Saratoga Lager - Mendocino Brewing Company

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark amber with a decent off-white head. No retention, no lace.

Caramel and toasted malt in the nose. A bit on the sugary side.

Caramel malt up front, with some toasty hints as well. As some bitter creeps in, it is more like burnt sugar. Hops are not particularly distinctive, but there is a light bitter presence. Finish is malty.

Medium body, good carbonation.

I didn't expect this to be the style. Caramely and a bit sweet, a decent brew. Good as the weather turns cold, but nothing I'd want a 6-pack of. Decent.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 12:22:20 | More by OtherShoe2

BucannonXC5

California

3.38/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Cate’s Italian Garden in Bolton Landing, N.Y., on June 26, 2012. Draft into pint glass. Two fingers of white foamy head when I got it. Red amber color. Good retention of lacing.

Smelled lots of malts right away. Also caramel and toffee. Some sweet sugary notes.

Tasted close to the nose. Got the caramel and toffee. Lots of overwhelming malts.

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Slightly bitter abrupt finish.

Not a bad beer overall. I was surprised that Mendocino made it. I came a long way to try Mendocino.

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2012 04:57:47 | More by BucannonXC5

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

amber with a decent one inch or so of a head on top. Decent retention as it hung around for a good couple of minutes before finally resting and falling down

piced, lots of pumpkin like smells mixed in with a good amount of roasted malts. It had a touch of nutmeg and a definite grassy or earthy mix in it. There was definitely some depth good amount of malt made up the backbone of it as you would expect. Once you got past that a nice bready sort of grain started to come over you, mixed in was a nice herbal, grassy sort of punch that really started to break though. It was definitely a fresh taste as it had some teeth to it. A decent hoppy expression then followed and even had a bit of a floral note to it. The finish was very long, and quite dry

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 14:28:11 | More by mikesgroove

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very nice four-finger head. Red-deep amber color. Clear. Spotty lace.

Almost perfumey in the smell. Certainly a malty beer. Light hop in the background.

Smooth body with a light carbonation. This is an overall malty beer with very little carbonation. Lots of crystal malt flavor (slightly sweet).

Overall, a very solid entry to the fall marzen choices.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 23:21:32 | More by smcolw

JRed

New Jersey

3.23/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Dark brown with fleeting white head. Aroma of caramel, spice, plums, some bready notes. Tastes of caramel, malt sweetness, plums and other dark fruit, and finishes slick with faint grape. Medium body with light carbonation. Not enough balance in the body for me.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 23:26:34 | More by JRed

sullied

California

3.33/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: I was very surprised with how dark this beer was when I poured it. It's a clear brown color with a slight red hue to it. No sediment. Slight amount of carbonation.

Smell: Sweet smell to it. Slightly toasty aroma.

Taste: Very similar to the smell. Definitely a toasted flavor to the beer. Very slight bitterness. Good taste overall.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, easy to drink.

Overall: Decent beer. Very drinkable, I could definitely toss a few of these back without a problem. Not the best beer out there, but it's worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2011 02:00:08 | More by sullied

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Funny, my first impression was how this tastes like a better-made and bigger version of Yuengling. The roast and dry toffee flavors are deeper and sweeter, while the body is also a touch thicker. There's a hit of spicy hops in the finish for balance, and overall, this is a fine amber lager. I dont think I'd group it with similarly-colored German lagers though.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2011 16:13:01 | More by tempest

BigPlay1824

New York

4.05/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass

A: pours a medium amber color, pours with two fingers of foamy white head, leaves considerable lacing

S: nice malt notes and slight caramel notes

T: nice medium malt flavors, slight caramel notes and slight nut notes in the background

D/M: smooth on the pallet, strong carbonation tingle, nice depth and good flavor make it easy to drink

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 23:53:20 | More by BigPlay1824

ngeunit1

California

3.65/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a nice cloudy amber color with a nice finger of off white head. The head had so-so retention and leaves behind some small lacing.

S - The aroma is very malty. There are also some elements of sweetness, like carmel and toffee mixed in.

T - The beer starts off very strong with the malt flavor with a nice amount of sweetness to balance it. Other sweet elements, like the toffee and the carmel elements, mix in to give the flavor some complexity. The finish is just a tad bitter.

M - Medium bodied with the right amount of carbonation (medium). The beer feels super smooth and crisp and feels really refreshing, especially with the bitter finish.

D - Very drinkable lager, while still having a lot of flavor. Very well balanced flavors from start to end, and a very refreshing beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2010 19:20:38 | More by ngeunit1

generallee

New York

3.6/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a mug. The bottle has a nice description of the beer on the label but no abv or freshness date.

Appearance: The body has a nice amber color with a slight haze. From the pour I got a tall off white head. It is made up of mostly loose soapy bubbles that quickly settles down to a thin cap that holds on near to the end. Lacing is limited to just a few spots at the top of the glass.

Smell: There is some good malt aroma here with nice sweet bready and nutty sweetness. I also pick up some leafy hop notes as well.

