think I will come back.

Serving type: on-tap

Reviewed on: 01-31-2011 02:59:26

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 21:41:11 | More by hopfacebrew

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

2.7/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

poured in a pint.

A- Pours clear dark amber with a one finger white head.
S- It has the disappointing smell of being watered down. Some red malts. very sweet smelling. kinda skunky smelling.
T- Has a sugary sweet creaminess. very sugary. No hops whatsoever. All carbonation and sugars but not too bad on the tongue.
M- Compared to what I am used to drinking, this goes down like water. Very highly carbonated, gives me a case of the burps. Doesn't leave behind much behind but a sugary taste. carbonation and sugar sting the tongue.
O- Its easy to drink and isnt that that bad, especially for a michelob. If your looking for a dirt cheap 6er to take to a party then this is not a decent choice but in the world of craft beer it fails.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 03:32:33 | More by TwelveOunces