Michelob Celebrate Chocolate Lager
Anheuser-Busch

Michelob Celebrate Chocolate LagerMichelob Celebrate Chocolate Lager
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From:
Anheuser-Busch
 
Missouri, United States
Style:
American Lager
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
68
Avg:
2.79 | pDev: 22.94%
Reviews:
51
Ratings:
60
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 14, 2022
Added:
Nov 16, 2006
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Rated: 3.04 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Feb 14, 2022
 
Rated: 2.35 by leroybrown10 from Missouri

Mar 22, 2015
 
Rated: 2.16 by grahamboudreaux from Tennessee

Dec 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by OB1 from Ohio

Sep 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by iemailjack from Florida

Jan 08, 2013
 
Rated: 2.75 by t0rin0 from California

Nov 08, 2012
Photo of darktower
Reviewed by darktower from Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This "Celebrate" version wasn't as good as the Vanilla version but it was interesting to try a 'macro' brewery attempting something in the 'micro' vein. I wouldn't say it was great and I wouldn't say it was horrible, middle of the road really. Drinkable but more a once-and-done experience then something that would be enjoyed multiple times. There's a lot better chocolate-themed beers out there.
Oct 02, 2012
 
Rated: 2.25 by Doyle from Minnesota

Aug 05, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by Goldfoot from Michigan

Dec 16, 2011
Photo of BigMike
Reviewed by BigMike from Pennsylvania

2.27/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
A: Pours a light brown iced tea like color. Not much head at all.

S: Light chocolate on the nose. A little bit of a skunky lager smell underneath.

T: Tastes like someone mixed swiss miss cocoa powder into a generic lager.

M: Light and watery. Not much carbonation.

Overall: Not really sure what the objective was of this beer. Starting with the weird torpedo shaped bottle down to the nasty aftertaste. This beer is just not good.
Nov 16, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by mdvatab from Indiana

Nov 16, 2011
Photo of deleted_user_357747
Reviewed by deleted_user_357747

2.98/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Dark brown coloring, with deep chocolate ruby highlights to light. Thin, tan head that quickly fades. Smells of cocoa powder, pale American malts and some very slight floral hops. Taste is fainter than the aroma, faint coca, oakiness, lager malts. I like the oakiness found in both bottles of Celebrate. This beer's chocolates fade into a tinny hollow taste. Feels bubbly and a little thin. "Unique" tastes, let's say. Not a great chocolate note in this.
Dec 22, 2010
Photo of armock
Reviewed by armock from New York

3.03/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
From notes a 2007 bottle tasted at a Christmas beer dinner party in 2008.

A - Poured a copper color with a white head that leaves lacing behind

S - It has a coco powder chocolate nose

T - It follows the nose with the coco powder chocolate flavor

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

D - Honestly I don't think this stuff is really that bad smell and flavor wise now as far as an AM Lager yeah its about as far off as you can get and don't know how these are holding up now but if someone gives you a chance at a glass I suggest giving it a try
May 13, 2010
Photo of bluejacket74
Reviewed by bluejacket74 from Ohio

3.42/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
2007 vintage, 24 ounce bottle with a twist-off cap. Served in a Michelob Celebrate! chalice that came with the gift pack the beer came in, the brew pours a dark brown color with a slight reddish tinge along with a half inch off-white head. Head retention is average, not much lacing. Aroma is a bit light, it smells like bittersweet chocolate, butterscotch, caramel and a bit of coffee. Taste is pretty much the same as the aroma, but I also notice a slight dark fruit/cherry taste. Mouthfeel/body is light, it's slick but also thin with low/moderate carbonation. Drinkability is decent, it's smooth and not hard to drink. Also, the 8.5% ABV is well hidden. Overall I think this is an OK beer. I wouldn't seek this out, but if someone gave me one I wouldn't turn it down either.
Sep 06, 2009
Photo of barleywinefiend
Reviewed by barleywinefiend from Washington

3.5/5  rDev +25.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Enough cant be said about the look of this bottle..
Poured a lighter mahogany color with a small tannish head. Nose is caramel, light cocoa, butterscotch. taste is thinner bodied, decently hopped but the cocoa was overtaken by the butterscotch on this one. While the cocoa was there it seemed to be more evident on the finish than the overall taste and mouthfeel. Pretty good.
Apr 05, 2009
Photo of ThreeWiseMen
Reviewed by ThreeWiseMen from California

2.89/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
2007 vintage sampled at 2009 Central Coast BA Bacchanal.

Appearance: Clear mahogany body with a sticky, white halo for a head. Nice lacing.

Smell: Oak and some sort of childhood candy (butterscotch-ish). Somebody said Werther's - yes, definitely. Lots of Werther's. Super sugary, artificial, and simple, but still okay.

