Congratulations to Gateway City on their new digs. A larger purview to brew, additional spaces for cases, and lots of runway for landing flights. Here’s hoping the pinball machines survived the move intact with tilts kept to a minimum. And what better way to toast the host than with one of their own. Not burnt or dry like the toast I have for breakfast, but of the adult beverage variety that helps me cheer on my Leafs Oilers Blue Jays. A Laurentian Red Lager is tonight’s ticket to the races. The tagline on this tap is not a reference to “les montagnes laurentide” but once again Gateway pays homage to a local landmark. The Laurentian Escarpment Conservation area has a ski hill, hiking trails and woods galore to explore.
We have sampled lots of red ales in our day but I couldn’t recall a red lager so my interest was piqued. My thirst was getting pretty inquisitive too, come to think of it. I expected a red lager to be somewhat similar to a Vienna (style not Old*) or somewhere in between a dark and traditional lager. Maybe brown like (style not colour) but it’s a lager, not an ale. Perhaps even approaching an amber (style not girl), and I love me an amber. All this pondering doesn’t write a review.** Time to put some head on this red.
It pours a bruin brown with just a hint of grizzly red. Bear with me here. A nice head, not quite tan but not blinded by the light *** white either. A nutty malt aroma, earthy and worthy. The taste is a full flavour lager malt smooth and tasty, a bit nutty with a slight earthy finish. It reminds me of a brown in some ways. Great malt flavour, easy drinking with a light smooth mouthfeel. A full finish, I wouldn’t call it crisp, a bit earthy and adding flavour to an already flavourful body. A very enjoyable lager.
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