Gratitude - East End Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bluebird version-2009, blue wax.
Pours peachy and look fruity, a white head. Above-average mouthfeel with a taste of blueberry,and other berries and fruit, and yeast. aroma is a little funky and sweaty.Alcohol well hidden.
Thanks Ken for sharing, and picking up from brewery.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2010 12:11:15 | More by northyorksammy

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.58/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Big thanks goes out to the kind BA who sent me all three of these. I decided to go with oldest first and crack open the 2005. Served chilled and poured into an oversized wine glass. Consumed on 12/02/2008.

The pour was very nice, a rich dark amber color with a good deal of haziness to it. Nice light head of off white rose up to about two inches at first, very lively, and then settled down to leave a mostly bare top throughout the rest of the session.

The aroma was very sweet, lots of caramel malts here and a good bit of alcohol. Had a nice syrup like consistency and some biting spice on the tongue. Smooth as silk through with rich notes of candied sugar, earthy malts and a touch of warming alcohol. Delicate, smooth and perfectly aged, the balance was just a thing to behold. A big beer I could have sipped on for what would seem like forever, this was really a treat.

Overall I thought this one was outstanding, one of the best aged barley wines I have had in a vey long time. I would have no issue with getting this one again, and the best part is I still have a couple more years to tackle on it now.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2008 05:18:06 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

4.35/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2007 Vintage shared generously by Bobby.

A: The pour is a dark amber color with a fluffy cream colored head and some excellent lacing.

S: A fantastic nose to this beer! Lots of caramel, dark fruits, brown sugar, toffee, and mild alcohol. A touch of oxidation, but in no way a bad thing.

T: The flavor is just as good as the nose, perhaps a bit better. There's lots of the usual caramel and brown sugar sweetness with some good notes of molasses and toffee along with plenty of fruitiness. There's a bit of bitterness which is surprising after a few years.

M: The bot is medium with a low, smooth carbonation and a slight bitterness.

D: This is definitely a quality barleywine and I'm pleased to have tried a couple different vintages now (2007 and 2008), both fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2010 04:05:19 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to bmanning for sharing a bottle of the 2008 version at a recent tasting.

A: Pours a bright copper brown with a small head.

ST: Lots of sweetness coming through with a little bit of hops coming on near the end--more of an English Barleywine, at least at this age. There are also some candied sugars, brown sugar, and a tad of caramel.

M: Pretty thick for the style, but not overly so. Quite a bit of alcohol.

D: Fairly drinkable, but a little much overall. A very good barleywine, and one I'll definitely seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2009 17:17:04 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.15/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2007 Vintage.

Appearance: Emerges from the paper-wrapped bottle a hazed, dark amber body capped with a sudsy, white head.

Smell: Markedly sweet-scented, reasonably candyish bouquet sporting full notes of toasted toffee and light brown sugar. Chock full of punchy fruity notes, everything from apricots to grilled pineapple rings, figs, white grapes, and even juicy clementines. Small sniff of wafting booze as well.

Taste: Vibrant maltiness displaying lusciously sweet tastes of light caramel, light brown sugar, toffee, and toasted grains dusted with table sugar. As with the aroma, there's a bold fruitiness present. Predominately citrusy hop character with a modest bitterness lessened with time away in the cellar. Splash of sherry. Drying finish with plenty of belly-warming alcohol and a long, lingering fruitiness.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied, chewy mouthfeel. Medium-low level of carbonation.

Drinkability: It's a rich, strong, but altogether inviting brew (at least with a couple years on it). Go get yourself some paper-wrapped goodness. I'll wait here.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2010 22:27:50 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a hazy dark amber/copper color with a rocky beige head that spots the chalice with lace

Smell: Caramel dominant, but a lot of citrus and other fruit flavors underneath - nectarine, pineapple, strawberry and, I do believe, a hint of almond

Taste: The fruit and caramel flavors joust from the outset, with the prickly citrus flavors dominating by mid-palate; all of the flavor in the aroma arrives on the palate, along with some burning alcohol after the swallow

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate, but prickly, carbonation; warmth in the gullet

Drinkability: The bold flavors and the alcohol limit the drinkability a tad, particularly on the finish, although I suspect that some age will address this problem

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2009 00:05:49 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4.18/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Bottle pour for New Brew Thursday's 3rd Anniversary event held at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach, CA.

