Gin Lane Ale is the Granite’s new “barley wine”. Barley wines are very strong ales ranging in alcohol from 8% to 12% ABV. They are also very heavily hopped with IBU (bittering units) from 50 to 100. They originated in England over 100 years ago when English brewers were trying to compete with the influx of wine from France. Gin Lane Ale comes in at 9% ABV with 55 IBU’s. It was very well hopped in the brewing process and it was also dry-hopped in the secondary fermentor, much like we dry hop the Bitter and IPA. It is made with lots of 2 row malted barley, carastan malt, black malt and flaked barley. It has been generously hopped with East Kent Goldings (bittering hops) and Fuggles (aroma). It was also dry hopped with Fuggles. The alcohol strength will be immediately noticed and you should get a “winey” sweetness.