Taste/Palate: Its flavor is medium bodied and basic but good. As I had expected from its aroma there is a nice bready malty base with some sweet caramel and light nutty notes mixed with some leafy herbal hop bitterness. Its texture is a bit smoother than I like to see in a lager but not a big distraction.

Notes: Overall it was a strong average for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2010 03:30:15 | More by generallee

Durge

Connecticut

3.35/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Rubby for this sample from upstate New York (sort of). It shows a deep dark copper-amber with a fair white head and good streaky lacing. The aroma is mild yeasty malt with just a tiny hint of sweet floral hop. Quite pleasant. The flavor jumps out with cereal malt and sweet sorghum. Grain ideas of rice and wheat mixed with a suggestion of alcohol that ends with kind of an acrid bite that I don't care for too much. It seems to overcome the more pleasant malt and grain introduction. This has a substantial feel with a solid mid-body and mild carbonation. It's a little silky but has the dry finish with some sort of grass hop thing. Started better than it turned out. Pretty drinkable but I wouldn't care to repeat this flavor too often. But it really isn't bad and may be more up other folk's alley. Give it a try for sure.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2010 05:52:56 | More by Durge

BeerNemesis

New York

3.2/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Saratoga Lager | 12 oz. on-tap | ? ABV | 2010

Appearance:
Amber in color. It looks... stagnant, with only a few bubbles fighting for the surface. Virtually no head to speak of. Little to no lacing.

Aroma:
Strong, bready, malty aromas backed by caramel and toffee notes.

Taste:
Well it's much more flavorful than I would have expected. The sweet malts come to the fore early on, but I was most struck by the strong, oily hops -- reminiscent of an APA. Weird for the style, but not unenjoyable.

Mouthfeel:
Medium, bodied and smooth. Decent carbonation. Average.

Harmony:
The taste threw me a bit for a loop, and it's not really true to style. Nonetheless, it's very drinkable and generally hold itself together well. I see no need to try it again with all the other options out there, but I wasn't disappointed for having ordered it (at half price).

Served on: May 2010 at David Copperfield's
Price: $3.00 (half price special)

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2010 22:59:51 | More by BeerNemesis

Amalak

New York

3.58/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had on tap at Lock Inn in Brooklyn, NY. Pours a crystal-clear amber, some head and little lacing. Not very good looking, but has a decent malt scent to it. And like the smell, it has a crisp malt taste. Nothing really special about this brew, it's kind of light and lacks any discernible style. Meh. It's easy to drink, but not very memorable.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2010 16:52:21 | More by Amalak

clapp1115

New York

4.33/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served: on-tap at the 99 Restaurant on western ave Albany, NY

Apperance= The beer poured a medium brown amber color, with a medium head. The bear left some lacing as well.

Smell= The beet smelled mildly hoppy with hints of fruit with a noticeable crisp malty back bone

Taste= The lager was slightly sweet, with a short bread cookie like flavor, with a complex hoppy finish.

Mouthfeel= Smooth over the tongue with great carbonation

Drinkability= A great tasting and easily drinkable

I would certainly recommend this brew!

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2009 21:42:57 | More by clapp1115

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle purchased as a single from Oliver's in Albany, NY.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/2" beige head over the slightly cloudy orangey amber brew. Head falls gradually, with average lacing. Aroma is sweet, rich malts. Taste mirrors the nose, almost a worty character, with fruitiness coming out in the middle, and a slight hoppy close. Mouthfeel is smooth, and drinkability is good. Better than I expected from the vanilla-sounding name.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2009 23:16:21 | More by ppoitras

ProfessorHomer

New York

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A very, very nice clean, crisp & clear Marzen Lager. Recommended!

A = Clear & coppery amber color with a very nicely-behaved tan head.

S = Clean, hoppy aroma, you can smell the fresh, wet well water.

T = Sweetish almost cookie-like flavor with a medium, but pleasant, hop flavor in the finish

M = Solid body and very nice carbonation. Clean finish.

D = Very Good

Highly recommended by a beer club member as his favorite beer and with very good reason. A very nice surprise from our local Mendocino brewery just up the Northway! By far and away the best Mendocino brew of their very solid line-up. A great Spring/Summer/Fall beer. Maltier than the very equivalent Sam Adams' Boston Lager, which is more hopped. This is a very fine, pleasant, well-balanced, sessionable & well-mannered Lager. A real treat!

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2009 13:14:34 | More by ProfessorHomer

Contagion

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It pours a dark copper penny color. When the light hits it, you can see amber flashes. Light passes through it easily, but there is a haziness to it that prevents you from seeing objects on the other side clearly. A ¾ inch head formed. It was off white in color and faded quickly to a film on the top of the beer. There was minimal lacing.

The smell was of rich toasted caramel malts. A touch of biscuity sweetness can also be detected to fully enhance to scent. There is a dry, roasted malt flavor that is balanced by the taste of floral hops evenly. It finishes smoothly. The after taste is a mix of citrus and grains.

It is a medium bodied beer, and is a little bit heavy on the carbonation.