2009 vintage - blue wax.

Pours a murky orange with a foamy khaki head that settles to a small cap on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, and citrus zest aromas. Taste is much the same with a citrus zest flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with some nice barleywine aromas and flavors.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 02:14:11 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a medium amber color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of toffee and caramel malt with sweet malt base is enjoyable enough for style. Taste is also dominated by medium sweet toffee notes with some caramel malt and a sweet finish. Body was about average for style with good carbonation with no apparent alcohol. I must admit that while this beer was satisfying it was definitely below my expectation - no dry fruit or interesting ester.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2010 18:04:57 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.58/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A delicious and well aged Barleywine that fuses the styles of English and American varieties. This '07 release (yellow wax) is phenominal with two+ years on it.

The beer pours with a froathy and viscous looking pour, bringing a mohogany ruby hue, mild haze, and a thin blanket of foam that sits properly atop the beer. The foamstance laces well as the beer falls.

Mouthwatering aromas of sherry, stone fruits, toffee, brown sugar, red licorice, and cherries prove to be a powerful and elegant preview of the beer. Complex and inviting.

Flavors of grapes, dates, figs, plumbs, prunes, cherries, berries, anise, oranges, pineapples... the fruity descriptors can go on and on. Deep malts give a deep caramel, toffee, molassas, and brown sugar, and fruitcake flavors that give a lot of complexity, far more than just caramel sweetness. Hop flavor gives more orange peel and pineapple, nearly herbal in its lightness and smoothness. Bitterness adds a varying bite to the otherwise sweet beer. The hops are a bit under stated for an American Barleywine but is a testiment to the beer's age- beginning to give a more English-like flavor.

Full, rich, and decently weighted on the palate. Hop dryness and alcohols help to dry the beer out but the beer remains reasonably sweet and malty throughout. Pretty classic of Barleywines.

This is simply a jewel of a beer. Thanks Stiggs!

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2010 03:46:27 | More by BEERchitect

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a tulip glass.

Big thanks to Florida9 and therealnomayo for making this mini-vertical possible!

We tasted the three most recent Grats ('08-10) side-by side, and I decided to let the '08 review do the talking for the group (I felt it was the best of the three). Bottle #94/700.

It pours a swampy sienna topped by a minor bit of off-white foam. A small population of minuscule floaties waltzes through the glass. The nose comprises potato skin, chive, toffee, light vanilla, graham crackers, honey, alcohol, cardboard, and oak. The taste holds notes of maple syrup, orange peel, orange zest, toffee, buttery caramel, honey, and chocolate. It all comes together in a very rich melange of tastiness. The body is a hefty-leaning medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a nearly chewy feel.

Overall, and I speak for all three bottles here, this is a damn fine barleywine, something I can see wanting to enjoy again in the future. Very much so. Get some!

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2011 20:17:10 | More by TMoney2591

drabmuh

Maryland

3.9/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Yellow wax provided by Lunch. Beer is served in a tulip glass near room temperature. Beer is brown and hazy with a serious off white head of small bubbles that leaves some lacing on the glass. Carbonation is low.

Aroma is super strong, almost too strong, I get that barleywines are at times quite in your face with the malt backbone of it but this one is REALLY IN MY FACE. Its super strong, all sweetness all malt. A little too much believe it or not. Smells a little of alcohol.

Beer is medium bodied and mildly hot to start off. Its strong and forward with the sweetness of the whole thing. It finishes a little dry, a little drier than I would like. There is no bitterness to this beer at all. I guess its like an exaggerated big barleywine. All of the hallmark flavors are there but its wasn't the easiest thing for me to drink overall. I mostly enjoyed it though. I'd like to try the older vintages or after these have aged some more.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2010 21:16:05 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4.22/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to thirdeye11 for sharing this bottle.

