New Belgium 1554 Brussels Style Black Ale

22oz bottle with attractive label (not the same as screen left) and a good three inches of headspace. Sinister red-black color, sporting a short but dense putty froth with impressive stamina and lace. Mild yet rich aromas of smoky chocolate, coffee, plum and banana, stewed fruits, and anise. The flavor features sweetish malt, oatmeal, and mild cherry-raisin. A bittersweet caress, refreshing tartness, and understated impressions of dates and milk chocolate in the finish flow into a cool brewers’ licorice aftertaste. Just maybe a suggestion of rubbery funk? Light and supercreamy palate, with nitro-widget smoothness... carbonation is gentle and extremely fine. A pleasant brew with elements of schwarzbier and dubbel.

Bomber. Poured a beep brown, almost black with a big white head. Aroma of roasted malt and yeast. Flavor is of yeast, malt, bitterness, and light hop. Brew is medium bodied, though a little thin for this style. Finishes dry with light bitterness.

22oz Bomber. Pours a deep dark reddish brown, with a nice frothy white head that leaves a lot of lacing behind. Aromas are at a minimal on this one, some yeast and roasted malts. Flavor is much better than the aromas thankfully. With some malts and yeast and some sour and bitter notes at the end. finish is loooong and dry.

Pours reddish black with a fluffy tan head. Aroma is similar to flat tire, with a heavy roasted quality. More akin to a smoked quality than roasted now that I think about it. Flavor is a strong roasted barley. There is the funky yeast undertone that Fat Tire has as well, somewhat of a sour note to it. As a traditional ale, you can expect some different flavors in this one that might not keep a brewery in business these days, so I can appreciate it from that direction, but the beer itself leaves a bit to be desired. Not very refined.

Nice dark clear color. Sweet chocolate malt taste. Enjoyable dark beer while not being too heavy.