Goose Island 1800 Demolition Ale (Strong Golden)

Brewed by Goose Island Beer Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Chicago, Illinois USA

Clear deep golden body with a minimal head. Aroma is European hops, oranges, citrus, and minor spices and yeast. Flavor has all of these characteristics. It’s interesting since it has a noticeable hop presence. Also half the time it was slightly syurpy and was like drinking orangish jam, the other half was drinking alcoholic hops. In other words, half the time this was quite enjoyable.

Botted 042905: Peppery aroma with sweet pineapple notes; heavy spice hoppiness over a pilsy malt base, almost like an imperial pilsner, though a bit fruity and not so smooth; slick body and lingering bitter finish.

Thanks to dough77 for this sample. Pours gold/copper with a very thin white head. Smells sugary with a small slcohol presence. Taste is sweet and peppery with some nice grassy elements and some perfumy notes. Finish is bold with a bitter aftertaste. Mouthfeel is a little thin, but satisfying.

Extra thick and hazy pour. Leisurely armies of bubbles support a dense almond colored head. Very distinct Euro hop aroma, herbal, spicy, lightly medicinal, a bit milky, but very fresh. Toasted, bready malt flavor with very herbal hops. Nice creamy body. Unlike any Belgian I’ve had but quite interesting. I wish I had more to cellar.

Thanks rlb for sharing this one. I think this one missed for style category realisticly. Nonetheless, Aroma very hoppy on top of sweet malts. Poure was nice golden color with a white head. Flavor I thought really lent itself to an IPA. Very hoppy. Palate was nice but finished sugary, maybe that’s what they were shooting for? Either way, I liked it thought it was good.

deep golden color with a white laced head. a very sweet aroma, i would never have put this in the belgian category, not enough yeast. flavor was the same way, very hoppy and sweet. if i were drinking this blind, i would have thought it was an IIPA or even a standard IPA. dont get me wrong though, it is an excellent beer, i just dont like the category it is in. very sweet hoppy flavor, very smooth body and a sweet grassy aftertaste. a real nice beer, thanks to duane for this as part of one of the neverending boxes of midwest yummies.

Poured an effervescent gold with a fizzy white head. Aroma is crisp grassy hops with a touch of alcohol. Flavor is lightly sweet at first with some grassy hops fading into a dry crisp finish. Not a whole lot of complexity here; it appears as if the hops are intended to take center stage, but they certainly don’t steal the show, either. The types of hops used seem off for the style as well; not sure I would even attempt to pin this one down. Unusual beer that is refreshing yet lacking in distinct character.

Yeasty, lightly fruity, tannin-full, tea-like, tangerine aroma. Cloudy orange-golden body is topped by a fizzy, off white head that lasts very well and laces. Vinous flavour with touches of alcohol and moderate bitterness. Citrus hops balance chewy malts very nicely. Dry medium body with moderate, lightly pointy, lively carbonation. Bottle (trade, Aug-05) enjoyed with GonZoBeeR, MartinT, Olivier_MTL and Rastacouere. Thanks, npdempse!