New Belgium 1554 Enlightened Black Ale

Brewed by New Belgium Brewing Company
Style: Traditional Ale
Fort Collins, Colorado USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, English pint, Stein, Yard

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Poured this beer from the bottle into a 4oz sampling glass. The beer had a dark amber-brown color with an amber hue, along with an average-sized foamy off-white head with good lacing, average cling, and modest retention. The beer had an aroma of earthy and grainy hops, with touches of chocolate, coffee, and caramel, along with a straw component. Its taste featured a blend of caramel and chocolate malt, along with a very light bitter grainyness and a toasty effect. The beer had an average wetness with a lighter mouthfeel, and lower carbonation and life, and was a bit thin.

A good beer. Have never been a huge fan of New Belgian beers, but I like this one. Very black pour, and smells of both chocolate and vanilla. Very malty taste, a departure for New Belgium. Can almost get a little too sweet. But very tasty. Had in the bottle. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Pours black with a lasting half inch head. Nice aroma of creamy malt, coffee, chocolate, and some nice hop balance. Medium bodied with a nice smooth palate. Could pass as a light milk stout almost.

Pours nice and dark. Has all the awesome characteristics of a porter. Roasted aroms coming off it with hints of coffee to the flavor. Surprisingly light, it finishes very clean.

A beer with an opaque black color, 1554 has a delightfully smooth body for such a dark beer. It has a slight caramel flavor, with the barest hint of coffee highlighting the taste. Great overall beer, appropriate for casual drinking. -The Djinn

I enjoy this beer fairly often....Not too heavy yet full of flavor. Dark and roasty with just enough hops to remind me that they are there. Very easy drinking and low in abv, makes for a good sessionable winter ale or a very good dinner compliment.

Bottle in the New Belgium mix 12 pack. Pours a clear but super dark mahogany brown, thin head. Smell is cocoa and chocolate all over with spice. Taste is more cocoa, and some roast. Body is quite thin like lighter lager, but taste exhibits some decent flavor. I see that they are marketing this as a spring/summer beer, but I would prefer the Dig or Ranger in the pack.

Originally reviewed: 5/19/10. 12oz bottle poured into a goblet. Pours a deep dark mahogany/amber with a thin beige head on top. Disappears quickly, leaving behind some lace and sip rings. Some light toffee and molasses make up the nose. Not a whole lot going on there. The mouth is firm. Some good carbonation backing, and a smooth finish. Nice. Nothing in the flavor really stands out. I don’t notice anything that specifies this as Belgian in the flavor. It’s got some semi-sweet toffee, light bitterness, and a mild finish. I rather enjoyed this one, but it was sort of bland in the process. Expected more from this, but I’d gladly have it again regardless.

Poured from a bottle into a stein. Frothy tan head that maintained through drinking. Nice dark color. Aroma of rich malt and chocolate with a medium bitter and light sweet flavor. Medium body with a slick texture and lively carbonation. Nice long finish. Overall a solid dark ale.

12oz bottle into a tulip. Best by Apr-08-12. Whoops, I’m a few days late. Appearance - Poured a deep and somewhat murky brown. Some amber/orange highlights when held in the light. Small and short lasting off white creamy head. A thin ring settles around the edges. Aroma - I like the nose on this one. Chocholate malts, roasted coffee, yeast, some spice and hint of earthy floral hops. Taste - Semi-sweet dark chocolate malts, Belgian spice and yeast, before a slightly more bitter coffee finish and a touch of floral hops. Mouthfeel - Medium bodied. Dry. A little too high on the carbonation than I would have expected. Bitter earthy coffee finish. But it has a depth of flavor and aromas that make it an alright beer to try. Although I doubt I’d ever really seek it out again.