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1554
New Belgium Brewing Company
- From:
- New Belgium Brewing Company
- Colorado, United States
- Style:
- European Dark Lager
Ranked #12 - ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #18,764 - Avg:
- 3.83 | pDev: 12.01%
- Reviews:
- 1,482
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sunday at 11:27 PM
- Added:
- Jan 02, 2002
- Wants:
- 149
- Gots:
- 862
With a surprisingly bright taste and dry, chocolatey finish, it's not a porter, not a stout—it's 1554.
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.
21 IBU
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.
21 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mth44sc:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by LeinenkugelDrinker from Nevada
4.32/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Look: Deep, dark brown with a medium tan head.
Smell: An inviting coffee aroma hits you straight from the start.
Taste: Malty and roasted with a pleasing bitterness that is carefully balanced out by a touch of sweetness.
Feel: Medium-high in the mouth while being very smooth and creamy.
Overall: This is such a wonderful and unique brew that I totally love and would recommend to anyone.
Sunday at 11:27 PMSmell: An inviting coffee aroma hits you straight from the start.
Taste: Malty and roasted with a pleasing bitterness that is carefully balanced out by a touch of sweetness.
Feel: Medium-high in the mouth while being very smooth and creamy.
Overall: This is such a wonderful and unique brew that I totally love and would recommend to anyone.
Reviewed by travis1108 from Missouri
3.64/5 rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.64/5 rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Wow. This is smooth. I prefer stouts and porters I read that this drinks like one. I was doubtful, but I decided to give it a try. Pleasantly surprised.
Great mouth feel. Dry with a hint of chocolate. Kinda creamy even but not in a sticky sweet way. Not impressed with the smell though. I can't quite place it but I suspect it is the licorice root
Feb 01, 2024Great mouth feel. Dry with a hint of chocolate. Kinda creamy even but not in a sticky sweet way. Not impressed with the smell though. I can't quite place it but I suspect it is the licorice root
Reviewed by solok from California
3.69/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.69/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Dark, almost black. Short-lived dark tinged head. Porter flavor. Miso soup aftertaste. Smell of porter, coffee beans. Feels nice, with decent effervescence.
Dec 10, 2023Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania
4.09/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Consider it a wonderful set of pours, as two twelve ounce cans have been emptied into a clear glass liter mug. The color of the brew is a dark and malty mahogany one; dark brown, with reddish tint. It's bright, but quite opaque. There's a substantial biege head that seems to be enduring. There's more malt to smell than anything else, then yeast and maybe some hops and alcohol. To drink, this is a malty one. Remarkably, it's rich and smooth, yet light across the palate. This isn't a hopfest, nor is it laden with all the yeast and ester distractions some find appetizing in a Belgian style brew. Nor does the roasted malt, or barley, if that's the case, bring a bitter aspect. Continuing with what it's not, the yeast, alcohol and hops barely make their presence known. It maybe malty, but it's not overly sweet and the malt does allow traces of other tastes to come through. No, it's not the most interesting brew to drink and it certainly can disappoint people seeking a hoppy bite, or the typical Belgian brew characteristics. But, it's very drinkable and outstanding in two categories. It's beautiful in the glass. The color and head are basically flawless and the copious stratified glass lacing is among the best. As a brew relying mostly on malt, this is particularly good for the mouthfeel category, as there's also no hoppy bite, nor alcohol burn at the finish. This is a very comfortable beer to drink.
Nov 06, 2023Reviewed by Stooven from Illinois
3.73/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Been running through a lot of the larger-distribution domestic crafts I've never reviewed. This is a decent fall beer; probably the 2nd best offering in the mixed pack with Trippel, X IPA and Fat Tire. Don't serve it too cold, because it thins out.
Oct 30, 2023Rated by TalDavis from Texas
4.95/5 rDev +29.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.95/5 rDev +29.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Love this beer, hard to find in my area
Oct 14, 2023Reviewed by Storm_Rryder from Iowa
4.25/5 rDev +11%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +11%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Had this long ago before starting to log beers here. It has been hard to find it but finally got it in a mix pack. Very dark black like a stout. There was a good foam but it dissipated quickly. Nice taste of roasted malt that is quickly replaced by licorice. Very pleasant to drink, love this!
Oct 07, 2023Rated by Rwoodroffe
3.97/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.97/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Color is dark of course, smell is not fantastic, but the taste is smooth with chocolate and licorice notes.
Sep 30, 2023Reviewed by mpruden from Ohio
3.67/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.67/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12-oz bottle into a frosted pint glass at Oscars Bar & Grille in Limon, CO.
Appearance: Dark brown with a massive light tan head that lasted long and left abundant lacing.
Nose: Rich roast, bread.
Mouthfeel: Light.
Attack: Sort of follows the nose, adding bitter roast a bit too quickly; I was hoping for a little more depth in the flavor.
Finish: Continues and resolves the bitterness with some hops.
Overall: The look and the nose set me up for higher expectations. It’s drinkable, but won’t go down as my favorite.
Sep 03, 2023Appearance: Dark brown with a massive light tan head that lasted long and left abundant lacing.
Nose: Rich roast, bread.
Mouthfeel: Light.
Attack: Sort of follows the nose, adding bitter roast a bit too quickly; I was hoping for a little more depth in the flavor.
Finish: Continues and resolves the bitterness with some hops.
Overall: The look and the nose set me up for higher expectations. It’s drinkable, but won’t go down as my favorite.
1554 from New Belgium Brewing Company
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
4393 ratings
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