Beer # 137 Side Launch Wheat

Side Launch Wheat

Side Launch Brewing Company

Collingwood, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Wheat 5.0 % ABV Aluminum Can 473 ml
$3.95 (Canadian) At LCBO 
Twitter: @sidelaunch

Side Launch is a relatively new brewery in the Collingwood area of Ontario. Rich in shipbuilding history, naturally the brewery took on a nautical theme. Side Launch is a specific way to launch a large ship such as the grain carriers that were built in Collingwood to sail the Great Lakes. The video below from Youtube shows the recent side launch (December 2013) of the Littoral Combat Ship Milwaukee as an example. As you can see The ship leans over dramatically in the water, and accidents were common.




Back to Collingwood. Side Launch (the brewery) is a collaboration between Dennison's Brewpub founder and brewmaster Michael Hancock and a group of investors that wanted to bring a craft brewery to the Collingwood area. Side Launch as of yet doesn't seem to have a website (as they are technically still in the opening stages) but I found this announcement on the Dennison's Brewing Company's old website here. Dennison's had been without a home since 2003. Brewing it's two remaining brands by license at other breweries, Dennison's was mainly supplying kegs to craft beer bars in Toronto (ie C'est What, Bar Volo, and the Only Cafe). Then Hancock was offered the opportunity to become head brewer at the new venture in Collingwood where he brought his two well established beers and re branded them. Dennison's Dunkel  became Side Launch Dark Lager, and Weissbier became tonight's offering: Side Launch Wheat. Later this summer, a new beer is due out. A Side Launch Pale ale... which I am very excited to get my hands on.

Onto the Tasting... Launch away!


Colour is translucent light gold with a thin white head made of small bubbles. Aromas are banana and clove. Taste is sweet banana and spice followed by malted wheat. Slightly tinny. Lightly sour on the finish. Some citrus aeration gives us a burst of cloves and citrus.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 5/6 PASS
Re-Order:  5/6 PASS
Experience:  4/6 PASS


Final Thoughts: 

A very good beer. It is the same recipe as the original weissbeer, the only thing different is the source of the water. My one and only complaint is that I feel this beer suffered from being canned. As it is such a light citrusy and vibrant beer the tinny under note really detracted from the flavour. I will stick to drinking this one on tap. But please, get out there and try this beer. Not only does it mark a new day for brewing in Collingwood, it honours a tradition of brewing in Toronto.
Cheers


CJT



Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey

Like me on Facebook: Pint Jockey Online

And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.