Bottle number 968 of 1,500. 2009 vintage with blue wax with a blue jay on the paper label/wrap. This is my first East End beer and one that I have been looking forward to trying. The beer pours a brownish-amber color with a very small white head. The aroma is brown sugar and cherries with possibly some oak. The flavor is cherry, oak, caramel malt and alcohol. The flavor is semi-sweet. Low carbonation and medium mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2010 02:11:38 | More by Mora2000

MasterSki

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle generously provided by soulforpeanuts in the last White Whale BIF. Shared with my bros on New Year's Eve. '05 Vintage, bottle #571/600.

A - A finger of lightly tanned foam settles to a thin partial cap, solid collar, and minimal lacing. Lightly hazed ruby brown body.

S - Red fruits, twizzlers, burnt sugar, toffee, treacle, light sherry-esque oxidation, some toasted grains and bread. As it warms up it develops a honey cake note as well. Pretty mellow for 11.5%. I'm also surprised by how well this has held up.

T - The taste has a little bit less depth to it than the aroma. Heavy doses of toffee, burnt sugars, Sultana raisins, and a bit of light hop bitterness that's a unexpected surprise. Really smooth stuff, with a liquid caramel vibe to it, but a slightly hollow mid-palate due to the extended aging. Still, I doubt I would have guessed this was over 6 years old.

M - Smooth and silky medium-full body, lower carbonation, lightly sticky and juicy texture, and negligible alcohol presence. Goes down super easy.

D - This was a lot better than the '06 I had in late 2010, and was a lot mellower alcohol-wise than the '06-'09 vertical we tried at hoppymeal's around the same time. I actually liked the fresh ones better then and was curious if the '05 would buck the trend. It does to some extent, but I can't see these beers aging as gracefully as something like J.W. Lees does, so I'd recommend drinking up once the 2011 gets released.

I'll likely fill out this review with my notes on '06-'09 when I figure out where I put them.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 16:18:12 | More by MasterSki

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This poured out as a deep orange color. The head was minimal intact it was just a thin white film on top of the beer. I believe the vintage was 2009 on this. The smell of the beer was sweet, good amount of hops on the nose and some boozy aromas too. The taste of the beer is sweet with some fruity notes and more booze. The mouthfeel was smooth. Overall this beer was really quite nice.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2011 06:56:12 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.08/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Got this from FreightTrain, cheers Jacob! Review based on notes, bottle 286/700

Pours brown/chestnut with a thumb of tan head. Murks up a bit at the bottom of the bottle, minimal head retention & zero lacing

S: Fruitty & oaky, plums come to fronts as this warms, as well as leafy hops

T: Cakeyness, orange slices & oakyness up front. Leafy hops & fruittyness dominate as this warms, plus dryness & dark fruit. Finishes dry & fruitty

MF: Pretty darn chewy with low carbonation

Drank fairly well, this failed to wow me as an ABW, not enough hops presence to satisfy me, still pretty good

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2009 03:21:07 | More by russpowell

emerge077

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2006 edition in brown paper and orange wax. Thanks to CrazyMacHarris99 for this bottle at DLD last year (and the Ten Fidy bonus)...i've been admiring it ever since! Review from notes.

Ruby orange body, long lasting foam that ebbs with a sticky lace. Super tropical fruity nose, all mango, papaya, apricot. Dominant sweet fruit flavors, rich and savory dried apricot and papaya again, backed by firm malty traces of melted caramel. Very clean and not overly yeasty/alcoholic as some bw's can be. Finishes so clean. Probably the best barleywine i've ever had, nice over the top fruit and easy drinking...

