We’re always on the lookout for delicious ways to combine two of our favourite things—cheese and craft beer. For this pairing, we turned to our friends at Side Launch Brewing Co., a beloved Ontario brewery known for crisp lagers, juicy IPAs, and bold, flavour-forward brews.
Whether you're a sour lover or a dark beer devotee, there's a cheese pairing here to elevate your tasting experience. Here's what we’re serving up:
🍻 Passionate Sour
Beer Profile: Tart and fruity with a refreshing zing.
Cheese Pairings:
Château de Bourgogne – This triple cream beauty has a lush, buttery texture with delicate berry notes that play perfectly off the sour’s acidity.
Young Manchego – The mild, nutty profile of this Spanish cheese helps mellow the beer’s tartness and makes each sip even more satisfying.
🍺 Mountain Lager
Beer Profile: A classic Helles lager—clean, crisp, and slightly malty.
Cheese Pairing:
Beemster – With a firm, crystalline texture and a rich, nutty bite, Beemster brings out the malt backbone of this easy-drinking lager.
🍫 Dark Lager
Beer Profile: A Munich Dunkel-style lager with smooth toffee, chocolate, and coffee undertones.
Cheese Pairings:
Château de Bourgogne – Once again, this decadent cheese shines, pairing its creamy body and fruity finish with the lager’s dark, malty character.
Cow’s Creamery 2-Year Cheddar – The aged cheddar’s sharpness offers a striking contrast to the beer’s sweet notes, making for a dynamic bite.
🔥 Red Ale
Beer Profile: Malt-forward with warm notes of caramel and toast.
Cheese Pairings:
Young Manchego (6 months aged) – Slightly firmer than its younger version, this Manchego adds a subtle nuttiness that balances the ale’s sweetness.
Gunn’s Hill Handeck – A semi-firm cheese with a buttery, creamy finish that enhances the smooth malt flavour of this comforting ale.
🌴 Session IPA
Beer Profile: Light-bodied with tropical fruit and floral hops.
Cheese Pairing:
Chèvre “Buchette aux Fleurs” – Tangy, bright, and floral, this goat cheese is a showstopper with this beer. The delicate floral crust echoes the fruity hops in all the right ways.
🌫 Hazy IPA
Beer Profile: Juicy and aromatic with big citrus and tropical notes.
Cheese Pairings:
Saint Agur – A creamy blue cheese that stands its ground against the beer’s hop punch. The result? A flavour explosion with tang, richness, and just the right amount of bitterness.
Cow’s Creamery Cheddar (2 or 3 years aged) – Bold, crumbly, and full of umami, this aged cheddar keeps pace with the Hazy IPA’s vibrant flavour.
Craving a taste? Stop by The Cheese Wedge to pick up your pairing picks and stock up for your next Side Launch tasting session. Whether you’re building a board for guests or enjoying a quiet night in, these combos will take your beer game to the next level.
Cheers to great beer, even better cheese, and perfect pairings 🧀🍻