Granite Brewery Gin Lane Ale

Brewed by Granite Brewery (Toronto)
Style: Barley Wine
Toronto, Canada

Serve in Snifter

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

Date: 03/22/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: clear dark amber, wispy beige head, bits of drippy lace,
Aroma: sweet fruity aroma with a nice earthy balancing character,
Flavor: rich sweet dark caramel flavor, lots of earthy character, touch of fruityness, the earthyness dries it out a lot,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

A dark reddish brown ale with a thcik creamy moka head. A nice treacle, molasses and licorice, quite nice. In mouth, a good licorice malt with warming alcohol and treacle. Medium bodied. On tap at the brewpub with Sammy, March 22, 2009.

Tap at the brewery, Toronto. Deep amber pour. The aroma is sweet and malty. Lots of caramel and toffee as well as some light estery character. Fairly peppery yet sweet. The hopping is quite moderate allowing the yeast and the malt to shine through. Very British tasting and I think it would age pretty well, although I’m not sure they really do that. Soft lingering fruit with notes of dates, apricots and dried pears. It’s decent, although not really what I usually go for in my barley wine.

Growler: Pours a transparent dark copper amber with a spotty-lacing white head. Aroma of lightly sweet and tart caramel notes with a fruity esters comlpexity. Body starts lightly caramely sweet with a touch of fruity esters and an earthy mildly citric flavor Finishes semi-sweet and tart. A decent barleywine with some light fruity complexity.

Good hop and malt aroma. Retaining white soapy head, some lace. Fairly young, a touch of roast, a spot of sugar. medium mouthfeel. Well balanced. A sipping beer, satisfying aftertaste. The best effort yet by this brewery.

Draft. Served a bit too cold but warms nicely. Red tinged brown body, with a small creamy off white head. (3+) Sweet fruity aroma, with lots of caramel, figs, raisins and abiguous dark fruit. Touch of round alcohol is enough to let you know it is there. Very English character to it. Touch of sherry. Smooth syrupy medium palate. Quite enjoyed this. Carries its 9% bulk with grace and poise. Lacks the oomph and complexity of American style Barleywines but I expect that is intentional. Under rated in my opinion, I look forward to new experiments from the Granite.

Amber brown with rocky head. Some alcohol is present as expected, sweet raisin, plum and sugar syrup. Softer palate than aroma, rich full bodied, raspberry fruity character, light bitter finish.

UPDATED: JAN 26, 2006 Draught. At Volo. Poured slightly hazy deep mahogany with a small white head. Aroma - very appealing, almost sour yeasty malt, hints of hardwood and nuttiness - very much a UK style to my nose. Taste again makes me think "UK" - sweet nutty roast malt, no alcohol that I can detect, very drinkable. Sticky, flat mouthfeel, decent body - overall a session BW - I’ll have it again!

Growler at ’December at DougShoemaker’s 2005’ -- courtesy of DougShoemaker. Pours a slightly murky dark amber with a spare white head. Aroma of fruit, hops, malt and alcohol. The flavour of malt, fruit and alcohol is nice but a little mild for a Barley Wine. Still, this is quite good and I look forward to having it again on tap.

[099-20061110] Tap @ Granite (Toronto, ON) -- 2006. Bready, doughy aroma. Cloudy, muddy brown body with a medium-lasting creamy off-white head. Flavour is honey-sweet old wine or sherry, light coriander, light wheat, and something like currants or raisins. Feels like thick, smooth wine with hidden alcohol. Seems different, kind of a nice shock.