When the great economic crisis of 2008 hit, Dimitri van Kampen turned to alcohol. His foray into booze was far more creative than down-and-out desperate, though: the Toronto-born financial lawyer got into home brewing and discovered a passion for craft beer. That passion has taken the form of Spearhead Brewing Company, which will officially roll out its inaugural beer at bars and restaurants across the province on June 17.
Spearhead Brewing Company’s first offering is the Hawaiian Style Pale Ale, brewed with pineapple. While van Kampen says most beers are balanced in their flavour profiles, Spearhead bills this brew as “perfectly imbalanced,” or, in other words, hop-heavy and aromatic.
Like the Hawaiian ale, future Spearhead concoctions will likely be bold, “extreme” beers that experiment with fruit, spice, higher hop content and higher alcohol content. All of it will be unfiltered, naturally carbonated and non-pasteurized.
Currently, the beer is being brewed out of Cool Beer Brewing Co. in Etobicoke, the spawning grounds of other popular craft brews like Duggan’s No. 9 IPA, and will be available solely on tap for the time being.

Keep an eye out for Spearhead at spots like La Palette, The Ossington, Highway 61, Burger Bar, The Victory Cafe, and more.
