Skip to main content

KB Lager, The Beer Meant to be Drank Warm

KB Lager settles quite quickly when served and is very drinkable while warm. It's flavour maintains a strong profile of roasted grain. 

In Nairobi, beers are usually served cold, or sometimes warm depending on the mood of who’s serving you.

Outside Nairobi, warm beers may come as a standard and you may have to specify that you indeed would prefer a cold beer, as I once found in Naivasha.

I was at an infamous bar next to the Nairobi - Nakuru highway and this was my first time ordering a KB Lager. By the time I realised I had been served a warm beer, it had already been opened and the only option was a second bottle of cold beer then I could mix half-and half.

It did not escape my attention that the waitress serving me slightly hesitated when I asked for a cold beer. I got the impression that it was taboo to order a cold KB Lager.
Indeed, there seemed to be a difference in flavour, but this would only become distinct about three months later when I had an entire crate to myself.

KB Lager’s character is defined by a bold “roast” or roasted flavour profile, which hits the front and mid palate (the tip and middle of the tongue).

Its ingredients include both barley(malted) and cereals as tends to be the case with other mainstream Kenyan beers. The roasting of the grains are probably what lend to KB's character.

While I initially had my KB cold, I realised it did not set off the right notes as when I first tried. I then remembered the waitress’ hesitation at serving a cold beer, and so I tried it warm.

Interesting enough, I found the beer more palatable when taken warm rather than cold, and that’s how I proceeded to enjoy it henceforth.

Thus, I would describe KB Lager as a beer designed to be drunk warm, appropriate if you do not have a fridge or for occasions where you may not have enough cooling capacity.

It comes in as a medium beer at about 5.5% alcohol volume that also prides itself as "sugar free" and is packed in a 500 ml bottle. While this may vary from person to person, it is a comfortable drink that doesn’t give a strong punch and which can be drunk over a more relaxed session. It should also be tolerable the morning after without much of a hangover.

Keroche Brewery who are the brewers (and perhaps lending the name KB also) define KB Lager as an “affordably priced” beer meaning it’s cost comes in on the lower side. The beer is available at select bars and supermarkets and also online at SkyGarden at about KSh. 150 a bottle.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

WhatsApp Solution: Sorry we were unable to restore any of your message history backup

*This method only works if you are trying to transfer WhatsApp from one phone to another, and have not deleted WhatsApp data or formatted the old phone. If you already uninstalled WhatsApp and deleted data or logged into a different number, it won't work. If you get the “Sorry we were unable to restore any of your message history backup” when trying to restore your WhatsApp messages, trying to restore again from the same backup will probably fail. The issue seems to be caused by an issue with your backup file such as if you repeatedly tried to backup with internet connecting and disconnecting. 

Kenyan Beers and Craft Beer Reviews for 2025

It's 2025, and you asked for yet another Kenyan beer review. Let's cut straight to the chase - we keep the many stories for once we are drunk. Right? This year we categorize the beers according to breweries.  Bila Shaka / Bateleur  Flagship is Bila Shaka which is a rich flavoured but bitter IPA with 6% volume.  They focus more on quality and experimenting.  Home to many pleasantly (sweet per 2 people. I agree) favoured beers like Dire Straits, and for the ladies who love it a lot on the sweeter side, there's Honey Badger. These come in at about 5% or so. Jua Kali isn't as sweet as the above and is a mixed rice and barley beer, for some reason popular in the hot coast. Capitan is their bar beer and is a light-ish, pleasant beer at 4% volume and a good time passer when you're there for a long and good night and have things to do the next day. My favourite local brewer and highly recommended, especially Dire Straits. It's a medium beer, don...

Dennis List of Clubs to Dance At

Kenya   Nairobi   Brew Bistro Rooftop/Westlands Nested on the 11th floor in Westlands commercial/shopping district. A long time favourite especially of white 40/50 year old foreigners. One of the few clubs in Nairobi with a dance floor. Locals especially during the last weekend of the month. (Deep House Music Only) Koda / Muze  Bastions of the Nairobi Deep House Scene which plays South African Afrohouse from Thursday to Sunday. Entrance fee. Check out their pages for acts. Both located in Westlands KenRail Towers

Beers in Kenya: A sober opinion

Note: This is a dated post and has since been mostly passed by events. SAB Miller beers including Castle and Peroni are no longer widely available in Kenya after their exist. Sirville Brewery was bought out by Brew Bistro before being permanently shut in a tax dispute. Kenya is a land of milk, honey, beaches and taxes. I have penned, or is typed, a newer post here .  Peroni - One of the best beers in Kenya. Did a taste of canned and bottled Italian, and bottled Tanzanian I like the tangy flavour and body in Tanzanian Peroni. The can is close. Heineken drinkers will like the Italian one.  I have had a short beer swigging stint in my life. It has however been long enough for me to share my opinion of Kenyan beer. Interestingly, over the course of sharing such opinions with other drunkards connoisseurs,  I have found that we all have different views as to what beer is the best, which one makes you too drunk, or which one gives one free, extra hangover for every ha...

Best mid-budget tyres in Kenya 2025

It is often said that tyres are the only thing keeping you in contact with the ground, and therefore safety is essential here. If we all could afford, we could purchase the best set of Michelin that money can buy and there would be no need to discuss options.  But wishes are simply that.