Hakim Stout

Brewed by Harar Beer Factory
Style: Foreign Stout
Harar, Ethiopia

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

Had very little hopes for this brew I read all the other reviews of it, a friend mocked and ridiculed me for buying it, it wasn’t looking good from the start for this little stubby bottle from Africa. The first problem I noticed with this stout is the fact I can see light pass through it when its still in the dark brown bottle, and when I poured it in my glass it looked more like Dr. Pepper then a stout dark brown/red, it had a fairly average looking head that lasted for a couple of sips. Smell took me by surprise; it was not bad in my opinion chocolaty, earthy, and of spiced fruit. It felt very thin and watery, but I have had worse feeling stout then this. The taste had a lot of coffee in it, with bitter chocolate and high quality dirt, the after taste was of bakers’ chocolate. The only really bad thing about this beer was the fact it didn’t resemble a stout what’s so ever if I didn’t know that’s what it was I would not have guessed it by looking. I expected this beer to be swill but I think it was a stout that’s just a bit bellow average."

Wrong...all wrong. Tiny ammount of head was gone quicker than i could put this stuff out of its misery. Tried to con druken beer clones into drinking most of it - the remaining bottle will rot until there is nothing left in the fridge i’m sure. Fake sweet chocolate stink and taste with low end malts. Beer smelt exactly as it tasted. Red/brown colour and quite see through - if the bottle didnt say ’Stout’ I never wouldve known. Terrible beer but not terrible in an aching stomach way, that is, unless you had more than one. Hardly worth the 5 cents I’ll get back from the bottle depot

Hazed umber color with a moderate, tan head, Sweet arimas of grain and fruit. Bits of caramel and brown sugar as well. Interesting flavors of brown sugar and caramel. Toasted grain and some floral hops as well. A heavy amber.

Bottle at Queen Sheba in Sacramento, CA. Very hazy dark amber color with a slight beige/tan head. Sweetish caramel aroma. Medium body with mild carbonation. Flavor is like medium dark fruit (raisin/fig/?) and darkish caramel; more sweet than dry. More like a Beglian ale than like the typical stout. Also brings Mongozo to mind. Finishes towards dry with very light bitter. Glad I had it.

UPDATED: SEP 8, 2010 Have had recently that had a richer mouthfeel, brighter carbonation plus pleasant dark malt flavors and resultant melanoidin plus a bit of oxydation- similar to a light Baltic Porter. From bottle pours like a cola, with a stale and sweet aroma. Body so thin it tastes like the second running of a mild brown ale with a hint of pancake syrup added. Goes great with tebs.

Bottle at Ethiopian restaraunt. Intersting pour, looked like an English mild or light brown ale. Hmmm funked out chewy raisiny maltyness which is loaded with flavor, albeit a perplexing one. Not sure what to think about it, the interesting flavor (not quite tasty) was certainly more powerful than expected and while I may not try this one again, I am glad I tried it.

Bottle... Poured like a diet soda... clear brown and very bubbly with a thin head that diminished immediately. Caramel, malty aroma. Lots of carbonation in the palate. Tasted like a black and tan. Dark, roasted malts but light and lagerish towards the finish. I little burn there in the aftertaste.

(Bottle) Aroma caramelly, a little bit of roast, malty. Some bitterness, a little hops. Slightly creamy. Surprisingly complex. The carbonation is very flat. My only complaint is that it’s a little too sweet for my tastes, and flat. Besides this, though, I am really surprised by this one. I like it very much. It went well with Ethiopian food--strong and interesting enough to not be overpowered by the other rich, complex flavors.