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2009 01:10:50 | More by emerge077

WVbeergeek

Ohio

5/5  rDev +16%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

East End Gratitude Red Wax 2005

#310 out of 600 on this hand written portion of the brown paper label, first I have to thank Margie from the Map Room for the opportunity to purchase this from her five bottle stash set aside for her brothers Christmas presents, well that fifth brother should have like beer a little more. Appears a ruddy orangish red tone with a real murky haze to it especially once the whole bottle gets poured forms a large sized fine bubbled creamy caramel tan head lacing forms with each sip and stayed on until I emptied my glass. Aroma has a brown sugar glazed fruit flow to it comes with pear, plum, raisin really overall a carmelized slightly burnt breadiness mildly spiced with tobacco leaf herbal effects, some vinous tartness and other well rounded earthy herbal hops thrown in. Flavor brings sugary esters and fruit tones galore more ripened plums, raisins, and a touch of passion fruit some pear/pineapple funk going on the sweetness is almost syrupy but enough of the burnt sugar comes from the wealthy malt bill to take the edge off not overly boozy but definitely detectable not US hopped takes the UK approach on this one in a good way earthy tobacco leaf in the finish really complements this barleywine. Mouthfeel is full bodied lucious creamy sticky texture really flows with an even carbonation incredibly smooth for such a big beer stays on the palate with a welcomed aftertaste. Drinkability an all out eye opener I got to sample this on cask at the East End open house and this stuff was incredible then with a bit of age on this bottle it's even better really will induce cravings for more after sharing with a my BA buddy jcdiflorio we both agreed we wished we had another bottle, only 600 bottles glad we had a shot at it. This is world class beer brewed in Pittsburgh, congrats again on Scott's recent recognition in the BA magazine.

East End Gratitude Barleywine Ale 2006 Orange wax seal 11.4% abv Pittsburgh, PA

Appearance is deep semi clouded blood orange amber with a tan head rising above the rim of my Piraat chalice. Lacing is thick and chunky in all of this beers aged beauty, unlike many others I've held onto this beer since the original release. A lot of the time was spent in jcdiflorio's cellar so I wouldn't be tempted to crack it prematurely, since yesterday I celebrated my 26th birthday I decided now was the time to break out the 2006 Gratitude. I think I'll snag a bottle of 2007 to hold onto until my next birthday. Did I mention the head retention and intricate lacing effortlessly coats the entire chalice, great looking barleywine.

Aromatics offer a harmonious blend of juicy over ripened fruit notes with tropical pineapple and plum brandy colliding. Big luscious hops offer up citrus peels and pine cone scents that bring you back to nature. Caramelized brown sugar and a soothing alcohol with borderline medicinal qualities also play a role in the experience. Bold American hops stand up well creating one hell of an East Coast Barleywine bred and brewed right here in the Burgh, once again amazing stuff.

Flavor coats the palate with sweet pineapple semi tart drizzled with caramelized brown sugar and soaked in plum brandy. Somewhat hot with alcohol but what good Barleywine isn't. Aggressive high alpha acid hop bursts bring citrus and pine cone with an earthy organic quality. Flavors work well I have a feeling based off of the draft version from it's initial release that this one is drinking it's prime. After adding the yeast sediment to my glass another layer of liquid bread quality overcomes an already fantastic drinking experience. Perfect blend of tooth numbing sweetness and enamel eating hoppiness, either way my mouth is tingling.

Mouthfeel is amazing velvet smoothness in the carbonation, medium to fuller bodied. Sticky edges from residual sweetness definitely bind to my palate, with hop oils really lubricating the situation. Great overall mouthfeel I can't wait until I age another of Scott Smith's incredibly complex malt and hop extravaganzas.

Drinkability easy to hoard and drink in a dark room by yourself or share with family and friends at a party. Even if the crowd may not understand Barleywines like most of us on this site, I guarantee if you offer a few samples of this brew around the room that you will open some palates up to new experiences possibly peak enough interest to pass on the craft beer revolution. Complexity with stunning adhesiveness breeds excellence in this style of beer, so far since 2005 Gratitude East End has nailed just that. Signed by Scott bottle number 1093/1300 here goes a big cheers right back at ya my friend.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2007 11:47:49 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a foggy ruby hued amber brown with a creme head.

Nose is chalky and fruity.

Flavor is amazing. Smooth sweet tones. Nice dark sugars and dark fruits. A smooth caramelized bundle o' joy. A touch of alcohol, but this one is young yet and I imagine it will fade away over time.

Feel is perfect. Smooth on liquid and a carbonation that is low but still strong enough to withstand some aging.

