New Belgian 1554

[steveh]

Brussels Style Black Ale - another from the swap package with Mr. Fret.

Thick light tan head with fine dense bubbles - dissipates quickly but revives well with a good swirl.

Dark, yet clear, black ruby red color.

Roasted, black patent malts in nose. Fruity esters behind the roasted malt - currant, maybe black cherry in their aroma. Some DMS in nose as the beer warms, but not offensive. Alcohol becomes apparent as the beer warms - beer was half finished and well within the globe of the Rodenbach Grand Cru thistle glass I was using. The globe allowing the aromas to build and flow through the flute of the glass' top.

Roasted malt flavor, slight cardboard characteristics (typical of roasted barley). Smooth, ester tartness lingering in the aftertaste - more currant fruitiness.

Medium to heavy body. Sticky sweet on tongue and lips, but not cloyingly so. Unfermented sugars quite apparent.

Hops?

Clean finish with ester tang at the back of your mouth - not as filling as the beer's body might imply. Very nice beer, highly recommended.

S.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by steveh
Alcohol becomes apparent as the beer warms - beer was half finished and well within the globe of the Rodenbach Grand Cru thistle glass I was using. The globe allowing the aromas to build and flow through the flute of the glass' top.

S. [/B]

Not to change the subject but I have a question. Do you think that the Rodenbach Gran Cru currently available in the black labled bottles is as good as it used to be? I have always been a big fan of that brew but I don't think it is quite as good now. And the Alexander was never as good. Sorry to break from topic here.

[Theakston]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Not to change the subject but I have a question. Do you think that the Rodenbach Gran Cru currently available in the black labled bottles is as good as it used to be? I have always been a big fan of that brew but I don't think it is quite as good now. And the Alexander was never as good. Sorry to break from topic here.

Agree that it is a lesser beer since Palm took over operations of Rodenbach. From what I've read the yeast strain was altered and the wooden fermenters are no longer used. It is certainly no longer as sour.

Alexander was a cherry-syrup concoction that I was never too fond of -- it is now discontinued. But I'm glad that there is still some Rodenbach .Any is better than none, and for a while I couldn't get any. Now I can only get the Grand Cru - the classic I haven't seen for years.

To put it back on topic, the brewer at New Belgium used to work at the old Rodenbach brewery. His La Folie (of which I have only been able to get a small sample at a tasting in DC) is very much in the Rodenbach tradition and is an excellent interpretation of the style. Worth travelling to Colorado for.