BEER REVIEW: 425

BREWER: East African Breweries Group, Nairobi County, Kenya

STYLE: Lager

ABV: 4.2%

VESSEL: 500ml brown bottle

DATE OF POST: 28th November 2025

 

JYMI SAY’S…

Firstly, the packaging. Utterly sensational. The colours and design are just perfect, and then you notice that the bottle is embossed. You get up with much vigour from your tasting chair and applaud slowly but loudly with cupped hands. OUTSTANDING.

Next, the fact that this brew is still, over 100 years since conception, brewed in Africa. This is exactly the type of beer that gets swallowed up by the big boys. You rotate the bottle only to be told it’s now put together by the likes of Heineken, in Edinburgh. But no, Tusker is very much brewed in Nairobi to this very day. And whilst I’m fairly certain the EABG are not the teeny tiny micro brewery that I imagine they are in my head, in Kenya Tusker is brewed, and that is enough for Jymi boi… just.

The beer itself, though nothing to get overly excited about is decent enough. Not great, but passes muster. The texture is probably the highlight. Light and crisp so therefore, chuggable.

Though I wouldn’t say you should go out of your way to find Tusker, you should defo pick one up if you happen to see one on your travels. Just for the overall experience, if nothing else.

Jymi’s Rating: 63%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Tusker arrives with the quiet confidence of an African elephant crossing the plains. Brewed in Kenya, it carries a sense of place and pride that feels both grounded and enduring. The name alone evokes strength and heritage, and the packaging is a triumph. The squared shoulders of the bottle give it a bold silhouette, while the black and yellow colour scheme is used with restraint and impact. The elephant logo, placed like a beer mat on the front, adds a tactile charm that feels deliberate and iconic.

On the nose, Tusker offers a malty aroma with a hint of something earthy and damp, reminiscent of a bog at dusk. It is not unpleasant, but it does not trumpet freshness either. The taste unfolds slowly, beginning with a touch of aniseed and lemon. Malt flows steadily throughout, never overpowering but always present. As the glass empties, a soft lager sweetness emerges, like fruit left out for passing elephants. It is not a stampede of flavour, but it holds its ground with quiet determination.

The mouthfeel is surprisingly full for a lager. It does not shake the earth, but it is no featherweight either. Smooth and steady, it mirrors the gait of the creature it is named after. Tusker earns discretionary points for staying true to its roots. It is not trying to be flashy or modern. It is simply Tusker, brewed in Kenya, and proud of it.

Overall, this is a strong offering for a lager. Not immense, but memorable. Not wild, but wise. Tusker does not need to shout. It just walks in, leaves its mark, and moves on.

Sammy’s Rating: 70%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 66.5%

MOB review next weekend: SEASONALS: FOREIGN EXTRA STOUT by STF

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

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M O B 2025