Guide To Ethiopian Beer
Quick answer: Ethiopia has a wide variety of beer, and the seven best-known Ethiopian beers are St. George, Walia, Amber, Dashen, Bedele Special, Meta Premium and Harar. Most are light lagers sold in 33cl bottles with between 4.5% and 5.5% alcohol. This guide to Ethiopian beer covers who brews each one and how it tastes.
Ethiopian Beer at a Glance
| Beer | Brewer | Alcohol | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. George | BGI Ethiopia | 4.5% | 33cl |
| Walia | HBSC (Heineken Breweries Share Company) | 5% | 33cl |
| Amber | BGI Ethiopia | 5.5% | 33cl |
| Dashen | Dashen Brewery | 4.5% | 33cl |
| Bedele Special | Bedele Brewery | 5.5% | 33cl |
| Meta Premium | Meta ABO Brewery S.C. | 5% | 33cl |
| Harar | Harar Brewery | 5% | 33cl |
The Top 7 Ethiopian Beers
1. St. George Beer
Alcohol: 4.5% | Size: 33cl
St. George, the national beer of Ethiopia, is the country’s most popular and oldest beer. Brewed by BGI Ethiopia, it is named after the patron saint of Ethiopia.
It is a light lager, much like American beers. Golden yellow with a mild touch of amber, it tastes malty and sweet with only a hint of dimethyl sulfide. The aroma carries sweet corn adjuncts and light hops, and it is described as having little carbonation or head, making it a good match for spicy and salty Ethiopian food.
2. Walia Beer
Alcohol: 5% | Size: 33cl
Walia is the other well-known beer in Ethiopia, brewed by HBSC (Heineken Breweries Share Company). This light gold, mildly bitter beer has an aroma of banana-pear soufflé, with honeyed hominy flavours of pretzel bread and sprouts.
3. Amber Beer
Alcohol: 5.5% | Size: 33cl
Amber Beer is a product of BGI Ethiopia. This light copper-coloured dark beer has a mellow, dry aroma with a nutty caramel and light chocolate note.
It pours a clear caramel hue with a sudsy white head that has moderate retention and light lacing. The taste is medium sweet with a light bitterness.
4. Dashen Beer
Alcohol: 4.5% | Size: 33cl
Brewed by Dashen Brewery, Dashen beer is pale yellow with a small, foamy white head. It has a yeasty aroma and a slightly sour yeast taste with a metallic tang.
5. Bedele Special
Alcohol: 5.5% | Size: 33cl
Bedele Brewery’s Bedele Special is hazy yellow in colour. This sweet-flavoured beer has a taste of honey and malt.
6. Meta Premium
Alcohol: 5% | Size: 33cl
Dark golden Meta Premium is brewed by Meta ABO Brewery S.C. in Ethiopia. This creamy beer has malt, honey and light hops in both aroma and taste.
7. Harar Beer
Alcohol: 5% | Size: 33cl
Harar Brewery’s Harar Beer is among the most preferred Ethiopian beers, although it is rarely sold in the northern regions of the country. It has a good blend of hops and malt, an enticing golden colour and a small white head. This light-bodied beer is bottled with moderate carbonation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the national beer of Ethiopia?
St. George, brewed by BGI Ethiopia, is the national beer and the country’s oldest and most popular.
Which Ethiopian beers are the strongest?
Amber and Bedele Special are the strongest on this list, both at 5.5% alcohol.
Is Harar beer easy to find everywhere in Ethiopia?
Not always. Harar is popular, but it is rarely sold in the northern regions of the country.
Conclusion
From the classic St. George to the honeyed Bedele Special, Ethiopian beer offers plenty of variety for such a short list. Which is your favourite beer? Have you tasted any of these?
