Ringside Beer

Ringside Beer Company
Brewed at Olde Saratoga Brewing (Mendocino Brewing Co.)
Style: Pale Lager
Buffalo, New York USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Shaker

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I poured a 12oz bottle into a lager glass. There was no freshness date.

Appearance: Light to medium gold hue. Crystal clear with plenty of visible carbonation. Forms a small, white, foamy head which almost completely dissipates and leaves no lacing.

Smell: Standard pale lager aroma. Slightly sweeter and more yeast presence than the average brew, though. Nothing off-putting, nothing inviting.

Taste: I’m not sure what’s the deal with this beer or this "brewery." I use the term loosely because this is obviously a contract brew made by Mendocino right up the road from me in Saratoga. I’m not sure if this is a new company or another brewery’s brand. Regardless, what is the point of brewing a beer that’s so ridiculously mainstream? To play it safe? Fair enough, but if you’re an adjunct lager drinker wouldn’t you just stick with the brand you know rather than upgrade to a slightly craftier version?

I’ve noticed there’s been quite a few of these crafty pale lagers emerging in recent years and for the most part they’re mediocre to average and Ringside Beer is no exception. It has a more overtly clean taste than the "Big 3" lagers. Though I do detect a slight corn taste, for the most part it’s bland, a tad sweet, and has a dry doughy character. Downing a single serving is no challenge, but I see no reason to have another. Its only crime is being ridiculously boring rather than flat-out bad.

Drinkability: Pale lagers like this I tend to drink straight from the fridge and at that temperature Ringside Beer was actually a bit refreshing. The mild palate and clean aftertaste makes it tolerable to the palette. The mouthfeel is of course thin and fizzy, but not to the point of being so spastic that it didn’t go down smoothly. I’d say the 4.8% ABV weight is perfect because a bigger beer might have more noticeable flaws, and a smaller body would be too watery.

bottle. Gold color and well carbonated. Some malt and corn for sure. I can’t believe they actually advertise that it has corn. Some perceivable hops. Not bad, for a pale lager.

Bottle. Pours gold with a thin white head. Dirty grainy malts and corn. Close to diacetyl-like notes. Pretty bad.

Slight haze yellow,ok mild head,slight lacing. Mild sweet pilsner aroma light corn,clean mild typical of style. Taste has body,corn,sweet toasted corn then more sweet corn,corn finsh with corn lemon bitteirng. Corn., I dont know pretty corny. Pairs well with doritos?

Bottle. A deep gold brew with a thin bright white head. The nose is yeasty raw bread dough with some raw vegetable scraps. There is also a littlle bit of peanut character. The taste had some dough and a little bit of potatoes. Light and smooth, this is highly carbonated. A decent light lager.

This is a very well made beer. The color and clarity holds true for most lagers. I usually don’t expect much from a lager in terms of flavor. However, this one is different. There is a subtle complexity to flavor that intrigues the mind while being refreshed. This is a perfect beer for simply relaxing on a hot day, chatting it up at a barbecue with friends, or even a camping trip. I am not a lager drinker on most occasions, but will definitely buy this again.

Aroma is grainy malts, mild sweetness and malt grit. The flavor is malts and a hint of apples and hops in the finish.

Just a well made beer. Easy drinking but not able to consume to many at once.