RateBeer
New Belgium 1554 Enlightened Black Ale 3.51 1110

New Belgium 1554 Enlightened Black Ale

Percentile
88
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
Find this beer

Add Distribution Data
send corrections | shelftag |
RatingsAverageScoreABVStyle PctlServe in
11103.51/5.03.51/5.05.6%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 Their first challenge was deciphering antiquated script and outdated units of measurement, but trial and error (and many months of in-house sampling) culminated in 1554, a highly quaffable dark beer with a moderate body and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?  
 Damico (189), Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/104/515/20
Jun 1, 2008  
This was a refreshing ale I drank in Texas when I went to see Radiohead. Not too strong, it was smooth with a lucid, reddish dark appearance.


 Swalden28 (1531), McKinney, Texas, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/103/515/20
May 28, 2008  
ReRate: Bottle, Kegs & Barrels, McKinney, TX. Pours a translucent dark brown with ruby highlights, beige head, decient retention, slight lacing. Aroma is similar to a schwartz beer, slight dark roast. Flavor is slightly sweet dark roast, very slight dark fruit with light alcohol spice, slight dark grain bitter, very slight hop bitter. Palate is medium-high carbonation, medium body. Very good beer.....Reminded me of what I thought a good schwartz beer would taste like, just turns out what I wanted would be a black ale instead of a black lager......Good stuff! and yes, I said "Slight" alot in this rating.....


 fidel (1015), Livermore, California, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/58/104/515/20
May 25, 2008    Updated: Sep 18, 2008
Black, roasted malts, sweet caramel, and nutty with a slight hop finish. Sweet and crisp.


tjpasley79 (29), Omaha, Nebraska, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/105/59/105/518/20
May 25, 2008  
Initially, I was a little worried when I took a deep breath of 1554. The scent was the only thing I was not sompletely sold on. This beer has a great, deep color, and then I tasted it, and could not stop. Flavor is fairly complex and goes down smooth, leaving that same feeling on the roof of your mouth. Very good beer!


 Narnad (725), Wonder Lake, Illinois, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/56/104/514/20
May 24, 2008  
Pours dark carmel/brown with red huge. Nice light head occurs from pour but dissipates quickly. Aroma is very malty with some nuttiness and a slight sweet endnote. This beers mouth feel is on the heavier side with fine carbonation on tongue. Flavor is complex mixture starting off with a malty/nutty bite which then moves into a very toasted, almost burnt grain flavor and ends with a slight sweet dry flavor that sticks around for a bit. Overall a decent beer that I will get again.


 pet3rman (206), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/515/20
May 22, 2008  
Nice frothy white head. Dark pour.. Some raisons.. Little acidity. Long finish


 BeerPrince (1701), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/56/103/513/20
May 20, 2008  
Dark brown with a thin head, a slight and simple aroma with hints of malt, and alcohol, medium creamy roasted malt flavour fading to a warm smokey black cherry residue. An enjoyable palate for an everyday beer.


 EHopper (348), Minnesota, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/514/20
May 17, 2008  
Dark brown but so clear that when you hold it to a strong light the whole glass goes carmel color. Light coffee and malt aroma, with a nice, smooth yet bright flavor of sweet malt and coffee with hints of cocoa. Not much finish, small bitter bite in the back over the throat. Someone fun to serve with friends.



We Want To Hear From You



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!

Join Us »

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 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111

Share Your Opinion!
Get started reviewing beers at RateBeer.com now.

First, choose your user name

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