New Belgium Brewing Company is best known for its Fat Tire Amber Ale, and while it is an excellent beer, one would be doing him or herself a great disservice by not exploring the brewery’s other offerings.  The Fort Collins based brewery boasts three beers on Zymugry Magazine’s top 50 beers of 2011 list.  In a tie for 43rd place is 1554 Enlightened Black Ale.

1554 is a Belgian Dark Ale, a style not commonly brewed commercially.  The style guideline allows for a decent amount of variation, but typically these beers will have a high amount of malt in both aroma and taste, very little bitterness, and a medium to dark coloring.  New Belgium does not disappoint with their take on this old-school style and unlike some of the other beers on Zymurgy’s list, this one can be readily found at many beer and liquor stores.

Appearance
Very dark brown in color with a single finger of light tan head.  Did not leave the lattice work of lacing typical of Belgian style beers.

Smell
Notably sweet smelling.  Strong notes of caramel followed by subtle hints of honey and maple syrup.  Chocolate and a slight nuttiness play in the background.  Not even a hint of hops or the 5.6% ABV.

Taste
The flavor profile mirrors that of the smell.  Sweet caramel maltiness dominates upfront.  Chocolate and hints of fresh homemade biscuits delight the tongue.  The beer finishes with pleasant roasted notes that contribute the only (slight) bitterness in the drink.

Mouthfeel
Medium bodied beer with a medium level of carbonation that is lower than some of the highly carbonated beers from Belgium.  A sip is very smooth and velvety in the mouth. 

Drinkability
One would be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t enjoy this beer.  Hardcore beer lovers can appreciate the subtleties and complexities of an old Belgian style.  Newbies aren’t going to be kicked in the mouth by a hop bomb or knocked to the ground by ABV.  In typical style, New Belgium Brewing Co. has crafted a beer that truly has something for everyone.  Overall grade for 1554 Enlightened Black Ale: A-


1554 Enlightened Black Ale

Up next on Tuesday Tastings: Great Divide Brewing Company’s Yeti Imperial Stout