Cityscapes
Ratio Beerworks

 

Had on tap at RINO Country Club, a neighborhood bar.

On a pour that I watched, the beer was quite foamy, and I received 1 finger of head with decent retention, that leaves decent lacing. The body is a bit hazy, but is a standard golden color. There is some lacing.

Aroma is very close to a macro Mexican lager, but unfortunately, not as clean, with some more yeasty aromas. Not necessarily dirty, but the lager yeast is very present, which isn't the goal. There is a maltiness, but UT doesn't overcome the yeast.

Flavor unfortunately carries on with the slightly dirty lager character. There is the hop bite that implies citrus of a true Mexican pale lager, but there is a good bit of unfermented sweet corn flavor as well. If this was drier and was a bit cleaner, this would be great, but the dirty lager character really docks the rating.

Feel is full, but has a surprising astri gent dryness for how simple this co.es off as. The feel helps, but the corny syrup feel doesn't allow this to get a high score.

Overall, unfortunately, I'd rather drink a true Mexican macro lager. The malts are too sweet, and the corn is way too obvious, not to mention the lager yeast clean-ness issues.

L: Pours a clear straw gold with a small white head and a few fingers of lacing.

S: Sweet cereal malt, some toasted bread, very little hop.

T: Sweet cereal malt, toasted bread and grain, a little sweet could use a bit more hop for balance.

F: Smooth and easy drinking.

O: A little sweet could use some more balance.

 

Different from expected -- not the thin body/sharp-dry finish of most Mexican lagers. More body/rounder/more malt presence, but still a refreshing finish despite lowish carbonation for an ML.. Not quite the hot weather beer you want to quaff, but holds up with food and simply a good, malt forward, lager.

 

L- Mid gold color and about 85% transparency. Short white head that fades quickly with some thick short lace.

N- Nice light barley aroma and maybe some corn.

T- Wow I was not expecting this barley punch, wonderful slightly sweet barley hits the palate first then comes a slight tang and some hop dryness. Hops are very light but there and really mates well with the barley. They add a little flint like metallic dryness and the sweetness moderates to more of a caramel barley as the temp moderates. I can see how this may be related to a Vienna Lager, it has very similar characteristics.

M- Smooth clean and a bit slick. Low carbonation helps with the medium body that leans to cloying on the finish.

O – A little sweet but barley forward beer that is like a thicker more caramel version of Helles. I had low expectations for this beer but it has surpassed many just mediocre beers. Definitely worthy and a nice change of pace from Lagers and Pilsners. Overall it deserves the Very Good Rating.