This is a good sipping beer. Sit back, crack one open and chat with friends. It is a good representation of a Marzen-style lager. I enjoyed this beer and could see myself drinking another.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2009 01:30:10 | More by Contagion

brdc

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Interesting find at WDW. Poured into a somewhat inappropriate glass, thick and short.

Nice amber color with a decent frothy white head that holds reasonably well.
Nice aroma, malty, biscuit notes, faint hoppiness that seems quite clean.
Nice mouthfeel, easy to drink, clear taste with a good balance between maltiness and hoppiness, slightly more towards malts.
A nice beer, but not special. Worthwhile nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2009 18:42:42 | More by brdc

Kendo

New York

3.4/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Served in a mug at the local Chili's. Body is chestnut-amber with an off-white head that settles fairly quickly, but leaves good rings of lace behind.

S: Not much in the nose at all -- sweet bready malt is about all I get.

T: Hadn't realized this was an Octoberfest/Marzen when I ordered it -- I thought it was a straight lager. But a couple sips in and I was thinking "this is more like an Octoberfest given the sweetness." Think caramel malt with a touch of nuttyness. Finishes with a slightly dry metallic edge to it, provides some balance.

M: Light-to-medium, closer to light in heft. Not much in the way of active carbonation, so it feels kinda smooth.

D: Pretty good -- it's light and has some flavor, but not interesting enough to want to come back to.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2009 18:33:32 | More by Kendo

yelterdow

New Jersey

3.08/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Purchased in Latham, NY while out of town at a wedding. Served at between fridge and cellar temperature in a classic German nonic.

Appearance- Pours a deep amber with an inch thick light beige head. Aside from the rich color, it's rather uninteresting.

Smell- Gorgeously malty and sweet on the nose, even showcasing some vanilla cookie aromas. The hops are there too, light and subtle for balance. Really nice.

Taste- Malt-forward and full, a bite that feels like more of a fusel alcohol attack gets in the way of the palate. The swallow is harsher than others of the style, the flavors masked by the alcohol whip.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability- Frothy and active in the mouth, this beer becomes more aggressive and sharp over the next few seconds. For the style, I will gladly wait for the late Summer to enjoy an authentic German or fantastic domestic Oktoberfest lager.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2009 02:37:35 | More by yelterdow

TheDeuce

New York

2.8/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Saratoga Lager....on tap at Hop Devil Grill...

Appearance-deep red hue color, decent foamy head that sits nicely.

Smell-malty, a little spice, alcohol.

Taste/Mouthfeel- a light spiciness up front, decent taste, light finish but the body is firm and smooth.

Drinkabilty-decent drinking, unknown ABV so I can't take that into account.

Overall-an ok beer, if it isn't trying to be a Marzen it is way too light. Still, nothing offensive.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2009 01:45:50 | More by TheDeuce

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.05/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed on 9/3/08. On tap at HDG. Pours a deep red/orange with a small white head. Aroma of sweet malt. Flavor of nuts, nice sweet malt, brown sugar, some vegetal notes too. Hmm, didn't realize this was an oktoberfest but now it makes sense I guess. It's alright.
6/4/6/3/12 (3.1/5)

Serving type: on-tap

12-26-2008 16:41:14 | More by LilBeerDoctor

LumpyGuitar

New York

3/5  rDev -15%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is an average beer, nothing more, nothing less.

Poured a clear dark amber with weak head, little to no lacing and retention.

Smells of sweetness and grain, light malt presence.

Tastes of grassy hops with a mild malt, however the hop comes across stong but not in the traditional sense.

Mouthfeel is a sharp bite. The first taste I had left me wonder what happened to my tounge. A little bit too much carbonation to the otherwise light profile of the beer.

Drinkability is average. I was looking to try something new and this just happened to fit as it was local. I'll try others from the brewery but other beers fill this need for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2008 22:02:16 | More by LumpyGuitar

animal69

Louisiana

3.68/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pours a clear brownish-amber with a thin off-white head that fades quickly leaving a good lacing in my stange ; a subtle smell, steely grains, some toasty caramel notes and a bit of floral hops ; a rich, malty flavor, a bit overhopped for a 'fest, a whole wheat bread-like taste with caramel, darker fruits and herbal hops, finish is a bit mineral and metallic ; a light-med. body, nice level of co2 prob. makes it feel creamy ; a very drinkable brew, though not an impressive marzen...

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2008 03:18:42 | More by animal69

Proteus93

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: A mildly murky, orange hue (cross between rust and carrot, but not quite amber or copper). Head was a bit unimpressive, soda-like, and diminished quickly.

S: A strangely sweet scent. The sweetness in the malts is almost like sweet carrot in some ways, but not quite. Rather grassy.

T: Leavy hops, giving a decent balance to the soft malts.

M: A nice and round, medium body. Carbonation carries a reasonable assertiveness that gives it added life.

D: Initially, this was bought to cook sausages in, so I just bought 1 bottle. Ended up drinking it, as the cooking was done with something else, but I wish now that I had one more.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2008 23:27:35 | More by Proteus93