Gratitude
East End Brewing Company

GratitudeGratitude
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From:
East End Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
Ranked #34
ABV:
11.5%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,843
Avg:
4.26 | pDev: 9.39%
Reviews:
265
Ratings:
700
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 03, 2024
Added:
Dec 23, 2005
Wants:
  787
Gots:
  155
A limited edition Barleywine Style Ale, brewed in November in the American tradition and hand packaged to specially commemorate the anniversary of the brewery each year.

Gratitude Wax Colors:

2005-Red Wax
2006-Orange Wax
2007-Yellow Wax
2008-Green Wax
2009-Blue Wax
2010-Indigo Wax
2011-no wax, blank cap (Flatitude)
2012-no wax, "12" on cap (Flatitude)
2013-Violet Wax
2014 - red wax, label made to look like paper
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by JohnQVegas:
Photo of JohnQVegas
Reviewed by JohnQVegas from Tennessee

4.52/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Review #500. I chose this particular beer for two reasons - both celebrations, but of very different natures. First, I chose this to celebrate my gratitude at the birth of my first daughter two weeks ago - healthy, happy, and already (along with her mother) the love of my life. Second, to celebrate the life of my friend Dev (buckeyesox), a great BA and an even better person, who passed away far too soon yesterday. In both of these instances, I am extremely grateful that I have had the chance to include these individuals in my life. Hence, Gratitude. Alice, I love you, and Dev, you will be missed, my friend. I'm truly grateful that you've found peace.

Probably the most amazingly packaged bottle I've ever seen, orange wax, 2006 vintage, number 302/1300. Thanks to Dan (CoalCellar) for the chance to try this beauty, and it's only appropriate that the trade for this included a beer sent to me by Dev (Dark Lord '09). Poured into red wine glass. Drank very close to room temperature. Gorgeous bottle.

Pours murky dark red-brown, rich, with a 1.5 finger head that settles into a thin but extremely persistent light-khaki cap, very nice stickage and decent lacing. I had to assign some bonus points for the fantastic packaging.

Nose is phenomenal. Massive notes of sweet tropical fruits - mangos and even pineapple, almost candied, brown sugar, light caramel that hints at butterscotch; a bit boozey, but not over the top by any stretch. Decadent and fantastic.

This one is by far at its best around room temp. Taste is sweet and rich up front - notes of toffee, caramel, and brown sugar, with loads of buttery ripe fruit (cherries, dates, even a bit of rindy tangerine) rolling over the tongue in wave after wave. A prickly, earthy bitterness is still just a bit resiny, emerging towards the middle of the palate and staying ever present, though never coming close to stealing the show from the fantastic richness from the malts. Spicy alcohol lends another layer of bite (especially in the back of the throat at swallow) and takes a decidedly boozy bent at times, but never out of control. Finish starts off rich and sweet, if prickly, before easing into a lingering, moderate bitterness that sticks around on the palate for some time.

Mouthfeel is very nice - soft and a bit fluffy, wonderful light prickle of carbonation with a very full body that avoids ever becoming syrupy. Hits all the possible high points while avoiding all the pitfalls that tend to plague beers of this size and type. Very well done.

Drinkability is actually not bad. Obviously, in grading this, I'm treating it as a slow sipper - a fantastic after dinner drink. But there's so much going on, and the alcohol is prominent enough, that I can't imagine drinking more than a bottle of this. Even this single bottle will surely take awhile.

All in all, the perfect beer for today. Rest in peace, my friend - I'm grateful that I knew you well enough to understand how much you'll be missed.
Jul 20, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of mpk2020
Rated by mpk2020 from Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Draft at the brewery in Pittsburgh
Jan 03, 2024
Photo of CarolinaCardinals
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Received a can of East End Gratitude from @DIM 8-24-23. Canned 2-3-23; consumed 12-23-23.

Beer poured a tea-colored brown with a very nice off-white head that is leaving some lacing behind.

Nose is very nice, getting a very nice combination of dark fruits and fresh citrus.

Taste is very well executed! The large malt base gives me notes of caramel, figs, and brown sugar. Hop bill is giving a strong dose of orange and grapefruit with the finish giving a nice pine bitterness; 8/10 on my scale.

Mouthfeel is medium to large bodied with each sip being silky smooth.

