Intermission: Beers of Mozambique

I thought this would be an appropriate time to address those of you who have expressed an interest in the beer selections available in Mozambique. While the variety is not as diverse as one who likes beer would hope, what they've got ain't bad.
Find them listed below in order of my preference:

1. Laurentina Preta
This unique, easy drinking dark lager was my favorite. It had more flavor, courtesy of the combination of the three malts and a toasted black malt & caramel, than any of the other beers we tasted. I would drink this beer anywhere I could find it in the world. I would drink it with seafood and spicy food. Good stuff. The beer, as are most of the beers in Mozambique, is 5% alcohol.

2. 2M (Duas M, for you locals)
Duas M, from Mac-Mahon Brewery, is a very standard African Lager. It's great for those hot, humid days, when the water can't be trusted and there's no more work to do. The two barley malt varieties - Boortmalt and Soufflet - give 2M a crisp, slightly bitter flavor.


3. Manica
Manica is my beer of choice whilst sitting on the beach contemplating what it means to have just swam with whale sharks. Manica is a slightly hoppy, full flavored lager that, while very similar to 2M, has a distinct sweetness that makes it last a bit longer in those big 500ml bottles that all lagers are served in.


4. Laurentina Clara
An average lager beer at best, Laurentina Breweries recently sold to Mac-Mahon. Hopefully Mac-Mahon can do something with this one. Three distinct barley malts Boortmalt, Soufflet and Caramel and you'd expect to get something a little more palatable. Unfortunately, it warms right into a Maputo night like hot butter on a knish under a prime rib heat lamp.

5. Raiz
I feared to try this one. Mozambique's newest entry into the average and sub-par beer markets, Raiz struck me as akin to Steel or Cobra in the US. It was only found in the 500ml bottles in outdoor market stalls. All of the other beers are available in smaller quantity (340 ml bottle and 440 ml cans.) Raiz is not.