Harar Beer
Harar Beer Factory

On-tap at Massawa, New York, NY

A: The beer is relatively clear yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation along with faint hues of amber. It poured with just a patch of lacing on the surface and a narrow collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light aromas of corn are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell and has a bit of sweetness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is easy to drink and is a good accompaniment to Ethiopian food. None of the flavors are “off” or offensive.

Serving type: bottle

 

 

 

First sip, not too bad, rest of pour added lots of yeast and sediment, turned the beer slightly yeasty sour. Color changed to murky golden as well. Sour aroma of yeast, sourdough bread, hay. Taste is also on the sour side, slight sour aftertaste too. If you try this one avoid the sediment.

 

 

At Zenebech, DC. Bottle.

A- Golden yellow body with a fizzy white cap. Medium thick ring after retaining decently leaving spotty lace.

S- Pale grains, pale fruit esters like apple and white grape and slight bread hints. Yeast efforts seem solid as its clean of that funk I find in the style often.

T- Pale cracked barley and the fruit esters are the most obvious contribution with red apple and grape hints. Pale base malts and light yeast bread. Clean.

MF- Light with the keyword being crisp. Somewhat fizzy but also a foamy creamy consistency.

A solid pale lager that lacks any funky off flavors or obvious corn notes. Clean ferment and refreshing with spicy Ethiopian food.

 

 

Poured from a 12 OZ bottle into a pint glass. Aroma- Nice blend of hops and malt Appearance- A very enticing golden color with a small white head Taste- A great blend of malt and hops Palate- Light bodied beer with moderate carbonation Overall- First beer from Ethiopia. If all are this quality then I can’t wait for my next one from this country.

 

 

 

 

Bought this thinking it might have the Ethiopian Hop Powder called Gesho Kitel in it. Does it? Read on.

Appearance 3.75: Poured out a hazy golden color. Completely opaque. Decent 1/4" head and OK lacing.

Smell 3.5: Nice bouquet. Heavy hints of malt and slight hints of a slightly sour mash scent along with a pervasive honey scent. Light notes of hops.

Taste 3.75: Front is light and smooth with little real flavor. Middle is very pleasant with a mid-level hit of delicious malty caramel and honey. Finish is balanced and refreshing with a hint of deeply alkaline hops and a slight taste of corn. Aftertaste is remarkable as a huge wave of very light malt seeps in and overtakes the palate. This turns into a very long aftertaste of pleasant light hops.

Mouthfeel 3.75: Lightly carbonated and a great match to the style.

Overall 3.75: Very nice beer. Light, refreshing and it contains absolutely zero negative beer flavors: no wet-dog, cat-pee, skunky tastes at all. Does it have Gesho Kitel in it? I have no idea. Regardless, this is such a pleasant beer to drink, definitely a session beer or perfect with spicy food. Recommended for a try to sip a beer from the ancient city of Harar.

 

 

Pale golden colored lager and rather hazy in appearance. A half inch wide head of foam rests on top. The aroma is a bit of corn and light biscuity malt. The mouth is lightly carbonated and crisp. The taste is a bit of a well water Danish lager yeast and corn. There's not much hop presence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had this interesting beer in Ethiopian restaurant. It was surprisingly good. It has a bit cloudy appearance, yellow color and nice head. Although it is a lager, it has some special taste, a bit honey-like. It's very easy to drink and goes extremely well with Ethiopian food. You should try it if you have an opportunity.

 

not like a traditional lager. Overwhelming notes of honey throughout. a little on the cloudy side and the mouth feel is a little heavier than i would expect from a beer that finishes on the drier side.

this beer is not what i expect when i open a pilnser, helles or dutch lager, it is somthing different.

it is however, what I expect EVERY TIME I go Ethiopian restaurant and somthing i look forward to.

 

Went to an Ethiopian restaurant, Harar Mesob, tonight in Arlington. Saw an Ethiopian beer on the menu and had to try it. Ended up having two with my food.

A Poured a blonde hazy yellow with nice white head that eventually faded.

S: not much in the nose. Some bready wheat-like aromas with a light hay-like graininess.

T: reminded me of an American wheat beer. Lots of bready, doughy malt chewiness. Paired quite well with the spicy cuisine I was having for dinner. Didn't seem like an adjunct beer whatsoever.

M: at 4.25% ABV, this one feels light with good carbonation. A nice quencher. Ample bitterness to even out the malts.

O: wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. Being in the atmosphere, this beer met my expectations for being at an Ethiopian restaurant. Would drink this one again, but the setting would have to be appropriate.

11.2oz bottle poured into a shaker pink glass at an Ethiopian Restaurant in San Diego - Bayu in Hillcrest.

Appearance: Dirty straw yellow with a slight haze. White head about 1/4" thick upon pouring, but died down to a thin head across the top. Some strands and dots of persistent lacing noted.

Smell: Not strong - a bit sweet mostly.

Taste: When first poured, some German style hops and what I thought was sweet malt, but as it warmed up, the sweetness becomes much more pronounced. Not cloying, but definitely sweet - honey with something else in there - something grainy that I can't place. The hop flavor eventually goes away as the beer warms up.

Mouthfeel: Average carbonation, but with some good and smooth thickness to it.

Overall / Drinkability: Not something I would go out of my way for, but glad I tried it and it went quite well with Ethiopian food that evening. I could have easily had another so I will say it has good drinkability for the sitting I had it in. Not sure it would go well with all foods though.