Taste: Tons of Werther's again, with some added chocolate and hops. A little more complex than the smell. Tastes like candy.

Mouthfeel: Light and sugary/sticky. Somewhat flat and dry. Meh.

Drinkability: This is one of the most candy-like beers I've had, but it still wasn't terrible. I was happy with my sample; I wouldn't want much more of it.
Apr 05, 2009
Photo of beerthulhu
Reviewed by beerthulhu from New Jersey

3.08/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Packaged similar to their Cherry Lager (see review).

A: Poured a dark cherry-amber with a 1 finger foamy beige head that pitted and dissipated rather quickly after the initial pour. No lacing and only a very faint visible carbonation was present. The coloring was nice and deep here but a weak and flimsy head didn't help.

S: The aroma came off more coffee scented then chocolate and was fairly weak in nature. I really enjoyed the fresh aroma of their Cherry Lager but this falls short. Digging deeper their was some dried dark fruit of plums detected with a light alcohol nature (once again children's cough medicine).

T: The flavor proved to be more promising then the nose upon the first sip. Some fresh coffee grinds and chocolate is immediately detected. A dark fruitiness of cherries and plums was also very evident. There seemed to be a spicy nature that complimented the fruity tones of this beer rather nicely. A soft roasted malting left a subtle smoky and burnt woodiness behind after the swallow. Overall I would rate this average per style and nothing that really captivates you beyond the first few sips.

M: slick, oily, but pretty thin in the end. A little fizziness with a nice bitter chocolate and coffee ground fade redeems what could have been a disaster in this catergory.

D: Overall I found the drinkability to be only average. Didn't make me look forward to the next sip let alone the next 24 oz. Not worthy of the price of admission (on sale $9.99 for 24oz.). The flavor itself was okay but failed to inspire or reveal itself more deeper into the drink and came off rather one-dimensional not leaving any impression. No repeat factor here and would save my dime on this one for the time being (look for a fire sale soon on this). Recommended only for a try at under $5 a bottle.
Dec 20, 2008
Photo of Drew966
Reviewed by Drew966 from Florida

3.06/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Michelob Celebrate Chocolate Lager pours a dark brown that shows red when held to the light with a tan head from a brown twelve ounce bottle (labeled not for sale). The aroma has a bit of cocoa in it. The flavor definitely has some cocoa flavor and it masks the alcohol better than the cherry version, but it's still noticeable. The cocoa flavor just doesn't seem quite right, it just doesn't do it for me.
Oct 09, 2008
Photo of BeerAdvocate
Reviewed by BeerAdvocate from Finland

2.05/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Review from Inaugural Issue of Beeradvocate Magazine.

A new addition to this creative family of flavored beers. Michelob Celebrate Chocolate comes in a unique 24-ounce bottle that looks like an artillery shell. WTF? It pours out a little fizzy and leaves a thin ring of lace. The reddish brown color has no problem showing off its clarity. Dry chocolate and undertones of chocolate liquor in the nose. A bit of crispness gets lost in the slick, heavy mouthfeel. Right away, the cocoa bean flavor lays in, heavy but dry, like carob powder. Alcohol is clean, and the warmth grows with every sip. Hops? Hello? Flavors start to become reminiscent of an iced coffee with chocolate liqueur added to it. Not fun.

Though we're happy that this 8.5 percent lager was not your typical malt liquor, it fell well short. It was bone-dry, and the chocolate was kind of lost. All in all, Michelob Celebrate Chocolate leaves a lot to be desired. It comes down to equating chocolate with something sweet, not dry. Back to the brew kettle with this one.
Jul 23, 2008
Photo of mjd83goblue
Reviewed by mjd83goblue from Michigan

3.42/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Found the set for 10 bucks at Oliver T's in Grand Blanc, so what the heck. I'd probably pay that for the glassware alone.

Comes in a strange bullet shaped container. When you rip off the top, the bottle looks like a painted 40. Note to AB: If you are trying to go craft, put a real bottle cap on it. I'm taking .5 off appearance just for this.

Pours dark brown with ruby hints into the glass that came with it. Smell is not all that chocolaty. Quite malty, similar to a doppelbock.

The cocoa nibs really come through in the taste, which is actually pretty good. Not overly sweet, but a nice chocolate hint. The alcohol is hot at times and reminds me of Kahlua/Black Russian. No hops. I have a feeling if you take the chocolate away, the underlying beer would not be very good at all.

I get the drying finish that many have commented on. Not a deal breaker, but still noticeable. In all, a good effort by AB, but there are far more rounded chocolate beers available.
Jul 10, 2008
Michelob Celebrate Chocolate Lager from Anheuser-Busch
Beer rating: 68 out of 100 with 60 ratings