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.

Beer # 122 Arch Brewing Dinner Jacket O'Red IPA

Dinner Jacket O'Red IPA

Arch Brewing Company

Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Independent
IPA 6.3% ABV Aluminium Can 473 ml
$2.85 (Canadian) At LCBO 
Twitter: @ArchBrewingCo

Tonight we are trying a new beer that I just came across from a new brewery I hadn't heard of yet. Arch Brewing Company is a contract brewery that utilises the facilities at  the Wellington Brewery in Guelph Ontario. Run by husband and wife team Sue and Bill King, who brew with the jet setting brewmaster to the stars Paul Dickey; who has worked with craft brewing Icons such as Dennison's, Black Oak, Mill Street, Kensington's, and Claude and Nathan's Double Trouble Brewing (where he formulated a Pint Jockey Fav: Hops and Robbers). Most Recently he created the debut beer for Sue and Bill: Dinner Jacket O'Red IPA. The O in O'Red stands for oatmeal. and I must admit this is the first time I have seen it in an IPA.

Enough backstory... onto the tasting:

Dark amber to light chestnut in colour with a small off-white head made up of small bubbles. Aroma is light malt, some sugar, and a touch of bread. First sip is roasty and malty, very light, slightly thin but still refreshing. Drinks similarly to an English Bitter ale. Caramel and brown sugar through the middle, finishing is a hoppy, green, bitter finish. Despite being 6.3 % ABV the feeling of the beer is very light. Aeration gives us sweet caramel, taffy and light malt.

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:  5/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:

A very good brew and a wonderful first offering from Arch. Hopefully we will see more from them in the future.
Cheers

CJT


Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey

Like me on Facebook: Pint Jockey Online

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