Hosts and hostesses who are beginning to plan their menus for holiday meals and get-togethers will want to include two special seasonal beers from Anheuser-Busch -- Michelob Celebrate Cherry and Michelob Celebrate Chocolate, a duo of richly
aromatic, smooth, complex and balanced lagers now available in most states
through the end of the year.


New this year, Michelob Celebrate Cherry is made with natural cherry juice and aged on dark cherries, giving it a deep garnet color and the flavor of black cherries. Michelob Celebrate Cherry is brewed with Munich, carapils caramel malts and European aroma hops.

Michelob Celebrate Chocolate, introduced in 2006, is brewed with caramel and roasted malts, and a variety of Hallertau/Tettnang and Alsace hops, and aged on real cocoa beans, giving it a chocolate aroma and complex dark cocoa taste.

Both lagers are 8.5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).

"These are truly special beers that look gorgeous and are sinfully delicious," said Eric Beck, brewmaster, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. "Serve them at room temperature, in crystal snifters, to highlight each beer's elegant color and aroma."

Available in limited-edition, 24-ounce platinum bottles as well as a gift pack, Michelob Celebrate Cherry and Chocolate make terrific gifts for adults. The gift pack contains one bottle of each flavor and two crystal snifters.

"Serve these beers alongside a selection of desserts," Beck suggested. "Michelob Celebrate Cherry pairs wonderfully with a rich, fudgy chocolate cake while Michelob Celebrate Chocolate tastes terrific with turtle cheesecake."

For information on availability of these brands or any Anheuser-Busch product, call 1-800-DIAL-BUD.

Labels: American-Beer, Anheuser-Busch, Michelob

Anheuser-Busch's popular Winter's Bourbon Cask Ale is back for a second year to entice the taste buds of beer lovers everywhere.

For those who appreciate a smooth, robust brew with rich aromas, this seasonal offering is brewed with dark roasted carapils, caramel and two-row barley malts and imported Hallertau and Alsace hops. It is then aged on bourbon oak casks and whole Madagascar vanilla beans.

Available now through February on draught at bars, clubs and restaurants, Winter's Bourbon Cask Ale will now also be sold in 12-ounce bottles in six-packs at grocery and convenience stores.

Winter's Bourbon Cask Ale is great for not only sipping at your favorite bar, but also as a nice match for seasonal fare. Try this ale with clam or corn chowder, triple-cream brie or camembert cheeses, or pork roast with applesauce and toffee pudding.

It's brewed at the Anheuser-Busch Fort Collins, CO brewery and has 6 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). It is the second in a series of seasonal beers, which includes Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale, Spring Heat Spiced Wheat and Beach Bum Blonde Ale.

Labels: American-Beer, Anheuser-Busch

Here's a photo line up of Budweiser's 2006 edition of holiday aluminum bottles.

I'm wondering why they didn't include hook-holes on the bottle caps. Seems like these could make cool Christmas tree ornaments. Just screw the cap back on, and hang 'em from the pine.

Labels: American-Beer, Anheuser-Busch, Budweiser

Anheuser-Busch today announced a new trio of limited edition, holiday brews.

• Michelob Celebrate Chocolate - Brewed with caramel malts, roasted malts and matured on real cocoa beans, this beer has a deep, dark chocolate color and aroma. Celebrate Chocolate is best enjoyed in a snifter, which brings the rich chocolate aroma toward the nose. Contains 8.5 percent alcohol by volume.



• Michelob Celebrate Vanilla Oak - Features distinct vanilla, caramel and aged oak flavors for a full-bodied, well-balanced taste and warm aroma. Celebrate Vanilla Oak is brewed using two-row barley, caramel malts, carapils malts as well as imported hops. It is aged on whole vanilla beans and bourbon barrel oak. Ideally served with dessert or as an after-dinner drink, Celebrate Vanilla Oak is also enjoyed in a snifter, allowing the beer's aromas to be intensified. Contains 10 percent alcohol by volume.



• Budweiser Brew Masters' Private Reserve - Described as a smooth, all-malt lager with a distinguishable honey color and robust taste. Steeped with history, Brew Masters' Private Reserve is based on a time-honored Budweiser brewmaster holiday tradition of collecting the richest part of the brew as it is tapped to the brew kettles to toast the holiday season. This richer, more flavorful reserve -- prized for its unusual smoothness despite its robust alcohol content -- was always a favorite and something our brewers and friends looked forward to year after year. This beer can be enjoyed in a traditional pilsner-style or wide-mouthed glass that funnels the beer's hoppy aroma directly to the nose. Contains 8.5 percent alcohol by volume.

The trio of holiday brews are available today through the end of the year.

Labels: American-Beer, Anheuser-Busch, Michelob