RateBeer
   Home Sign Up or Login Advanced Search
   People Ratings Events Places Forums Shop Magazine
      Top By Category  RateBeer Best  Latest Ratings  Top 50    

New Belgium 1554 Enlightened Black Ale

New Belgium 1554 Enlightened Black Ale - Traditional Ale

* picture credits
copyright may apply

 Percentile 
88
overall
Brewed by New Belgium Brewing Company
Style: Traditional Ale

Fort Collins, Colorado USA

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
Find this beer

Add Distribution Data
send corrections | shelftag |

 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
10903.51/5.03.51/5.05.6%91.1Dimpled mug, English pint, Stein, Yard
View Statistics  P 

Commercial Description:
Born of a flood and centuries-old Belgian text, 1554 Enlightened Black Ale uses a light lager yeast strain and dark chocolaty malts to redefine what dark beer can be. In 1997, a Fort Collins flood destroyed the original recipe our researcher, Phil Benstein, found in the library. So Phil and brewmaster, Peter Bouckaert, traveled to Belgium to retrieve this unique style lost to the ages. Their first challenge was deciphering antiquated script and outdated units of measurement, but trial and error (and many months of in-house sampling) culminated in 1554, a highly quaffable dark beer with a moderate body and mouthfeel.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
Jarrid (20), Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/105/56/103/512/20
Aug 23, 2008  
This is my second favorite New Belgium beer besides Mothership. Dark in color. Has a nice dark lager taste to it, and I was not let down. I will pick it up once in a while. Not a bad buy.


 golubj (1275), Sunnyvale, California, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/514/20
Aug 21, 2008  
Bottle. Dark brown, ruby around the edges, and a beige head. Nice chocolate aroma with roasted / toasted caramel malts. Flavor is the same, somewhat like a vienna, but sweeter and fuller, slightly smoked, with sweet chocolate in the finish. Wet / sticky mouthfeel, but I like it.


 sleestak (180), Williamston, Michigan, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/56/103/514/20
Aug 19, 2008  
Pours dark ruby-brown with a thin head that leaves moderate lacing. Smell is dominated by roasty malts and coffee. Flavor is smoky with a baker’s chocolate finish. Dry finish that ends rather abruptly. Medium body with low carbonation. Good for a change of pace, but it would be tough to get through more than one in a sitting.


Cabeero (15), Thornton, Colorado, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/511/20
Aug 16, 2008  
Distinctive toasty flavor and smell. Great malts. A little one sided. The flavor doesn’t hold up over time. I wouldn’t want to drink more than one in a single setting. This is a great beer to ad to a mix for a night of tasting.


 BenDover (125), Texas, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/516/20
Aug 15, 2008  
Pours a very dark brown, hint of red, thin tannish foam. Very roasted aroma, smells yummy. Chocolate, coffee flavors, a bit nutty, nice. Me like.


gbdub (73), Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/103/515/20
Aug 9, 2008  
Pours very deep brown-black with a mid-sized, creamy tan head. Smoky, sweetish roasted aroma. Lots of roasty flavors, with a strong chocolate presence, fruit, and spice. Hop presence is very mild. Very smooth mouthfeel, medium bodied. Tasty and easy to drink.


 soyorganic (217), Denver, Colorado, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/58/104/517/20
Aug 8, 2008  
tap: black/dark brown color. Charcoal and smoked aroma. Taste is of caramel and smoked malt with light carbonation and a slight vinous/sweet taste. I have always enjoyed drinking this beer, especially in winter.


 beerchugger (285), Colorado, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/515/20
Aug 5, 2008    Updated: May 16, 2009
I have to admit that this beer is absolutely beautiful in the glass. It pours a beautiful deep dark red and a full and thick beige head forms and lasts. Minimal lacing on the glass. Very malty in the aroma, giving off scents of strong chocolate, light toffee, and some earth. A light bodied beer. Tastes of roasted coffee, giving way to some strong earthy notes. Finish was very minimal. Overall, a pretty decent beer.



CONSIDER FREE RATEBEER MEMBERSHIP



Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings. Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!

SIGN UP NOW »

View Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109

What's Your Opinion?
Tell us what you think of this beer. Start your free RateBeer account now.
» Click here.

More Traditional Ales

Hair of the Dog Matt (4.17)

Hair of the Dog Adam (4.12)

Hair of the Dog Cherry Adam from the Wood (3.97)

Traquair Jacobite Ale (3.91)

Hair of the Dog Adam from the Wood (3.88)

Thornbridge Bracia (3.8)

Haandbryggeriet Norwegian Wood (3.65)

Beer Here Påske (3.64)

Triumph Gose (3.63)

Bøgedal Nr. 0043 fad (3.63)

Hollolan Hirvi Kivisahti (3.59)

Cambridge LAmour du Jour (2007 - ) (3.57)

Bøgedal Nr. 0100 (3.57)

Bøgedal Nr. 0110 (3.56)

Bøgedal Nr. 0073 (3.56)


About RateBeer | Add A Beer | Add A Brewer | Edit Personal Info | 100 Beer Club | FAQ | Log out | Feedback? | Copyright 2000-2009, RateBeer LLC