East End Gratitude

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

February 2011 Vertical Tasting: Bottles from the 2010, 2009, and 2008 releases were shared. All three were different in their own ways, but the base remained the same. 2010 a very fruity flavor even for a barleywine, the mix of malty fruit flavors leaves no doubt this English in style in lieu of the massively hopped American examples. Notes of cereal and perhaps some noble hops lead to a medium bodied sipper. Perhaps a bit young yet, interesting yet nothing to overly excite. 2009 proved to be my favorite by far and I'd like to think it's merely another year in the cellar that has transformed this into the great barleywine poured from this bottle. However I would guess that maybe the recipe or methods were tweaked for this year because of how well it stood out from the youngest and oldest samples. 2008 seemed similar to the 2010 and was good, just nothing compared to the middle.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

i am happy to get to try this brew, thanks fishhead! .. . medium murky brown .. no abv detected .. . happy yet aged .. . low old fruits . . good, lots of complexities! . . yellow wax .. brazilian wax is good too.. just had the blue wax.. and it sooo much better fresh!!

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

THis is one strong, sweet beer...but a good beer. The beer pours a dark copper colour with a thick cream coloured head. The aroma was plums, molasses, licorice, and dark malt. The flavour was dark malt, caramel, and some sweet sugar hints.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

A dark amber apperance with a white head. The aroma is alcohol, cherries, brown sugar, and molasses. The flavor is rather sweet and oakey with some citrus, cherries, and dark fruits. Seems more English style to me but alas a good one!

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 2 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 3

On tap at the Bocktown. This has a beautiful show for a pour. Once it is dispensed in to the glass there is a roll of foam that starts on the bottom and continues to the top. It takes about a minute for this stuff to settle. The appearance therefore starts out as a 5 and then settles to a 3. Don’t miss the pour of this, it is part of this beers enjoyment and fireworks. Darkish cloudy brew. Perfumy fruity aroma. The flavor starts off sweet and is more gentle and well behaved compared to many barley wines I’ve had in the past. At first it is much easier to palate. Mind you, I am not a fan of barley wine styles. There is very little detectable hoppyness, if any. The alky impact begins to build as each sip continues. Begins to come on like a liquor with all its high alky glory. There seems to be quite a fruityness to it. Wow, that back of the throat impact just keeps getting stronger. Quite an evolution of flavors. Wow, the impressive offense of this brew just keeps getting stronger, it will not quit! Although barley wine is not my style, this has got to be one of the higher rated ones on my list, it is acceptable to a point. Does not immediately mow over my girlie man taste buds, it takes a few minutes to do that and in the meantime, you can experience quite a development of flavors. I am almost ashamed to enter this rating because I know this is an excellent beer within it’s style. However, I am not experienced enough to rate within the style and therefore I rate as to how much I enjoy. In consolation, I must say tho, that this is the best barly wine I have had in recent memory. Scott, please frogive me for the numbers!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Poured a hazy amber color with a small, off white head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of port, green apples, grapes and toffee malts, with caramel and light alcohol as well. Taste of sweet caramel and dried fruits, with some nuttiness, and light smoke as well. Alcohol in the finish.