Harar Beer - Harar Beer Factory

MMansfield

Nova Scotia (Canada)

2.98/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

thanks to trevorwideman for this bottle

Appearance: Pours a very cloudy orange colour. You can hear the fizziness quite loudly as it enters the glass. Cannot see fingers through the glass. Medium fizzy head finishes to a half-lacing.

Aroma: Lots of citrus in this beer, as well as something else I cannot put my finger on. Grassy malts are also present.

Taste: Very unique, Not a lot of flavour, strong malt body, with plenty of citrus. Low bitterness, plenty of sweetness, somewhat of a euro lager finish.

Mouthfeel: Not as fizzy as I would expect from the pour. Very thin. Not overly good.

Final Statement: I was just plain curious. You don't think of Africa as a source for good beers. It's pretty good with all things considered, I just hope I don't get sick.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2006 17:07:21 | More by MMansfield

clickpush

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pour: 33cl bottle to pint glass. Comes out with a small white head over a slightly cloudy pale orange beer - like the color of honey or apricot skin. Very scant lacings remain after the head has disappeared.

Nose: Smells of grain, like a silo might smell (minus the other farm smells that would ordinarily accompany it). A bit sweet and malty, with touches of honey.

Mouth: Has a light lemon flavor coming out of the hops... or is it made up strictly of adjuncts? Tastes a bit like corn, kind of sweet all the way through and a strong sweet and astringent finish. The mouthfeel is pretty good, long lasting (forced?) carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2006 20:11:40 | More by clickpush

fisherman34

Manitoba (Canada)

2.48/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Gold in colour with lots of carbonation. Aromas of sweet malt, with a bit of bubblegum and herbal hops. Medim sweet on the palate, with some interesting (if not out of place) spice notes. There’s a bit of a Hallertau note near the end too. The finish is not so clean, but you can tell that there is some German influance to this beer. I was expecting this beer to be a little more dry, condsidering the climate in which it is brewed.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2006 17:02:55 | More by fisherman34

FirstMan

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this at Addis Red Sea in Boston.

Pours a deep gold with an amberish edge. Fluffy head somewhat atypical for this style of lager. Purdy.

Nose is very interesting and unique. A fruity, almost mulled spices note is predominant. Mellow light vegetable character from the lager yeast. Quite unexpected.

Taste is refreshing, slightly tart and slightly spicy mellowness. Smooth mouthfeel makes this a very drinkable beer. Great with the ethiopian food I was eating that night.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2005 19:25:02 | More by FirstMan

DogFood11

California

3.7/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked this up at an ethiopian market in LA. The store owner saw me checking out the ethiopian brews and said this was his favorite after work type beer. I was going to buy a sixer but he said its on him as I've purchased many beers from there. Gotta love beer drinkers and their attitudes. So I cracked this bitch as soon as I got home and poured it into a pounder glass. A bit darker in appearance than your typical lager and the head lasted longer than normal as well with some partial stickiness. The smell had me intrigued as it had that english yeasty presence up front with a sweet grain/malty backdrop. Very refreshing brew. I found the taste to be sweet but it had enough bitterness to balance it out. the mouthfeel was outstanding. Big carbonation that is pleasant and not overbearing. I could session this with ease and pleasure.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2005 02:24:04 | More by DogFood11

mrgrandefromage

Washington

3.55/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a pale gold, a little cloudy with a decent inch thick head that dissipates quickly. Aroma is a strange but not unpleasant mix of malt, honey and vaseline. I agree with the other reviewers that honey is a predominant flavor, followed by peat and malt with a light hop finish. Mouthfeel is surprising full and would help tone down spicy food and get your palate ready for more. A filling beer that would be difficult to drink more than two of.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2005 06:19:03 | More by mrgrandefromage

slitherySOB

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Very tart, very refreshing beer. Pale yellow, decent carbonation, and big fluffy head. Whatever lace is left on the glass quickly rushes down to the beer. Nice, hoppy smell, with a bit of honey and malt. Crisp, light, hoppy taste. Aftertaste of honey and whole wheat bread. Crisp, light, refreshing, standard session lager.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2004 19:25:16 | More by slitherySOB

elmocoso

Nebraska

3/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Got this at an ethiopian restaurant and i can't complain. It went well with the food. it was an average beer, pretty much all around. It was better than i expected, though, not knowing what to expect.

It was a smooth drinker that went well with the spiciness of the Ethiopian cuisine. A light straw color with a small wispy head.

A malty smell, easy on the hops. (Do hops grow in Ethiopia? and if not, where do they import them from?)

I can only imagine how good this beer would taste after a long hot day spent in Ethiopia. Hopefully i will know some day.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2003 20:30:15 | More by elmocoso

brakspear

Wisconsin

3.83/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I wasn't sure what to expect when ordering this beer at an Ethiopian restaurant in Seattle, but I was pleasantly surprised. This pale lager pours a pale gold with a wispy white head. Both the aroma and flavor are malt dominated and reminded me of some helles I have sampled. The beer also had a slight honey taste in the finish -- perhaps honey is used as an ingredient? The smooth malty finish is a great complement to Ethiopian food.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2003 17:16:48 | More by brakspear