New Belgium 1554 Enlightened Black Ale

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

This was a big surprise. Pours a deep auburn/brown with minimal head. Smells of sugar and spice. Flavors are full and leave a dry taste on the toungue.

12 oz bottle via csbosox (thanks!). Pours a dark dark brown, almost black with a small beige head. Nose is roasted grains, some coffee, chocolate and perhaps even some berries. Taste is mostly roasted grains and malts, subtle coffee and chocolate some lactose sugar and even a little pepper and a tiny bit of smokiness. All the flavors are subtle and meld together well. Well carbonated. Medium body. Pretty good.

Apparentlly according to the label this is a revival from an old brewing book hence the 1554 thing. This is an exquisite beer to behold..dark ruby red and topped with a luscious coffee and creme coloured head..beautiful!! Oddly after the gorgeous appearance the aroma was pretty pedestrian , maybe my nose is blocked..i dunno its distinctlly average..some malts and a little fruits, thats about it. Then the taste is excellent ..nice balance of burnt malts and good hops a well balanced brew, I get some toffeeish hints, dark turkish coffee tastes..very nice Very good in the mouth so very smooth yet so tongue tingling!! Over all a good drinkable ale well worth waiting 449 years !!!!

Dark with tan thin quickly discipating head. The nose is sweet and malty. The tate is malty and dry. One of the better black beers taht I have had.

I like most beers that call themselves a ’black ale’, this beer is no exception. Reminded me of an Abita Turbodog....thick, foamy beige head, the taste was sweet and fruity, yet burnt and roasted all at once....pleasant, dry finish.

Pours dark brown (but not black, I can still see through it) with a red glow. Thin head and mild carbonation. Some burnt grain flavors, but also lots of toasted on the second sniff. Rich burnt flavors with a very quaffable body. Nice beer! Burnt flavors linger on the tongue for quite some time (this is a good thing).

Pours black with a big tan head. Nice lacing as the head subsides. Somewhat yesty nose, the other aromas seem to be coffee and roasted oats? The beer has a nice mouthfeel and a roasted coffee flavor that gives away to floral/citrusy flavor. The finish is mild, but flavorful. This is an interesting beer. Despite it’s dark color and flavor, it is very easy to drink, even in the hot summer heat.

Pours a clear dark brown body with off-white head. Aroma is sweet, malty and caramel. Flavor is sweet caramel, malty with no real bitterness. Medium body, thin texture. Finishes someone medium and sweet.