Getaway IPA
Side Launch Brewing Company

 

 

 

Pretty easy drinking stuff. Hoppy, but not brutally so. Maybe a bit on the sweet side, both to taste and on the nose. Lingering bitter finish. Unidentifiable citrus pith in there. Drinkable.

473 mL can from Superstore; dated May 1 2019 and served barely chilled.

Pours a slightly hazy golden-yellow colour; very effervescent, and topped with one finger of soapy, resilient, sparkling white head that slowly seeps away over the next five minutes or so. A frothy cap and collar stick around a fair bit longer, with a solid coat of lace left behind for good measure - it's a good-looking brew. I'm getting mostly grapefruit and mandarin orange on the nose, with lesser contributions of mango, canned peaches and pineapple, as well as some berry-like notes, and a touch of caramelized malt sweetness.

Now this I like - fruity, not quite juicy, but a very good IPA either way. The malts supply a doughy, lightly caramel-sweet backdrop with a suggestion of rye bread, but it's the hop flavours of orange, stone fruit and pineapple that take centre stage, with resiny, floral, spicy hop flavours gaining steam towards the back end of the sip. More bitter than I'd expect of an NEIPA, but I can let that slide. Medium in body, with middling carbonation levels that prickle the palate gently; feels smooth and pillowy-soft on the palate, with superb drinkability.

Final Grade: 4.13, an A-. Getaway IPA is officially my favourite Side Launch beer to date. Don't get me wrong: their Wheat/hefe is an Ontario classic, and Session 7 beats this one in terms of overall drinkability... but Getaway is just a rock solid IPA that I would not hesitate to return to in the future, or recommend to other BAs. If you can find a fresh can, don't hesitate to give it a go.

 

Maybe I got an exceptionally fresh can, but this beer reminds me more of fall harvest ales than any NEIPA. Great hop aromas, floral and piney, with just enough acidity to provide a backbone and a nice long bitter finish. My favourite Side Launch that I've had so far.

 

 

473 ml can served cool into a chalice. LCBO purchase for around $3.30 CDN.

Appearance - rich golden color, modest carbonation and capped by nearly a finger of fluffy white head. Okay lacing.

Smell - fairly juicy with some stone fruits and melons combining for a juicy and fruity smelling brew. Pineapple is in thee too.

Taste - tropical flavors, pineapple, cantaloupe with hints of mango and a peach flavor that kind of keeps everything together. Just enough bitterness to keep this interesting. Possibly too sweet for some. Bitterness intensifies as you have a few sips, but some green pepper in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - medium bodied, light carbonation and a little syrupy.

Overall - good but not great beer. Potential with the flavor and aroma combos although the green pepper aftertaste is weird and feel is a touch heavy. Worth a try but better options exist.

Have not been impressed by other Side Launch beers but with NEIPA on the can I had to give it a try. Pours with a tall fluffy white head & some haze, but the aroma just didn't hit me quite right with the fruitiness I expect in a NEIPA. Taste showed that they were trying, but the combination of flavours just didn't hit the mark. Taste grew on me a bit as it went down but still not something I'll likely have again with all the good IPAs out there.

 

 

March 28 2019