Mongozo, The Exotic Beer and the first Fair trade lager in the world

Mongozo

http://www.mongozo.com/en

Brewed by Brouwerij Huyghe for the Dutch company Mongozo B.V.
Netherlands
Style: exotic fruit beer
Melle, Belgium

Mongozo is an exotic fruit beer which is a one of a kind. It was the first Fair trade lager in the world as all the fruit used in the production of this beer is exclusively sourced from Fair Trade suppliers. There are five exotic flavours available: Mango, Banana, Coconut, Quinua and Palmnut.

Although Mongozois a Dutch company, the beer is actually brewed in the traditional way across the border in the Huyghe Brewery in Melle, Belgium . I wasnt sure to have it down as a Dutch or Belgian, or even as an African beer, but I went with it as a Dutch beer as Mongozo is a Dutch company. Simples.

The word Mongozo means “cheers” in the language of the Chokwe people of Africa.
The story behind the beer is that Henrique Kabia came to the Netherlands from Angola as a refugee in 1993. He brought with him his gradnmothers beer recipe that was so popular in his home..This recipe served as the basis for the brewing Mongozo Palmnut. In 1998, Henrique Kabia and, his business partner, Jan Fleurkens decided to put the beeron the Dutch market in 1999 launching Mongozo Palmnut. There are now five exotic flavours available: Mango, Banana, Coconut, Quinua and Palmnut.

Review: Bottle of Mongozo Mango Flavoured Fruit Beer, 3.6%ABV

I tried the mango flavoured Mongozo fruit beer. “The Exotic Beer” is a lovely sweet drink and a free trade product. So you know by drinking lots of it you are doing your little bit to help people in the less developed world. Building up your karma bank no end.

On pour there is a dark hazy golden colour with a nice enough head and a bit of lacing.

As you would except there is a very strong ripe mango smell throughout which is very refreshing.

The taste is, naturally, of a very sweet fresh mango flavour. It is strong tasting with some lingering malty aftertaste. This is a good beer for the summer time, nice on a hot day.