Tasting

What does Star Lager taste like? It's a golden, cold lager, fairly mild in bitterness with a dry finish — a beer that reads as refreshment in the heat. It's one taste example of the pale coastal lager style, nothing more.

Guinness Foreign Extra Stout from Nigeria is the counterpoint. Dark, with roasted coffee and cocoa notes, bolder bitterness, and more body. The competition guidelines put the style at 6.3 to 8 percent ABV, though individual beers may vary — check the label for exact figures.

Both beers are usually poured from the bottle, into a glass or, in a casual bar, a cup. With the lager, cold matters most; the stout can take a bit more warmth, which helps bring out its aromas.

Tasting Pito is a completely different experience. According to reports from Ghana, it's served from a calabash outside the maker's home, sometimes with benches set up nearby. It tastes lightly sweet and sour, and depending on the brewer, it's served warm or cold.

One rule applies across the board when tasting: go slowly, take small sips, and drink water alongside. Anyone drinking alcohol should do so in moderation — many people in Nigeria abstain entirely, for religious or other reasons.

A tip for the curious when comparing: try the pale beer first, then the dark one, with water in between. That way you taste the difference clearly, since the stout's roasted notes would otherwise overwhelm the lighter lager. The household beers are best tasted right where they're brewed.