Michelob Celebrate Vanilla Oak

The 24 ounce artillery shell shaped bottle poured a sparkling clear dark amber colored beverage with a small fizzy off-white head that was completely gone in 2 minutes (due to the high alcohol content, maybe?). The aroma was sweet and malty with lots of caramel vanilla and banana presence. I was almost unable to find even a hint of the so called oak present in the name. The body was medium with a soft carbonation and a soft, silky smooth texture. The flavor starts out very sweet - this is where the vanilla really stands out - and stays that way through the medium length finish. It is too sweet for my taste ... like drinking a pop. There is a decided alcohol warmth in the upper chest at the end.

Torpedo-shaped bottle, 24 oz. Did not like this at all...I think Anheuser-Busch should stick to plain Michelob. I bought this in a gift pack and I have enjoyed the two glasses that came with it much more than I enjoyed this and the accompanying chocolate stout-type bottle.

We almost didn’t get it.. rumor was it was awful but when all is sain and done it was GREAT!! Dark, sweet. Jeff, John, Dad, me and Vin drank out the bottle and a screw top how great... Happy 125!!

Vanilla and oak in the nose. Creamy caramel toffee and vanilla flavors with some wood and odd metallic notes creeping into the finish.

7 oz. single, from Whole Foods LaJolla. Wow, now this is unexpected from the AB Michelob brand. This oak-aged, high alcohol specialty brew pours a hazy medium chestnut color with a small beigey head that dissipates quickly. Aroma is dominated by the oak, vanilla and alcohol (no surprise) with brown sugar, faint nutmeg and barely discernable grassiness mingled with wet wood. Flavor is sweet with more brown sugar, vanilla and wood, an interesting mix of light spice and vegetal herb flavors, with an alcohol tingle in the finish and down the throat. Drinks like a barleywine - though one that’s a bit unbalanced. Full body and very little carbonation on the tongue. Not too bad actually, but I must include that I’m rating it right out of the fridge before it warms and becomes more toxic (see DarkElf’s comments below). I’m trying to be careful not to include an anti-AB bias in this rating. At the same time I’m imagining the surprise of a typical Michelob drinker cracking one open expecting just a sweetened version of their usual beer and getting knocked on their butts by this beefed up brew (tee hee).

2006 vintage, 24 oz bottle. Pours hazy orangish color with white head. Aroma vanilla and nothing else, same with the taste, alcohol warming with dry finish. I am glad I got two snifter in the gift set.

Bottle...or suppository...you be the judge. This one poured a crimson-orange color with a off white head. The alluring aroma of circus peanuts hits when I realize...it’s not JSUT orange marshmallow circus peanuts...but as if someone doused the dreaded things in vanilla extract! The flavor also holds simliar elements: vanilla extract coupled with Splenda malts and other artifical flavors...and wood chips. Soft mouthfeel...somewhat creamy mid-way with a terrific medicinal finish. Oddly enough it tastes very similar to that awful Winter Cask stuff that AB also does. Honestly, I’d rather just drink a bud-light if I had to choose. For those counting...this was #500

Chestnut colored with almost no head. Aroma definitely has vanilla, but I cannot smell much else. Taste is like a flat cream soda, and alcohol is not particularly apparent. I wanted to like this product despite it rating and pedigree. Not worth the $10/24oz, but I did it for science.