This beer. This beer is amazing. I fully intend to go to the '08 release and hold all persons hostage with a rubber band gun so that I may steal whatever '05s are in the cellar. I will then proceed to drink them. Hopefully they'll let me out of prison by the '09 release. Absolutely stunning.

Hey J.W. Lees and Thomas Hardy! Suck on this one!

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2008 00:58:54 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.48/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Scores are based upon two vintages.

2007 Yellow wax sampled 2/18/2012 A+ and 5.0 all the way
A: Poured a lightly muddied copperish brown color with good carbonation for its age and style, not to big on the bubbles, sits well. Looks sexy.

S: Big dark fruits on this beer: Figs, plums and a chocolate covered raison. Some stinging booze, toffee

T: Wow. This is what I want. Nice sweet toffee and light sweetness with a backbone of light chocolate and dark fruits; figs, dates, prunes, raisins and a few plums thrown in for good measure. Booze is well masked and its very mellow, well rounded at thips point

M: Sticky sweet, tasty, well carbonated. It sits on the tongue and palate. Very, very nice

O: Best of the best. Best American Bwine(non BA I have had to date)

2009 Blue wax reviewed on 1/8/2011 A-

A:Poured a thick light copperish color with a nice tan cap

S: Caramel, some dark fruits, booze

T: Good amount of bitterness is noticed. Plenty of caramel, hints at toffee, cocoa, brown sugar and some dried dark fruits

M: Sordove slick, boozy but very good taste and body

D: Very good

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 12:53:48 | More by barleywinefiend

Wasatch

Utah

4.47/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks goes out to Hojaminbag for this brew.

2007 Edition
Yellow Wax/Capped
Cool Paper Wrapped Bottle
Bottle #774/1500 Signed by Scott

Poured into a tulip a very nice golden amber color, some carbonation, not much of a head or sticky lacing on this one, but some oil slicks or left behind. The nose is malty, some hops, spices, some dark fruits. The taste is very nice, sweet, malty, hoppy notes, figs/raisins/plums on the light side. Medium body, the ABV is hidden pretty well, so far, lol Very Drinkable, this is my first East End brew, and it is a very nice one, hopefully I will be able to try some other's, thanks Ben.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2009 19:22:31 | More by Wasatch

mdfb79

New York

4.28/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From 09/25/10 notes. Shared by Paul (Lunch) at a recent tasting. Yellow wax, 2007 vintage.

a - Pours a dark brown color with 2 inches of tan head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of dark fruit, molasses, caramel malts, toasted malts, and a hint of alcohol.

t - Tastes of dark fruit, sugar, caramel malts, toffee, and fruity malts. A little sweet, which I enjoyed.

m - Medium body and low to moderate carbonation. Smooth and very easy going down considering the high ABV.

d - A very nice barleywine. I really liked the taste; it's a little sweet and fruity, but I thought it was great and not too sweet. Very easy to drink consdering the ABV, which is kind of dangerous. I have an 09 bottle and hope it's as smooth as the 07.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2010 23:45:40 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

'10 vintage, thanks to John D. for this bottle, and noslenwerd for the one in my cellar.

Fizzy light head, reddish brown mahogany color, a bit of lacing but not a lot as the head doesn't do much.

Nose lots of chewy malts, sweet malts and syrups, molasses, woody esters, fruit like a Belgian yeast like aroma, light herbal and earthy hops.

Taste is rich, heavy malts, little syrupy, caramel, lots of toffee, fairly bitter with earthy and herbal hops, reddish malts, toasty, little creamy, crystal and munich malts, light astringent and tannic like flavor. Finishes sweet still, a little boozy, lingering syrups and sweet malts, little sticky, light hops and bitterness lingering. Some light alcohol phenols and esters.

Mouth is lush, pretty big bodied, light carb, bit boozy.

Overall decent, not as great as I expected but still good. From what I hear the '09 version was much better, but this was def tasty just didn't live up to the hype IMO.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2011 01:16:25 | More by jlindros

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.97/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Insane return of DrJay tasting, day 3. Jay brought 2005-2007 vintages.

