Michelob Ultra - Anheuser-Busch

Dantes

New Jersey

1.58/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Package: 12 oz. brown glass twist-off bottle. Predominantly white and blue label. “Born-on” date not noted.

Cost: Consumed at a party, but runs ~$4.99 around here

Presentation: Selected from an ice-chest and poured into a water glass.

Appearance: Vigorous pour resulted in a small, white, short-lived head. Palest straw, crystal-clear body. One of the lightest colored beers I’ve seen.

Smell: Almost no aroma whatsoever, perhaps due to its being ice-cold; but as it warmed, nothing developed.

Taste: Like the aroma, nothing but cold, carbonated liquid registers. As it warmed, the predominant taste was of boiled, frozen corn (actually boiled vegetables in general), with a vague sweetness and a bit of a metallic, bitter edge. Surprising for a bottle! No body or finish.

Mouthfeel: Highly carbonated, rough, mouthfeel, which is only somewhat ameliorated by the icy-coldness.

Drinkability: For people who want to know how one might rate this category, here goes my logic. I can’t see a circumstance (other than curiosity, which provoked this review) why one would drink this. If you want low carbs, drink dry table wine or water; if you want to get drunk, any other (cheaper) beer would do; if you want mineral water, drink Pellegrino. I don’t think drinkability refers to how many one can have in one sitting, or how easily it is consumed, but to what degree one would want to drink a beer within certain parameters or beer type. I would only consume this again under duress. Within these guidelines, this is a 1 (if not a 0).

I went to a housewarming party that offered this and Jersey Gold (had some of that as well) for beer selections, so I had to try it. This is the answer to a question, no one really asked, despite its low-carb credentials. Although it doesn’t present any really off tastes, it is not pleasant. Those who compare it to seltzer or mineral water are totally off. Mineral waters offer a wide range of complexity as well, with some having distinct, clean, refreshing tastes. I would much rather have a Pellegrino, Lanjaron, or Panna than this beer. If you want to cut carbs and have some alcohol, make a spritzer. If you want to drink beer, drink something else.

Bottom Line: Not the worst beer I’ve ever had (that remains Koch’s Golden Anniversary), but why drink it?

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2003 15:55:15 | More by Dantes

budgood1

Minnesota

1.25/5  rDev -31.3%
look: 1 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

clear, pale, pale, pale yellow....thin foamy head. hints of lace. hints of adjuncts in the aroma. tastes of...um...nothing. seltzer water body. mineral water soul. there is some slight graininess to give it a ghostly like "light beeriness". crisp and clean. it's drinkable, but why would you want to drink this "beer" again? i swear i will NEVER drink this again as long as i live. worse than i expected...a shameful concoction.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2003 20:49:23 | More by budgood1

Frozensoul327

Michigan

1.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 1 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Good Lord, who's idea was this? Michelob light is decent, but this...damn. There is no color, no flavor, no head, no good. I can't believe that this beer is actually being touted as "Keeping the Flavor". I try to find some good in all the beers I review, but this one is impossible. Skip it, and if you ARE trying to keep the calories and carbs down, go for Miller Lite, as it's nearly the same levels, cheaper, and tastes better.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2003 12:18:56 | More by Frozensoul327

Winter

Wisconsin

1.68/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

"Lose the carbs. Not the taste." What taste? Michelob Ultra has practically no taste except for its finish. Color is an extremely pale yellow with a thin white head. Aroma barely exists, except for some malt and alcohol. Extremely thin and watered-down mouthfeel. The taste was kind of like seltzer with the slightest malt flavor in the finish. Despite the low carbs, if I had to resort to a Lite beer I'd rather have Sam Adams Light. Even Miller Lite tastes better than this and that's not saying much. A boring and bland "Diet-Beer" that will initially sell as people are sucked into the hype of drinking a "healthy" alcoholic beverage.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2003 20:07:12 | More by Winter

mickeymac

California

1.68/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 1 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

I've got nothing new to add to what's been said already. The only reason I didn't give it lower scores on taste and smell is because that it contains nothing patently offensive. It's just bland, tasteless, and odorless for the most part. It got a slightly higher drinkability score because (go figure) it goes down like water. I can't imagine that anyone who spends much time on this site will find this product worth his or her time.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2003 16:27:51 | More by mickeymac

Pegasus

Texas

1.55/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Incredibly pale golden color, strongly resembles seltzer water; quite lively carbonation with a decent snow-white head, good broken lace. Aroma is quite clean, perhaps because there is almost nothing there, just some faint malt. Taste begins with a little sting of carbonation and a washed out corn grits flavor, even that disappears quickly. There is perhaps a ghost of hop bitterness at the finish. A remarkably insubstantial beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2003 19:17:31 | More by Pegasus

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

1.68/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Michelob Ultra can best be described as watered down Michelob Light, which is in turn watered down Michelob. They all share the base flavor, which is something, considering that other lite beers often share no taste in common with their regular versions (e.g., Bud Light and Bud). Michelob Ultra pours to give one of the lightest golden beers I have ever seen; it hardly looks like beer. There is a faint aroma of malt. The taste is extremely thin: imagine a glass of club soda with a shot of beer added. There is almost no hop taste. The mouthfeel is extremely thin, not bad, but just like water. The drinkability is minimal (there is not a horrible taste, but just an almost complete lack of reason to want to drink this beer).

