New Belgium 1554 Enlightened Black Ale

	Percentile
	88
	overall

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

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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Ratings	Average	Score	ABV	Style Pctl	Serve in
1098	3.51/5.0	3.51/5.0	5.6%	91.6	Dimpled mug, English pint, Stein, Yard

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 Their first challenge was deciphering antiquated script and outdated units of measurement, but trial and error (and many months of in-house sampling) culminated in 1554, a highly quaffable dark beer with a moderate body and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.

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Hank1980 (735), Athens, Georgia, USA

3.3	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.3	7/10	4/5	6/10	3/5	13/20

Jul 6, 2008

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.

aplusbreaks (330), , Colorado, USA

3.3	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.3	4/10	4/5	7/10	4/5	14/20

Jul 5, 2008

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.

dolemite77 (184), Maryville, Tennessee, USA

3.3	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.3	6/10	4/5	6/10	4/5	13/20

Jul 5, 2008

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.

rader58 (168), Leawood, Kansas, USA

3.6	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.6	6/10	4/5	6/10	4/5	16/20

Jul 5, 2008

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

chokmah33 (118), San Luis Obispo, California, USA

3.1	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.1	5/10	2/5	6/10	3/5	15/20

Jul 4, 2008

Has an earthy aroma, like moist dirt. Distinctive yeast smell along with cola, roasted malts, molasses, and a smoky chocolate undertone. Plenty of dark burnt malts gives a toasty flavor. Earthy yeast is present, some nuttiness in there as well. There is a sour milk note in the mid. Sweeter chocolate and carmel in the finish. Palate is very creamy, finshes with a sticky texture.

Nik925 (303), California, USA

3.2	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.2	6/10	3/5	6/10	3/5	14/20

Jul 2, 2008

Tastes like (and is) some weird lager yeast, the head vanished, body is off, good burnt flavor in this style beer and all together worth the drink, but not quite right. Cheap, < 3.00 for 22oz.

Imaena (259), Portland, Maine, USA

3.7	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.7	6/10	4/5	8/10	3/5	16/20

Jul 1, 2008

Bottle from Seattle 08’. Black and brilliant. Unsweetened cocoa and stylistic bitterness. Body was solid and the finish was dry and tart. Very enjoyable.

drjay44 (772), Salida, Colorado, USA

3.4	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.4	6/10	5/5	5/10	3/5	15/20

Jun 28, 2008

Nice dark color, mild bitterness, with some enjoyable sourness. Light on the tongue, minimal hop, much better than Fat Tire.

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