2005 - 4.9/5 Bottle #91/600

Pours a clear dark orange/coppery red, thin off white head forms, drops some lace spots and settles to a thick ring around the glass, nice retention. Smell is amazing, very rich, tons of toffee, light pine, brown sugar, figs and raisins, more caramel, light earthiness, very insane rich, just amazing. Taste is similar, very rich and malty, tons of toffee, bread, brown sugar, maple, light citrus, more caramel, buttery oak, lots of fig and raisin, just perfect. Mouthfeel is full bodied, almost syrupy, low carbonation, some warmth, insanely smooth and drinkable. Wow, best American barleywine ever.

2006 - 4.3/5 Bottle #587/1300

Pours a hazy dark orange, almost brown, thick off white head forms, drops a ton of lace on the glass, settles to a thin ring, nice retention. Smell is nice, sweet and sugary, alcohol, toffee, raisins, brown sugar, quite fragrant, really nice and malty, some floral. Taste is nice too, brown sugar and toffee, very caramelized, some pine/grapefruit, raisins, very rich malts, bready, a lot rougher than the 2005. Mouthfeel is full bodied, with low carbonation, some heat. Definitely not as smooth as the 2005 but still a great barleywine.

2007 - 4.4/5 Bottle #1244/1500

Pours a clear dark orange/red, very thick off white head forms, drops to a solid layer, tons of lace on the glass, very nice retention. Smell is nice, sweet and sugary, toffee, some pineapple, brown sugar, pine, butterscotch and oak, very rich, nice and malty. Taste is very rich, toasty up front, thick toffee, some brown sugar, gingerbread, some spicy alcohol, figs, an oaky/ash-like finish, slightly astringent. Mouthfeel is full bodied with low carbonation, super smooth, some warmth. Great barleywine as well, I found it better than the 06 but no where near the 05. Thanks a ton for these beers Jay!

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2009 02:20:38 | More by Viggo

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

From notes:

2007 vintage. Pours a deep dark mahogany/chesnut brown color with a thick, frthy two finger light beige head that has excellent retention, slowly fadig into a lasting cap that coats the glass with large chunks of soapy lacing.

Sweet malty aroma with subtle spice, booz, dak fruit and earthy hops. Leathery with hints of caramel, toffee and biscuit as well as some plum, fig and raisin. Faint earthy hops and peppery spice add to the nose. Sweet alcohol bit doesn't smell too boozy considering it's 11.5%.

Creamy, chewy full body with an excellent balance of leathery and sweet malt, booze, dark fruit and earthy hops. The mouthfeel of this beer is onenof the best I've encountered in the style. Slightly earthy with lots of sweet malt going off hints of caramel, toffee, hazelnut, rye and biscuit. There are some earthy hops balancing thing out especially in the finish whichns long, dry and slightly bitter. Very well balanced and extremely quaffable with faint hints of dark fruit, especially plum and raisin. The alcohol sweetness is there but it isn't hot at all and the high ABV is excellently masked making it deceptively drinkable. Highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2011 21:16:30 | More by corby112

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.18/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Have had this bottle for several years now. It's the yellow capped bottle, which I belive is from 2007.

The beer pours a reddish amber color with very good head retention and considerable lacing. The nose is very attractive, showcasing an intense aroma array of honey, brown sugar (lots of brown sugar), toffee, butterscotch and vanilla. The flavor profile generally replicates the nose in this very sweet and rich BW. The brown sugar, honey and vanilla really dominate, but there's enough underlying hoppy bitterness to keep it from becoming too much of a good thing. There is also a bity of heat from the 11.5% alcohol, which detracts a bit from the otherwise excellent flavor profile, but fortunately it's not overdone. Mouthfeel is full, with a long, smooth, sweet, rich finish. There is also a hint of bitterness in the finish, which helps to cut the sweetness a bit. Drinkability is quite good, with the alcohol well integrated into the flavor profile. The beer is not at all heavy, tiring or cloying (despite the sweetness), though obviously this beer is very much a sipper.

Very, very nice, and I have to say this beer has held up very well over the years. I'm guessing this beer could easily go another 3 to 5 years without losing a thing. Impressive BW from East End, I must say.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2011 19:37:59 | More by johnmichaelsen