1554
New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado, United States 🇺🇸
Traditional Beer - Gruit Regular|
Score
7.03
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1554 Black Lager beer uses a lager yeast strain and dark chocolaty malts to redefine what dark beer can be.
A surprisingly bright taste and a dry, chocolaty finish -- one evocative of dark brews enjoyed in Belgian taverns 500 years ago. Not a porter, not a stout -- it's 1554.
Enlightened Dark Ale
1554 defies the style guidelines of modern beer. Although dark in color, 1554 is not a porter, stout, schwarzbier or bock. Rather, it is a rebirth of a lost beer style called zwert (Flemish for black), which uses gruit for bittering. The oldest reference to zwert beer comes from 1285. However, our brewing inspiration came from a book published in 1554, which was the height of popularity for zwertbeer. First released in 1998, our whimsical improvisation includes a variety of specialty dark malts, a dash of licorice root, and a European lager yeast that’s fermented at ale temperatures.
A surprisingly bright taste and a dry, chocolaty finish -- one evocative of dark brews enjoyed in Belgian taverns 500 years ago. Not a porter, not a stout -- it's 1554.
Enlightened Dark Ale
1554 defies the style guidelines of modern beer. Although dark in color, 1554 is not a porter, stout, schwarzbier or bock. Rather, it is a rebirth of a lost beer style called zwert (Flemish for black), which uses gruit for bittering. The oldest reference to zwert beer comes from 1285. However, our brewing inspiration came from a book published in 1554, which was the height of popularity for zwertbeer. First released in 1998, our whimsical improvisation includes a variety of specialty dark malts, a dash of licorice root, and a European lager yeast that’s fermented at ale temperatures.
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6.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 4
Overall 6.5
Pours black with large dark brown highlights and medium light brown head. Thin lacing, medium body, low carbonation, and light roasted aroma. Taste is roasted malt, chocolate, and bitter finish. Quite a bit of flavor, pretty good.
Tried
on 19 Jul 2012
at 18:19
6.5/10
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Appearance 4
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6
May 2010: 22 Fl Oz bottle obtained from a Lee’s Discount Store in Las Vegas, poured into goblets in the garden of our B&B just outside Zion National Park after a full day of hiking and staring at rocks! Dark and moody looking, a thin off-white head sat on top, some to be a wisp and collar, no lacing appeared. The nose was all chocolate, dark, rich and inviting. Chocolate dominated the taste, some coffee hints tried to break through, but the dark chocolate beat that back into submission. Different and enjoyable, not sure I could have drank the whole bottle though.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Apr 2012
at 05:53
8.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 9
This Traditional Ale poured a deep, dark red colour with a big, creamy, tan coloured head. To the nose there are scents of coffee, cocoa, burnt malt, caramel and brown sugar. First sip was rich with flavour of caramel, light coffee, dark chocolate and toast. Finish is roasty with coffee and roasted malt flavour lingering. Very good!
Tried
on 28 Mar 2012
at 18:12
6.9/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Picked this up as a single for $2 from a beer store in Delaware. Best before April 29th, 2012. Poured into a Duvel Tulip
A - Half a finger head that disappears almost instantly colored wood brown. The brew is dark brown only if you show up to a light. It looks black but is clearly just a very dark brown with no sediment.
S - The malts are slightly chocolatey. I’m getting some half and half cream and some earthiness. Maybe some light wood scents and some spices but there’s not a lot going on for smell.
T - The start of this is a classic Belgian ale. I’m geting some candied yams, grapes and the yeast is almost like wild grapes and perhaps some orange creamsicle. It’s pretty disappointing.
M - Lots of carbonation explosion that exposes some raisin taste. There’s no linger and no real aftertaste of anything.
O - I was very excited about this beer. now, I’m disappointed. It’s light enough to drink daily and, for the price, I guess it’s great. I’ll rate this based on availability and price, not on how amazing it is.
A - Half a finger head that disappears almost instantly colored wood brown. The brew is dark brown only if you show up to a light. It looks black but is clearly just a very dark brown with no sediment.
S - The malts are slightly chocolatey. I’m getting some half and half cream and some earthiness. Maybe some light wood scents and some spices but there’s not a lot going on for smell.
T - The start of this is a classic Belgian ale. I’m geting some candied yams, grapes and the yeast is almost like wild grapes and perhaps some orange creamsicle. It’s pretty disappointing.
M - Lots of carbonation explosion that exposes some raisin taste. There’s no linger and no real aftertaste of anything.
O - I was very excited about this beer. now, I’m disappointed. It’s light enough to drink daily and, for the price, I guess it’s great. I’ll rate this based on availability and price, not on how amazing it is.
Tried
from Can
on 21 Feb 2012
at 18:27
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Pours a beautiful, clear ruby with a small cream head that does not linger. Aroma of roasted malt, biscuit and cracker. Chewy mouthfeel follows through with the same roast, malt throughout and a sweet finish. Slight watery finish
Tried
on 31 Jan 2012
at 19:41
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Location: 12 oz bottle from Colonial Wine and Spirits, 1/4/12
Aroma: The nose is mostly malty, made up of caramel, roasted malts notes, bread, fruit, and a little spice
Appearance: A clearish brown color with a slight red-orange hue and a creamy beige head and heavy lacing
Flavor: The taste is fairly sweet, with a caramel malty presence backed-up by some other malty components
Palate: Medium bodied (leaning toward the light side), a smooth and creamy feel, and a great drinkability
Overall Impression: This is a pretty nice beer overall. It has a clean, smooth malty flavor that works really well. The caramel malts, and the other malty components, combine together to make a quality offering. This one may not be the most extreme or complex beer out there, but it seems to be rather well made.
Aroma: The nose is mostly malty, made up of caramel, roasted malts notes, bread, fruit, and a little spice
Appearance: A clearish brown color with a slight red-orange hue and a creamy beige head and heavy lacing
Flavor: The taste is fairly sweet, with a caramel malty presence backed-up by some other malty components
Palate: Medium bodied (leaning toward the light side), a smooth and creamy feel, and a great drinkability
Overall Impression: This is a pretty nice beer overall. It has a clean, smooth malty flavor that works really well. The caramel malts, and the other malty components, combine together to make a quality offering. This one may not be the most extreme or complex beer out there, but it seems to be rather well made.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Jan 2012
at 17:23
7/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Whole Foods, P St, DC sixer ($10): Pours a dark brown color with a tan head that leaves some lacing. Aroma is roasty like, and in my opinion, by the nose alone does not give a sufficient indication of what will be contained inside the glass. Upon tasting this, things get good. Roasted malts and chocolate are the most prominent aspects. However, I even got things like smoke in a few sips. Subtle and pleasant aftertaste is left in the mouth. Not exactly sweet. Mild astringency. Light bodied, yet full-flavored. I’m glad they pulled this one out of the history books.
Tried
on 12 Nov 2011
at 19:53