Hitachino Nest Classic Ale (Houjun Shitate)

Bottle from Isetan in Shinjuku. Cloudy dark copper color with a medium-height, foamy, off-white head. Hoppy aroma (Kent Goldings) with caramel malt (Maris Otter). Grassy, piney; rather subtle but nice. Fruity, hoppy flavor with lightish malts, caramel, and a great hop presence: great aroma and long, hard, bitter finish. Dark fruits and a touch of cedar in there as well. Amazingly smooth and rich palate, with low carbonation. Drinkable and very pleasant.

Aged in cedar casks and served on tap at Craft Beer Bar, Yokohama Japan. Colour was similar to a strongly brewed cup of Earl Grey or a really sneaky fox. And this was one beer that turned out to be both sneaky and quite foxy as well. At first, there wasn’t much of a smell at all; as it warmed up notes of pine, red wine, grape peels were very evident. Mouthfeel was smooth, creamy, and also a little smoked. Hints of caramel, brown sugar and miso lingering long on the tongue. This is one of those good beers that when first tasted, doesn’t seem all that special and then it creeps up on you and reveals more and more. I love that. It’s also a good beer to share with someone who has good taste.