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2003 16:43:56 | More by UncleJimbo

Tubesox

Tennessee

1.3/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 1 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 2

Michelobe Ultra.....

I heard it taste like water
I knew it only had a few less cals than Lite
I knew it only had a few less carbs than Lite
I knew it wasn't going to be worth 8.99

but.........I was sold. I sold out.

Yes they sucked me in.

Those hot bodies on the commercials along with new years resolutions and the next thing you know I'm walking out of Krogers with a 12 pack.

It does not taste like water. It tastes like Perie. SPARKLING WATER!

It doesn't really even taste at all like BEER. NOT EVEN A HINT.

What was I thinking??????

I had to try it didn't I???

Is something wrong with me???

Am I normal???

Somebody HELP ME!

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2003 19:00:09 | More by Tubesox

Reverand

Pennsylvania

2.28/5  rDev +25.3%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I tasted this beer twice,once in a power outage and once with power. I think that I liked it better with out the lights. I do have to admit it is a lot better than Coors Light.

Crystal clear pale yellow with alomost no head. Not much for aroma and the taste was barely there. But if you are looking for a beer to pound for a party this could be what you are looking for.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2002 00:34:31 | More by Reverand

goindownsouth

South Carolina

1/5  rDev -45.1%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

There is a reason why 1.0 on our score here equals awful. This beer offers almost nothing that I can constructively critique. There is no aroma whatsoever, aside from some remnants of fermentation I suppose. However, there is some hint of flavor at the very onset of the sip. But that quickly dissippates into a bitter and bordering on nasty taste. That is not even including the after-taste. I know beer makers have to try to remain on the cutting edge, but the only thing that is being cut, after drinking this brew, is wind.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2002 17:48:21 | More by goindownsouth

Suds

Pennsylvania

1.5/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

The local beer store had singles of this beer sitting in a cooler near the cash-register. Curiosity grabbed me, and I bought one.
I knew not to expect much, but this isn't even what I call a beer.
Virtually no head; faint, dilute yellow color; zero aroma; almost no taste (possibly hints of cooked veggies); no hops. Curiosity let me down.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2002 14:49:13 | More by Suds

maxpower

Missouri

1/5  rDev -45.1%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Pale light yellow color, fizzy white head, not much aroma(chemical), like seltzer water, clean but no flavor, sad AB has to resort to this, I guess this one is for Ultra fitness freaks that shave their chest. I gave this one the lowest rating, I would much rather drink water, it really sucks.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2002 13:54:21 | More by maxpower

mickstepp

Ohio

1.1/5  rDev -39.6%
look: 1 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Resorted to this at a Holiday party when all the decent beer was gone. It was in a big galvanized tub of ice and was exceedingly cold which was probably a blessing. I drink macro-swill so infrequently that I am truly shocked when I encounter one. This beer comes from a marketing company that pretends that it makes beer. No color, no head, no mouthfeel, no taste....no point to it at all. Avoid it at all cost...even if it's free.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2002 13:30:25 | More by mickstepp

JoeyHotrod

Missouri

1.1/5  rDev -39.6%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

Had the misfourtune of tasting this swill. A light beer drinking friend offered me a bottle, and not being one to turn away free beer regardless of how bad it is I agreed. Wish I never agreed! One word comes to mind when consuming this "beer" water! No head to speak of, no hop presence not anything! While this beer deserved ones across the board I gave it's drinkability a 1.5 simply because I can see how these could be drank rather quickly. Something that might appeal to the college crowd, or to someone looking for a quick buzz.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2002 00:57:31 | More by JoeyHotrod

Dogbrick

Ohio

1/5  rDev -45.1%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

This is either one of the worst beers I have ever tasted, or one of the best seltzer waters. Maybe I would try it again if I had a stubborn stain on my clothes. Keep drinking it to lose weight people!

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2002 15:13:33 | More by Dogbrick

bewareOFpenguin

Massachusetts

2/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Light clouded yelow color. Has a sour taste, but other than that, it has no taste. I am an athletic guy who has no need to watch carbs. If I did, i would drink this, because after 2 sips, you want to stop drinking, period. I guess that's the point of this crap.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2002 07:12:30 | More by bewareOFpenguin

powoo19

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +106%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

After three days of drinking, I thought Monday Night Football, I should have something lite. This isn't too bad. It is crisp and smooth. The smell is ok, not too impressive, but not bad. Served ice cold, this is good for low carb "diet beer". The colour is real lite, like a rolling rock.But overall I did enjoy this. I won't drink it all the time, but I will go back..
One more thing, the packaging, the bottle ..etc.. definately make you at least want to try it..
Happy Drinking Folks!