Overall this could be Bigfoot's big brother, very similar. Glad i got the opportunity to try, thanks Dan!
Dec 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Nyoder

Nov 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by ejimhof from Pennsylvania

Nov 05, 2023
Photo of M-Fox24
Reviewed by M-Fox24 from New Jersey

4.32/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A: A bole toned decant with a burnt umber aid through the emissions, while the carafe transpires a canvas brown invention. The process is repeated upon the timed stagnations, where the transfers offer/develop a nuanced clarity. At the outset, a complementary collar that briefly supersedes the inch, by suggesting a unison amongst polypeptides & acids. This comes with a bisque to champagne tinge, as the progression works to sever that stature thru a golden fog rim. Accordingly, a severance that offers an elegant latticework, from the refined residues, without obligatory tension. In time, a viscosity element over the painted – monastery – windows, as the increments capitulate a heating engraving

S: A malt to yeast webwork that’s pitted against a new level, of aged refermentation, as the hop effect distantly grows. The entryway hints at the components most found in a Stroopwafel, aside the rich caramel conveys. Moreover, an isoamyl octanoate undercoat to the more direct – dark – fruit bearings, where figs atop flame raisins, before softly ciphering in Pflaumenmus. There is a deciduous camphor airstream in circumference, which adds a mint to menthol element, while a coniferous scots builds upon the bittering strengths. Correspondingly, an earthy headway amongst the woodsy incursions, as hyssop connotations develop, beyond the clove & marjoram orifices. The starch-to-sugar conversions have lessened over the timespan, which lends a relaxed saccharification to the aforementioned pillars. A movement that addresses the vintage through a smart solvency, given the calculated repression on oxygenation. This comes not only with the years, but with phased transfers across balmy – hourly – increments. To that extent, an ethyl acetate reflection that involves a nuanced perception on sherry, for getting Amontillado to reach Latakia tobacco

T: The timeworn has elevated the initial sensitivity on the diastatic enzyme conversions to a new level, which augments the sweetness, by progression. As a result, the gustation is more relaxed on the greenery counters, as the grain bill pushes those bready to doughy reserves. Albeit, a hop effect that remains central to the course, while esters assist in the hourly altitudes. The dispatches are therefore rich in malt outputs, by slinging heath bars aside Torta de nata. Coupled with, barhi dates & dried goji berries, as the yeast draws on an ethyl hexanoate chord. This being the implied red fruits with an aniseed cast, while a colophony sphere mitigates. Due to that fact, a tactful hop impact to impart pine needles near dry cedar wood, while contextualizing floral bouquets. There is a citrus – grapefruit – bitter articulation thru the expansion, which accompanies the candied stone fruits, as acetates build off the clocked intervals. Meanwhile, a distant decant subjected to open air, besides the added years, for degassed complexities over Bustrengo. The notes persevere on the heated draws near Bärenjäger & smoked lavender, while lightly addressing the behaviors most akin to phenylethanols with a caproate partnership. Sequentially, the vintage escorts the 4th hour @ a >78°F interval to lend Madeira, by suggesting Malmsey, which pursues an oxidized nuttiness. A continuation that implores burning Grow houses under elderly Dunskins, beyond the fiery red grounds

M: Cut – bygone – ebullitions amidst a refined adhesiveness, which amends sweetness against the fermentable complications. A warming surface structure that’s smooth upon equalizing, from an age-old viscosity to a calm desiccation. The output is time-honored with an intrinsic richness, as ethanol smartly burns over an attenuated cessation, while a suppressed bite rearguards the aridity

O: An oxidized comfort with a refermented/conditioned involvedness, which kindles a fine silkiness without barrel foreplay. Accordingly, a non-barrel aged vintage that swaps esters, for the more habitual acetates, when calming the greeneries. In this case, the added time is paired alongside an uncapped & decanted patience, as a way to recognize the impact contingent on evaporation and oxidation
Mar 31, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by bruindre from Massachusetts

Feb 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by Ristaccia from Nebraska

Dec 12, 2022
Photo of Beersnake
Reviewed by Beersnake from California

4.3/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a can at fridge temp. Pours a murky orange with a thin layer of head. Nose is wonderful - toffee candy all the way. Werther's. Raisins, plums, a touch of minty pine, maple, and a slight citrus peel note.

