1554 Enlightened Black Ale
This is the one. This is the beer that started me on this odyssey; the beer that showed me that beer was more than a consumable beverage, it could be an artform. This is the beer that took me from, 'oh, there's some good beer out there I enjoy,' to, 'oh shit, there is some DELICIOUS beer out there.' This is the beer that got me into craftbrewing. and for that, New Belgium, thank you. It pours a beautiful dark ruby chestnut, a shorter head to start but solid lacing. The nose is very clean, a little weak, but toasty. the initial malt is caramel, and the yeast pokes through just a bit. Once it hits your palate, that's when you really begin to get a treat. Just enough subtle spice to enhance the sweet chocolatey malts. Backed up with caramel some caramel as well, but not overly sweet. A little bit of that doughy yeast comes through on the tail. Almost somewhat earthy as it all comes together. Makes me think of a deep forest as the sun peeks through after a cleansing rain. /end hippie vignette It dances across the tongue, and does not overwhelm, nor does it expand too heavily to fill the gut, allowing me to do what I'm about to do and reach for another one. Overall, as you may have gathered, I'm a fan. For a while this was my favourite beer (it has since been usurped, but it will always hold a special place in my heart), and it is one that I try to use to introduce my friends to tasty brews, as opposed to tolerable swig. Please try it.