Michelob Celebrate Cherry Lager - Anheuser-Busch

ehammond1

California

2.3/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Bottle (2007)

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

(Aged for 4+ years)

This delight pours a murky, slightly muddy dark ruby and violet. Strange (and scary) looking.

The aroma is a combination of sweet cherry, Fruit Stripe gum, lime, and slight hint of sweet bread.

The flavor is cherry-forward certainly, with a bit of syrup/cough medicine/cherry Kool Aid.

Light to medium bodied with low carbonation.

This actually wasn't nearly as terrible as I had anticipated. That being said, I would not drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 22:39:10 | More by ehammond1

armock

New York

3.13/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From notes a 2007 bottle tasted at a Christmas beer dinner party in 2008.

A - Poured a ruby color with an off white head that leaves lacing behind

S - Has a fake cherry nose like the ice cream syrup

T - Follows the nose with an artificial cherry taste but its not bad

M - This beer has a medium body with medium carbonation to it

D - I kinda enjoyed this stuff sure its not a bottle of Belgian Red or Cantillon but it was pretty decent not sure how its holding up but if you get offered a glass I'd take it to give it a try

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2010 19:44:46 | More by armock

Drew966

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +29.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Michelob Celebrate Cherry Lager pours a hazy orangeish brown with an off white head from a brown twelve ounce bottle (labeled not for sale). There's definitely some cherry in the aroma. The flavor is fairly strong on the cherry and I definitely notice the alcohol. Decent cherry taste, it's by far the strongest flavor in this beer, but I don't find it overly sweet or cloying. The alcohol limits its drinkability. I thought it was pretty decent.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2008 04:29:34 | More by Drew966

cvstrickland

North Carolina

2.33/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1

I have no idea the age of this brew. What I do know is that it is a pre-production sample, in a generic white-labeled, brown longnecked bottle from the mysterious holdings of my enabler in Ayden. It was clearly not intended for public release, and is not the bullet/suppository shaped bottle pictured. All that said, let's give it a whirl!

Poured into a shaker pint glass, this (from the label)"...superior lager aged on real cherries with natural flavors" yields a sparkling-clear rosy body with a multitude of streamers of active carbonation feeding a creamy white cap that retains at a sheet.

The smell of the drink is predictably fruity, but not obnoxiously so. A bit of maltiness keeps the cherries in check.

The taste is sweet and fruity, with plenty of cherry juiciness competing with a dry malt backbone. Fake cherry syrup makes an appearance here, and clings to the drink and the mouthfeel ever after. A bit of metallic astringency makes my teeth squeak, and alcohol lingers in the flavor profile while it warms the tummy.

Somewhat full-bodied and very sticky-sweet, the drink was fun to sample. Thanks for the opportunity, other Chuck!

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2008 15:06:19 | More by cvstrickland

generallee

New York

1.95/5  rDev -32.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

I bought this as part of a gift set, however the two glasses were the only highlights. The cherry lager poured a lovely reddish brown color with a minimal white head that quickly fades. The aroma was strong, full of sweet cherry cordials and roasted malts. The aroma was this beers best attribute. The flavor is dominated by a fake syrupy cherry that covers up the malts and hops. The finish was long with some bitter notes at the end. The palate was medium to full with a sticky texture. Overall I was looking forward to something much better. Well at least I got two nice glasses in the gift set.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2008 13:48:14 | More by generallee

shadow1961

Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev +28.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Michelob Celebrate 2007 Cherry Lager pours
a stiff tan head over a clear deep red brew. The
nose is malt, lager yeast, and yes, sweet cherries.
The flavor is slightly sweet malt and cherry up front,
balanced by a somewhat medicinal combination of
herbal hop and alcohol, and there do seem to be
woody notes as well, a very healthy 8.5% alcohol.
It's interesting- sort of a cherry cordial malt beverage.
If this were in a corked and caged bottle it would seem
a lot classier. Instead it's in this container that might be
a 50's science fiction rocketship or a very large sex toy.
Slight consumer note- under the nosecone is a conventional
plastic pop bottle screw cap- if you open that expecting a
crown cap underneath you'll be sorry. On the whole, problems
with the odd packaging and the fact it's from Anheuser-Busch
aside, it's an interesting brew worth trying. And if you're not
sure, waiting a bit won't hurt.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2007 07:34:31 | More by shadow1961

PhageLab

Virginia

2.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Came in a gift set with two artillery shell type bottles, one chocolate, one cherry, and two nice Michelob sifters. I decided to crack the cherry first, and I did, no, I mean I broke the plastic top trying to unscrew it. Oh well, here goes.

A - Nice dark ruby coloration which produced a small bit of head that faded fairly quickly. No lacing here. Looks very impressive in the sifter.

S - Smells incredible too, like fresh maraschino cherries and malts.

T - Ouch, this is tough. It tastes decent, kinda like those chocolate covered cherries that have liquor inside of them. If this was in fact a shot of liquor I'd be very impressed, but as far as consuming an entire glass of it, ummm no. The sweetness is far too overpowering. The slight malt Michelob beer presence seems like it will be refreshing, them WHAM! You get smacked in the face by a blast of cherry syrup.

