Appearance – Pours a very dark brown to black color but there is some ruby red highlights along the edge of the glass.  There is a good sized tan head that leaves a bit of lacing on the glass.

Smell – Definite dark malts there.  Some roasted goodness and a hint of chocolate.

Taste – Great mix of roasted malts, some buttery toffee, bittersweet chocolate along with hints of smoke and coffee.

I had 1554 back last summer when I was in Arizona and fell in love with it.  Then this past weekend when my friend from Gainesville Amie was coming down she said she would make a run to Georgia to pick up some for me.  A friend indeed.  It’s a lovely beer that is lighter in body than you would think with lots of flavor.  I just hope for the day that New Belgium comes to Florida.

Overall Grade – A-

Appearance - Poured a sort of murky orange color with a bubbly white head.

Smell - Very sweet smell with lots of fruits in there.  I could pick up slight hints of banana, cherry and orange.

Taste - Slight hints of spices at first that are followed with a subtle sweet malt flavor and some fruit tastes.  Finishes very clean.  Not really much bitterness to it.

I was expecting something a little heavier from this upon first reading about it but was greeted with something different, in a good way.  Just because it has a fruity smell and a bit of a taste don’t let that throw you off.  This is not a fruit beer.  It is a very good Belgian style ale that does a great job of capturing that style.  I highly recommend this one.

Overall Grade – A