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New Belgium 1554 Enlightened Black Ale

Percentile
88
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreABVStyle PctlServe in
10983.51/5.03.51/5.05.6%91.6Dimpled 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 Their first challenge was deciphering antiquated script and outdated units of measurement, but trial and error (and many months of in-house sampling) culminated in 1554, a highly quaffable dark beer with a moderate body and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.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 SuperDave70 (1157), Beautiful Sunny Mesa, Arizona, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/512/20
Apr 9, 2008  
Pours a dark ruby-black with a foamy tan head. Nice aroma of chocolate and fruit, with some roasted malts. Flavor is similar, with some caremel sweetness. Sour fruit on the finish. A little thin, but otherwise good brew.


49markan097 (9), USA
does not count click to see why this rating of New Belgium 1554 Enlightened Black Ale does not count
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/103/518/20
Apr 8, 2008  
Poured midnight black from a bottle, with a minute tan head. Aroma of roasted coffee and sweet cocoa with flavor to match. Nice rounded body without a heavy thickness. An excellent and highly drinkable beer.


 Brewsmith (136), Torrance, California, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Apr 7, 2008  
From a 22oz. bottle purchased locally. Aroma is a little roasted and a little sweet. Appearance is a dark ruby to brown color with a small tan head. Flavors are grainy, a little carmelly sweet, and a touch of roasted chocolate, but not overpowering. Bitterness balances the sweet evenly. Medium bodied and easy drinking. This is a nice drinking beer that pairs well with food. Almost like a schwartzbier, but as an ale.


 KAF (441), Coralville, Iowa, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/514/20
Apr 7, 2008  
Silky dark pour with a two finger thick tan head. Roasted malt on the nose with some cocoa notes. Smooth body with a hint of dark fruit and then the cocoa and roasted malt flavor.


 WesKBob (321), Bethany, Oklahoma, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/517/20
Apr 5, 2008    Updated: Apr 14, 2008
Pours the color of motor oil and has a very thick, long-lasting tan head. Nice aroma of chocolate malt. Strong roasted malt flavor with chocolate and coffee hints. Just a bit of bitterness and a bit of a bite on the back of the tongue. A very nice beer.


 illidurit (872), Santa Cruz, California, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/104/56/104/513/20
Apr 5, 2008  
Poured into an Ommegang goblet. Dark brown with clear ruby highlights. Big, fluffy, tan, three finger head. Thick lacing on the glass. A little bit of roasty malt on the aroma, as well as a sourish fruitiness. Flavor is of peanut skins with a little bit of classic Belgian dark fruit. Some cocoa powder comes out but on the whole this beer is kind of watery and stale. Mouthfeel is thin, finish isn’t very dry for an unsweet beer. Carbonation is a touch heavy. Pretty decent drinkability.


 travita (1887), Frisco, Texas, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/516/20
Apr 5, 2008  
Dark brown to black in color with a decent head. Roasted in the aroma with some chocolate and malts. Taste is smooth and like the aroma has malts, some roastiness, and chocolate.


 shakespeare33 (120), san diego, California, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/513/20
Apr 5, 2008  
22 oz from bevMo. pours a very opague tar black with a musty colored slowly disipating head. scents of toffee and toasted malts...very easy going heavy set taste to the palate that doesnt have any real surprises. the malts carry the taste of choclate and roast... a well put together ale just not my type of brew on a regualar basis. I personally like new belgium brewing company and this was another brew epitomizing the style they are trying to present.



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