El Dorado Gold
First Street Brewing Co.
- From:
- First Street Brewing Co.
- Nebraska, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Blonde Ale
- ABV:
- 8.4%
- Score:
- +9 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 3.83 | pDev: 0%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 1
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sunday at 11:10 PM
- Added:
- Sunday at 10:39 PM
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
-
-
El Dorado Gold is a bottle-aged Belgian-style Golden Strong Ale. Brewed with only El Dorado hops, this beer has a wonderful overtone of tropical melon/stone fruits and a dry finish. At 8.2% alcohol, El Dorado Gold is a sipping beer that evolves as you drink it.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by colts9016 from Idaho
3.83/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Review: 2627
Name: El Dorado Gold
Brewery: First Street Brewing
Location: Hastings, KS
Style: Belgian Golden Ale
ABV: 8.4%
Canned: March 2020
Date: 31 May 2026
Initial Impression:
This bottle carries a bottling number of 53, which suggests it was a fairly limited release. I haven't been sitting on this one for years—I only recently received it from my brother. Going in, I genuinely wondered whether I was about to open a forgotten gem or a shelf turd. Either way, El Dorado Gold marks my first experience with First Street Brewing Company.
Appearance:
Served at 52°F in a tulip. The pour created a frothy, airy white head about two fingers thick with average retention, slowly fading and leaving thin patches of lacing behind.
The beer pours a lightly hazy golden color with pale amber hues (SRM ~8), translucent with a few suspended yeast particles and lively carbonation—a pleasant and inviting presentation for a Belgian-inspired golden ale.
Aroma:
Yeast-forward and immediately intriguing. Clove, white pepper, and herbal notes reminiscent of bay leaf and thyme lead the nose, accompanied by a faint banana ester. As the beer opens, additional notes of bread crust, cracker, lightly toasted malt, and soft malt sweetness emerge.
Floral aromas of rose and elderflower add complexity, while light sherry-like oxidation and earthy undertones hint at age. There is a noticeable cardboard note present, but surprisingly, it integrates into the overall profile rather than distracting from it.
Flavor:
Aged and yeast-driven. Floral notes of rose, elderflower, and jasmine mingle with white pepper, clove, and a touch of banana ester. The malt character contributes breadiness, toasted grain, light sweetness, and cracker-like notes.
Additional layers of sherry, leather, earthiness, peach, candied orange peel, thyme, eucalyptus, mint, grass, and a touch of pine resin create an unusual but engaging profile. The oxidation is evident through the cardboard note, yet somehow it complements the beer's aged character rather than diminishing it.
Mouthfeel:
Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation. Slightly astringent with a light tannic edge, finishing crisp, dry, and surprisingly drinkable.
Overall Impression:
El Dorado Gold is a beer that left me scratching my head—in a good way. The El Dorado hops add a unique layer to the Belgian-inspired yeast profile, creating something that doesn't neatly fit my expectations for a golden ale. It finishes dry, avoids excessive sweetness, and develops complexity from both age and oxidation.
Is it a great beer? No. Is it a shelf turd? Also no. It occupies that strange middle ground where the beer is interesting enough to keep pulling you back for another sip, even when you can't quite decide how much you like it. The age-related cardboard notes should be a negative, yet they somehow contribute to the overall character rather than detract from it.
I can understand why this bottle might have lingered on a shelf—it requires a particular palate and a willingness to embrace some quirks. Still, I'll happily finish the bottle, and it leaves me curious to explore what else First Street Brewing has to offer.
Sunday at 11:10 PMName: El Dorado Gold
Brewery: First Street Brewing
Location: Hastings, KS
Style: Belgian Golden Ale
ABV: 8.4%
Canned: March 2020
Date: 31 May 2026
Initial Impression:
This bottle carries a bottling number of 53, which suggests it was a fairly limited release. I haven't been sitting on this one for years—I only recently received it from my brother. Going in, I genuinely wondered whether I was about to open a forgotten gem or a shelf turd. Either way, El Dorado Gold marks my first experience with First Street Brewing Company.
Appearance:
Served at 52°F in a tulip. The pour created a frothy, airy white head about two fingers thick with average retention, slowly fading and leaving thin patches of lacing behind.
The beer pours a lightly hazy golden color with pale amber hues (SRM ~8), translucent with a few suspended yeast particles and lively carbonation—a pleasant and inviting presentation for a Belgian-inspired golden ale.
Aroma:
Yeast-forward and immediately intriguing. Clove, white pepper, and herbal notes reminiscent of bay leaf and thyme lead the nose, accompanied by a faint banana ester. As the beer opens, additional notes of bread crust, cracker, lightly toasted malt, and soft malt sweetness emerge.
Floral aromas of rose and elderflower add complexity, while light sherry-like oxidation and earthy undertones hint at age. There is a noticeable cardboard note present, but surprisingly, it integrates into the overall profile rather than distracting from it.
Flavor:
Aged and yeast-driven. Floral notes of rose, elderflower, and jasmine mingle with white pepper, clove, and a touch of banana ester. The malt character contributes breadiness, toasted grain, light sweetness, and cracker-like notes.
Additional layers of sherry, leather, earthiness, peach, candied orange peel, thyme, eucalyptus, mint, grass, and a touch of pine resin create an unusual but engaging profile. The oxidation is evident through the cardboard note, yet somehow it complements the beer's aged character rather than diminishing it.
Mouthfeel:
Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation. Slightly astringent with a light tannic edge, finishing crisp, dry, and surprisingly drinkable.
Overall Impression:
El Dorado Gold is a beer that left me scratching my head—in a good way. The El Dorado hops add a unique layer to the Belgian-inspired yeast profile, creating something that doesn't neatly fit my expectations for a golden ale. It finishes dry, avoids excessive sweetness, and develops complexity from both age and oxidation.
Is it a great beer? No. Is it a shelf turd? Also no. It occupies that strange middle ground where the beer is interesting enough to keep pulling you back for another sip, even when you can't quite decide how much you like it. The age-related cardboard notes should be a negative, yet they somehow contribute to the overall character rather than detract from it.
I can understand why this bottle might have lingered on a shelf—it requires a particular palate and a willingness to embrace some quirks. Still, I'll happily finish the bottle, and it leaves me curious to explore what else First Street Brewing has to offer.
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