Gratitude (Rye Barrel-Aged)
East End Brewing Company

 

Gratitude (Rye Barrel Aged) from East End Brewing. Four pack of12 fl oz cans, purchased 02/04/26 from Franklin Beer, Franklin, PA. $ 24.50/$ 0.510/fl oz. On room temperature shelf at distributor, stored at 40 degrees F at home. Reviewed 05/04/26, review 3719. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Undated can. Served at 55.0 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 61.7 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.
First pour – Medium Amber (SRM 12), slight haze.
Body – Deep Amber (SRM 15), opaque. Under direct light, medium amber. When rear-lit, orange amber and glows.
Head – Average (Maximum 3.8 cm, aggressive center pour). Apricot, high density, average duration; the head drops to an irregular 0.5 – 0.8 cm crown fed by carbonation, and a thin, complete, rocky cap. Some Morse code lacing remains as the cap contracts.
Lacing – Fair. Other than the initial lacing (above), no more appears until the level is below half full. Then we have some odd formations resembling the Dakota Badlands.
Aroma – 4 – Sweet malt with hints of a generic graininess. No hops, no alcohol, no rye barrels.
Flavor – 4.25 – Slightly sweet with dried apricot flavor, along with some rye spiciness and earthiness. No hops, no alcohol (11.4 % according to the label). No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Moderate gastric warming.
Palate – 4 – Medium: Slightly syrupy: Soft carbonation.
Style: Follows the BA style description.
Final impression and summation: 4 (After deducting 0.25 point for an undated container) Uncredited label art. Possibly the best brew I’ve ever had from East End – head and shoulders above their basic barleywine Gratitude. This actually has great flavor and aroma as opposed to their basic barleywine. However, it does lack the excellent lacing of the base beer.

2020 vintage; consumed on 11/30/2023

Pours an ultra-deep, blood-ruby hue capped with multiple fingers of fluffy, pale caramel-colored foam; solid head retention leaves a finger of cap, large, frothy collar, and generous spattering of soapy, webby lacing spread around the walls of the glass.

Aromas of grapefruit pith phase to potpourri, espousing hints of sandalwood and toasted rye as sweetness abounds late, washing raisins, caramel, and melted Werthers over the bouquet's peak.

Taste opens to grapefruit reduction and a contrasting touch of toffee marshmallow; level rye spice extends slight peppercorn undertones over the mid-palate while oaky caramels carried alongside a warming whiskey tone mark the back end of the profile.

Mouthfeel brings a medium-full body and a rounded, prickly spritz of carbonation; silky texturing coats the mid-palate into a warming, dry back end further characterized by fluffy grit and pseudo-stickiness fading with the swallow.

A varied cacophony presents as sticky hop spew coats playfully spiced richness tempered in barrel warmth; essential aspects of the American Barleywine accented with an elevated, engaging richness.