Meta Beer Export Lager

Brewed by Meta Abo SC
Style: Pale Lager
Sebeta, Ethiopia

Serve in Dimpled mug, English pint, Lager glass, Shaker

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At a tasting, thanks eyes_wide_shut, clear light gold colour, aroma of decaying fruit and a strange old maltiness, sickly sweetness with notes of plywood, almonds and a musty sensation, light undefinable bitterness. Quite bad.

They had this one at Tana Ethiopian restaurant in Pittsburgh. +++ Sampled from an 11.2 oz brown bottle this beer poured a dark amber color with a huge fluffy orange-white head that lingered and left decent lacing. The aroma was tangy and sweet table sugar, pear and apple. The flavor was tangy and almost boozy with notes of table sugar, pear, apple and a hint of bread. The finish was long and tangy with sugar and golden fruits. Moderately full bodied. Solid.

Odd, overly sweet beer with overbearing honey-like notes. Very mild herbal bitterness; not nearly enough to balance things out. Cloying finish. May not be brewed with corn (based on what I just read), but it sure does taste like it. Has some malt liquor qualities, which isn’t a positive. And it has a synthetic-like sweetness that I just couldn’t get used to. Overall, I wouldn’t call it horrible, but I poured out half the bottle.

Bottle. Pours pale gold with average, fizzy white head; decent retention and no lacing. Aroma is straw, corn, faint floral hops, and light fruit. Flavor is malt dominate with some faint fruit esters; crisp finish. Light body, medium carbonation, and low warmth.

UPDATED: NOV 9, 2011 Poured from Belgian-style bottle into tulip glass. Impossible to find anywhere else, I always look forward to ordering this with dinner at Ethiopian restaurants. Unlike many international breweries setup as generic "Euro-lager imitations" of questionable quality, Meta is a true premium beer. These Ethiopian brewers use pure artesian spring water and claim to brew according to the Reinheitsgebot (1516 German Beer Purity Law). If that’s true--and it tastes like it is--Meta contains no cheap adjuncts like corn, rice, or simple sugars. Brilliant, light-golden color. Thick, creamy white head with good retention. Nice, moderate malty sweetness, delicate noble hop aroma and flavor, with a pleasant, mild aftertaste. This is one of the better balanced lagers I’ve drunk, vastly superior to typical American Light Lagers. I honestly have no idea why this beer has recieved such low ratings on this website. Pairs beautifully with savory and spicy African food, but stands well on its own as well.

Bottle at the Bierborse fest in Koeln. Above average for an African lager, very malty.

bottle. clear pale gold with large, foamy white head. grassy nose with a toasted black peppery note. light body with high carbonation. too much residual sweetness in the flavor.

Bottle from an Ethiopian grocer in the Jerusalem market. Slightly amberish golden colour. The aroma is fairly heavy on the adjuncts. Light grainy taste. Thins out at the end. Otherwise, an ok macrobrew.

Bottle at Ethiopian restaurant in Hillcrest. Pours mostly corn yellow with just a touch of orange hue. Foam is light an white and fades quickly. Aroma is strongly of sweet corn, with a slight floral and lemon citrus touch. Mostly sweet and thin-bodied, with a mildly bitter finish. Not bad. May try the stout before we go...

Bottle from Ethiopain store in the Makne Yehuda market in Jerusalem. Pours medium-pale gold with a fizzy head. Aroma is earthy, socky and metallic and has a little peppery hops. Refreshing palate and soft carbonation. Simple and easy. Finishes thankfully dry, with a good bit of bitterness in the finish. Better than expected.

Bottle in Dembi Dollo, Ethiopia. Strong corn aroma. Pale golden yellow colour with a big head. Corn & rice flavour. Sweet aftertaste. My favourite widely available Ethiopian beer.