Harar Beer - Harar Beer Factory

damndirtyape

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

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.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 04:34:07 | More by damndirtyape

nmann08

Maryland

2.5/5  rDev -23.5%

03-06-2013 03:54:17 | More by nmann08

SocalKicks

California

3.25/5  rDev -0.6%

02-19-2013 04:27:03 | More by SocalKicks

warpedrevolution

Washington

3/5  rDev -8.3%

01-25-2013 06:09:00 | More by warpedrevolution

alysmith4

District of Columbia

2.5/5  rDev -23.5%

01-22-2013 00:57:27 | More by alysmith4

ChrisComparetto

1/5  rDev -69.4%

12-30-2012 00:57:32 | More by ChrisComparetto

gshackles

New York

3.5/5  rDev +7%

12-29-2012 18:47:35 | More by gshackles

Odri

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev +7%

12-03-2012 00:45:31 | More by Odri

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

2/5  rDev -38.8%

11-11-2012 01:26:00 | More by cfalovo97

abcdefghijkyle

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev +7%

10-24-2012 21:18:09 | More by abcdefghijkyle

rale

Quebec (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

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.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 20:47:52 | More by rale

Chrisdslap

California

3.75/5  rDev +14.7%

07-12-2012 04:05:12 | More by Chrisdslap

LagerThanLife

4.15/5  rDev +26.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

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.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 20:57:19 | More by LagerThanLife

Dual45s

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -0.6%

05-22-2012 10:37:39 | More by Dual45s

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

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.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 02:07:07 | More by jwhancher

2neardead

California

3/5  rDev -8.3%

03-04-2012 22:42:34 | More by 2neardead

DrNo

Australia

3.5/5  rDev +7%

01-13-2012 03:19:22 | More by DrNo

smakawhat

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass.

A very pale straw yellow body, large soapy bubbles that fall slowly. Body has some cloudy character to it with slow rising carbonation. Head settles with a puck that is pock marked

Nose is actually interesting. Honey, and spices. Sweetness that isn't macro smelling. It's actually quite nice not unlike a braggot with some spice.

Taste is light bodied with some actually playful carbonation. A little grainy on the finish, but also some sweet honey without a lot of sugar syrup stickiness or sweetness. A little noticeable gas but nothing outrageous, and nice light bodied.

Overall this is actually pretty darn good, for and "adjunct" supposedly. Probably the best one I've ever had in this style.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 00:11:01 | More by smakawhat

KimenTshom

California

2.5/5  rDev -23.5%

01-01-2012 01:42:57 | More by KimenTshom

bigred89

Maryland

3/5  rDev -8.3%

12-04-2011 02:25:24 | More by bigred89

joek440

District of Columbia

3/5  rDev -8.3%

11-18-2011 16:00:53 | More by joek440

thatruth

Washington

2.35/5  rDev -28.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

pours a fizzy white 1/4" head with minimal to moderate slippery lacing. lightly hazy bright, yellow golden body.

smells like celery, carrots, rice, and fuzzy lager.

bland, underachieving taste. straight rice lager.

unwavering at the front, cluttered and unpleasant of what taste is there.

oh, ethiopia.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2011 01:55:08 | More by thatruth

ElmerBruisery

Maryland

3.45/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up at Fenwicks in Silver Spring, poured bottle to pint glass.

Golden yellow and cloudy, the clerk told me this was a lager. It had a big thick and creamy two finger head that slowly faded

Nose is pale malt, faint yeast fruitiness and slight metallic note

Sweet malt and bitter in the back, enjoyable but nothing real complex or great going on. At 4.25 ABV and noticeable alcohol...

Mouth is creamy and bubbly. Pretty good for a golden lager.

Overall this is a drinkable beer. Nothing really bad about it, but nothing great, but I guess that's how I normally feel about golden lagers. This would be good on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2011 21:21:49 | More by ElmerBruisery

SFLpunk

Vermont

3.45/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz brown glass prytop bottle at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Nice to see some different African options at Disney other than just Tusker!

Pours a bright golden orange with decent off white head. Nose is a little fruity with some dried grain notes and a hint of honey. Palate is crisp and fairly dry. A little honey flavor and some earthy pine hops.

Nothing to really write home about but cool to try. Tasted pretty good in the hot Florida sun surrounded by loud tourists.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2011 17:36:08 | More by SFLpunk

TheDeuce

New York

3.2/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Harar Beer..in a bottle at Queen of Sheeba Restaurant

Appearance -pours a dirty pale color, golden contrast with a medium sized white head.

Smell-alcohol, mild hop, rice, adjunct, grain flavor.

Taste/Mouthfeel -initial sweetness that is somewhat surprising, alcohol warmth, mix of starchy flavors as well, nice smoothness on the way down.

Drinkability-on a hot day this did just fine, no issues.

Overall-not world class or anything but on a hot day in a new environment this fit the bill, an adequate beer that held up well against the food I paired it with.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2010 17:28:37 | More by TheDeuce