M - Sticky medium body, with a cherry residue coating the mouth. Not very pleasant.

D - I once knew a guy who could eat all the cherries out of a maraschino bottle and then drink the juice. He would probably love this beer, and if that's your thing too, you might as well. As for me, I'm glad I tried it, but wow, it's simply too much artificial flavoring. If it's not artificial, and was actually brewed with cherries, than they accidentily dropped an extra crate in there. Try it at any rate.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2007 17:58:48 | More by PhageLab

KI9A

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Recieved this new for '07 sample bottle from a friend at AB.

Pours dark red, amber, with little head.

Word of warning, temp REALLY changes the taste of this one. First try was right out of the fidge, and tasted like a cherry cough drop. Almost dumped it, until I tried it again a few min later, temp maybe 45 f or so. What a difference. Turned into a smooth, malty/cherry candy flavor.

Not my style of beer, but, i can see myself having a glass of this after Thanksgiving dinner, instead of wine.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2007 02:38:46 | More by KI9A

SamN

Colorado

3.28/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Into a Michelob Celebrate snifter

Celebrate pours out a cloudy red color, pretty bright. Fair just-tan head dissipates quickly, but this beer looks pretty good. Smell is half and half artificial cherry syrup and slightly sour natural fruit aroma. Sweet, tart and very cherry. Some robust pale malts can be found in the way back. It tastes pretty fruity, too, but there is a very nice oakiness in the front that fades into mellow caramel malt, cherries and some slight booziness. Finish isn't bad at all, a little tart. Still a little too fruity. Reminds me just a little bit of Samichlaus Bier, actually, though not nearly as good. It feels spritzy, I'm surprised there's this much carbonation left in a 2007 bottle.

Overall, I'm pleasantly surprised with this Michelob product. Though it's far from spectacular, I could see drinking this at holiday time with loved ones. Sweet and fruity, with just enough complexity underneath to make it a mellow sipper.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2010 02:50:44 | More by SamN

beerking1

Virginia

2.28/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours an interesting red-amber. Aroma is pure maraschino cherries, no malt, no hops apparent. Flavor is sweet maraschino cherries, but with noticeable alcohol, which actually seems to balance the sweetness some, but not enough. Overall, tastes like a cherry soda with a kick. This bottle was shared between 6 of us, so there was not enough to give it time to warm up.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2008 18:19:59 | More by beerking1

BWMKappaSig

Connecticut

2.93/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Cherry/brown with an off-white head.

Smell: Candied cherries, malt, and alcohol. Reminds me of a cherry liquor. Far too strong of an alcohol smell.

Taste: The initial taste is of slightly burnt cherries and a bready malt. Reminiscent of a cheap cherry pie. Alcohol is not as strong in the taste as in the smell. The sweetness is slightly insipid.

Mouthfeel: Odd mouthcoating, slightly ascerbic.

Drinkability: No thanks.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2008 04:45:42 | More by BWMKappaSig

mjd83goblue

Michigan

2.25/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Part of the Holiday Package w/ the glasses.

See my chocolate lager review for my thoughts on the packaging. Poured into one of the Celebrate glasses. Pours a bright red, similar to Rubeas, but more fruit punchy. Small fizzy head.

Smells like cherries. Taste is Ludent's. Sweet cherry. Fake syrupy cherry taste. Nothing else. Fruit beers need to have some tartness. This doesn't. Real cherries do not taste like this, only cherry candy does.

Mouthfeel is pretty full, due to the syrupy nature of the cherry "flavor". Drinkibility is good only in the fact that the alcohol is pretty well hidden.

This is a shitbomb. But, the chocolate lager was decent, and the glasses were cool, so it was $10 well spent.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2008 05:54:34 | More by mjd83goblue

altgeeky1

New Hampshire

2.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Comes in a bottle design that's all look and little function... twist off the top 'cone' and it severs from the actual beer cap. The beer cap's the kind of twistoff you find on a liter of soda pop. It's just over the top cheesy and poorly designed... they should have just used a flip top or even a cork.
Served about 60F, pours thick dark cherry with caramel notes, heavy body and generates a tan head that falls quick, but leaving a stable lace around things. This is super clear for such a heavy brew. Smells like a sweet bock with cherries... you know you're getting cherry sweetness, some malt, and little hops. Tastes mostly as it smells, but you notice more how unbalanced this brew is. It's just too much sweet. Even real cherries have some tartness built-in, and this doesn't. This is supermarket maraschino juice. There's a little bite of heavy alcohol vapors at the end. Mouthfeel's too sticky sweet. not too drinkable... I feel like I drank those cherry flavored syrups provided at the local pancake joint...

Less sweetness, more bitterness, and different/more complex taste is needed.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2008 22:40:37 | More by altgeeky1

darktower

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I did like the color and smell of this beer quite a bit but the flavor was quite lacking to me. Out of the three "Celebrate" beers I felt this was the worst. The cherry flavor felt added-on and didn't seem to mesh well with the beer in general. I actually don't mind the cough syrup taste but this wasn't good, even for me. It was a little too cough-syrupy.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 18:47:36 | More by darktower