The taste is awesome. A perfect balance of sweetness and slight bitterness from the hops. Wow. Toffee, pine, citrus peel, raisins, figs, candy, big malty note, bread, and alcohol heat. Really well done.

The mouthfeel is dry, medium bodied, and nicely warming. Some alcohol bite is there. The aftertaste is primarily citrus peel bitterness. Overall, a wonderful example of an American Barleywine. I can't wait to see how these age for a little while.
Nov 24, 2022
 
Rated: 4.19 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Oct 09, 2022
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.27/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2022 vintage, 12 oz can

pours a very dark copper color. clear. thick cream colored head. great head retention. very nice aroma - toasty caramel malt, classic C-hops - citrus, dank pine. similar flavors in the taste, good balance between the malt and firm bitterness. just a touch boozy. sticky mouthfeel, medium bodied.
Sep 04, 2022
 
Rated: 4.03 by Sound_Explorer from Washington

Aug 06, 2022
 
Rated: 5 by doctorgary from New York

Aug 01, 2022
 
Rated: 4.13 by mattmarka1 from Minnesota

Jul 25, 2022
 
Rated: 4.21 by Abstractspirit from Rhode Island

Jul 13, 2022
 
Rated: 4.49 by notchucknorris from California

Jun 18, 2022
Photo of Roy_Hobbs
Reviewed by Roy_Hobbs from Connecticut

3.73/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Pours a bright, almost glowing light amber. Plenty of head that for some reason reminded me of a tan macaron in both color and texture. Overall, this is an attractive beer.

Aroma is sweet caramel and molasses with fig and some light alcohol lurking. It's fairly reserved overall, in that nothing bursts from the glass. That said, it still smells quite good.

On the tongue, the alcohol makes a clear and immediate impression, as does the bite from the hops. The malts definitely take a back seat. There's a little bit of sweetness, but it's clearly secondary.

Full bodied and silky smooth. There's a little bit of alcohol warming on the way down, but it's subdued. Low to medium carbonation. Very long finish.

Overall, a good Saturday sipper!
Jun 18, 2022
Photo of Fordcoyote15
Reviewed by Fordcoyote15 from Pennsylvania

4.36/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Not sure how I dont have this rates?! I've had it several times before.

I'll rate this 2022 can

The amber hue is beautiful. Also noting hefty sediment st the bottom of the glass.

The smell isn't mind blowing. Its fairly benign and unassuming.

The flavor profile is very bigfoot-esque but definitely better. Its less bitter than Bigfoot and has more caramel sweetness. Still, a pretty bitter and quintessential example of an American barleywine. In fact... i would argue this is probably THEE American barleywine measuring stick. Bigfoot is just too much of a palate wrecker though it does convey all the aspects to familiarize one with the style. Gratitude does it equally as well but with more refinement IMO.

The feel is a little sticky up front but dries out quickly on the finish as you exhale an evaporating heavy dose of ethanol.

Overall Im drinking this one at cellar temperature of about 57ish and I'm not enjoying it quite as much as I recall previously. Could be a beer thats better more chilled, could be I'm off (very likely), or could be accurate at 4.25.

---

Drinking this again on 12-2-22 this time chilled. This is arguarbly the best American barleywine I know and blows Bigfoot away with balance and refinement. Bumping twste and overall from 4.25 to 4.75 each for being the arguably best ive experienced per style.
May 04, 2022
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Reviewed by Luscious_Malfoy from Illinois

4.41/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
poured from a 12oz can into a snifter. pours like sun tea or apple cider with a one finger off-white foam head. lot of dried, dark fruits in the nose. maybe even some burnt sugar / caramel. taste follows with a pleasant fruity wet cardboard barleywine flavor. this is pretty old school American in the sense that it’s not very toffee or caramel forward. more hoppy and fruity. it has a wonderfully full mouthfeel; enough carbonation but it’s still creamy and way too east drinking for 11%. even as it warmed up it still maintained an easy drinking stature with wonderful fruity, hoppy undertones. good stuff.
Apr 10, 2022
 
Rated: 3.92 by not2quick from Missouri

Mar 31, 2022
Gratitude from East End Brewing Company
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 700 ratings