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2002 07:09:58 | More by powoo19

psugrad98

Pennsylvania

1.1/5  rDev -39.6%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

I didn't think light beers could get any lighter than what they are already.
Pours very very pale straw, almost water clear. Very little carbonation, head, or lace. Almost no trace of smell, though does have a slight skunky adjunct aroma. Light mouthfeel with trace of fizziness.

No taste to report whatsoever. Tastes like water with maybe a little bit of sugar in it. I could hardly believe it. It absolutely had no taste whatsoever.

The only upside of it would be it would be refreshing it you had just mowed the lawn and wanted a very light chugging beer, but then, you shouldn't be drinking beer and should be drinking watet. This should not be called beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2002 06:01:49 | More by psugrad98

Beastdog75

New Jersey

1.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

Usually AB reserves the Michelob label for their products which have some semblance of taste, so when they chose to slap that name onto Ultra is beyond me. A low-carb light beer eh? With commercials that look like Gatorade advertisements, I guess they're really going after the "weight-watchers" demographic...

Michelob Ultra poured a very clear, very pale straw color from the can (only 10 ounces, suprisingly). The somewhat foamy head quickly disappears. The smell is quite repulsive. Quite skunky, even though it was in a can. Some alcohol underneath that. It had a crisp, watery mouthfeel. Upon first sip, I had to search for some taste. It was hard to pick out any flavors, but there was a tiny bit of grain. The aftertaste is clean, but that cooked veggie/green apple taste made its way through. Don't expect any alcoholic warmth here, either.

I have a feeling that this stuff is probably going to be the next "beer fad" (see dry beer, ice beer, etc.). This stuff isn't repulsive, but the taste just isn't there. Easy to chug, but that would ruin its dietary purpose, wouldn't it? Verdict: just another watery light beer.

Serving type: can

10-22-2002 00:58:15 | More by Beastdog75

bditty187

Nebraska

1.7/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

First of all, thanks BeerBob for the trade.

This “beer” is ultra carbonated, clear yellow with a white head (reached ½ inch but it didn’t last long). The nose is like wet grains. The taste is slightly sweet, very dry, the very faintest husk and hops can be detected if you try really hard.

This is 4.1% abv seltzer water. This is not beer. I don’t care that it is low-carbohydrate, I’m not dieting and I like the taste of beer. Thus Michelob Ultra is not for me.

I was actually dumbfounded about how bad this was… is this a gimmick or will it stick around?

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2002 18:19:59 | More by bditty187

mschofield

Massachusetts

2.2/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

I'm going to review this for what it should be - just a specialty niche product. It's only suitable for people on low carbohydrate diets.
It's not anything special, but it's not horrible if it's one of the only things you can have.
As can be expected, the color is straw, the head is non-existant, and the taste is corn.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2002 12:25:17 | More by mschofield

BeerBob

Nebraska

2.03/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Michelob Ultra pours a light amber from a 12oz brown twist off top bottle. Head goes to about one finger then goes to a thin ring with a few bubbles on the surface of the liquid.

Nose is a rain water damp with hints of absolutely nothing else. Palate is a sharp dry astringent with the bite of carbonation. After taste is a persistent drying bitter astringent.

I’ve had seltzer water with more character than Michelob Ultra.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2002 17:48:49 | More by BeerBob

chilidog

Ohio

2.2/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Michelob, its not my idea of ultra. It reminds me of a Pabst NA I used to drink. That means this beer is drinkable but....most likely with the ladies or folks who really watch those calories and are willing to make do. The carbonation is very high. It births a very fizzy, short lived head with no lace or film. The color is gold but looks flat and watery soon. Truth is, don't let the beer sit and go do something else, because it does flatten-out very quickly.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2002 04:57:17 | More by chilidog

EagleTalon

Arkansas

1/5  rDev -45.1%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

This is not a beer. This is barely even a malt beverage. It has the color and carbonation of champagne, a winey/cheap champagne nose, a mouthfeel similar to mineral water and virtually no taste. It even feels like water as it settles into in my stomach. That's just not right. When you can actually smell the alcohol in a low alcohol beer (4.1%abv, 3.2%abw, same as the OK and UT requirements for convenience store brew) IT AIN'T FRIGGIN' BEER! It is so devoid of taste that it will actually help sales of beers like Sam Adams Light. Lite beer drinkers will eschew this tasteless Ultra crap en masse and ask the barkeep for a light beer with flavor. Then they will taste the Sam Light and howl uncontrollably and cause some poor guy to get a dart planted in his buttocks...

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2002 21:28:11 | More by EagleTalon

ADR

Pennsylvania

1.63/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 1 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Upon seeing my weird look at the promotional ad, the bartender ponied up a free bottle at lunch today...

Whew, very pale slighly greenish color, only Beck's Light is paler in my experience. Terrible head, gone in 10 seconds. Not much of a sense of aroma to all, a little bit of grassy pea pod sense. Gassy as all get out, fizzy from beginning to the stomach. Vague quianine water flavor, slight artificial lemon, slight metallics. Very unidimensional from front to back. To me, this "brew" is an abomination, though it might make a good base for a cheap-ass punch at a frat party. Sorry, can't recommend, even within style.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2002 11:30:52 | More by ADR