PALE ALE ~ SIDE LAUNCH

Side Launch’s Pale Ale advertises a balance between traditional British and modern American styles. Sampled on draught this brew pours slightly hazy amber with a generous frothy resilient bone white head, which left some very nice lacing. The nose has notes of caramel, floralsps. The taste is nicely balanced between sweet bready malts, hints of caramel and leafy bitter hops. Notes of tropical fruit, pine, citrusy hops are also evident. The body is light to medium and feels a little creamy on the palette, The carbonation was on the soft side. This beer is both flavourful and very quaffable. Highly sessionable and well crafted.

5.3% from Collingwood, Ontario  

35 IBU

SIDE LAUNCH ~ DARK LAGER

This dark lager was previously brewed as Denison’s Dunkel. Sampled on draught it pours a transparent coppery brown with a fluffy off white head. The head dissipated slowly to a ring, but only left scant lacing. The nose contained notes of caramel, dark fruit, toast, hay, earthy hops and roasted malts. The taste contained molasses, and treacle, roasted malts, minerals, and dark chocolate. The flavour was malt forward but not too sweet with a nice subtle balance of hop bitterness. The body is on the light side, the mouthfeel is smooth and the carbonation was moderate. This is an approachable beer – good in any season.

5.7 % from Collingwood, Ontario

SIDE LAUNCH - GERMANIC BOCK

This Germanic Bock (strong, dark German style lager) is part of the ‘Ships of Collingwood Series’ ~ somehow this pays homage to the last wooden ship built in the Collingwood Shipyards in 1899. Sampled on draught the beer poured a tawny amber colour with a frothy head. The nose contained lots of caramel, roasted malts (Munich malt was liberally used in brewing) and a very subtle dark fruit. The flavours follows as would be expected, lots of malty goodness, with enough hops to complement the malts. Caramel and berry fruitiness become more evident as the beer warms. The berries linger in the finish. A very nice offering.

6.1% from Collingwood, Ontario

DUNKELBACH ~ SIDE LAUNCH 

Dunkelbach is a special edition brew that is being served at select bars during a Side Launch tap takeover. This beer is a dark lager aged in Syrah casks. Sampled on draught the beer poured a deep brown with deep garnet highlights, with a modest mocha coloured head. The nose had notes of tart berries, caramel malt, wood, and wine. The beer has lots of wine notes on the palette, sour dark malts, tart berry and wood are also evident in the flavour. I found the beer to be quite acidic, at times verging on vinegary. The body was medium and the carbonation was very soft. I much preferred the bourbon barrel aged version.

5.8% from Collingwood, Ontario 15 IBU

DRAM IN THE DARK ~ SIDE LAUNCH

Dram in the Dark seems to be a special edition made by Side Launch for a ‘tap-takeover’ for several bars in Toronto. The beer is a dark lager that has been aged in Jack Daniels casks. Sampled on draught, the beer poured dark brown with a modest tan head. The nose was woody and earthy with notes of caramel, a buried dark fruits. The beer was rich, sweet and slightly boozy. Notes of dark fruit and roasted malts were evident. The caramel sweetens as the beer warms. I have tried this several times; the first is when the small cask was tapped and then several days later. Interestingly the beer several days later had much more noticeable smoky and woody characteristics. This would be a lovely end of the night sipper. Really delicious, quite a treat - almost a dessert beer. 

6% from Collingwood, Ontario