Hitachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale

Source:Bottle from Cool Springs Wine and Spirits on clearance.
Glass:Chouffe tulip.
Appearance:Slightly hazy orange pour with a one finger white head.
Aroma:Residual sugar, caramel and cedar..
Flavor:Sweet malt and sugar up front with a bitter cedar finish.
Palate:Medium body with solid carbonation.
Overall:My previous experiences with cedar had me a little skeptical about this one. Turned out to be quite a quaffable brew.

2009 Bottle in trade...it was a trade binge week and I forget who sent it, but thanks mate!!- Pours a murky orange with a medium off white head...aroma is dry hoppy, woody, grainy caramel malt...flavour is similar, massive cedar that adds a totally different wood element than anything else, pine pitch, little bit of spice...interesting stuff...

From a bottle poured amber with a good amount of head. Nice spicy hoppy flavor with a lingering finish.

Bottle: Deep orange good clarity with a dense thick creamy tan head that retains well. Unique spicy aroma- hoppy with mild cookie malt back notes. Has suggestions of spruce, ginger, sage and piny hops. Creamy light fluffy body- cask like feel. Softly sweet malt background with a smooth date like note. Some subtle cedar wood and a rich spiciness of spruce and ginger. Some minty hints as well. The finish is long smooth spicy/ piny. A very creamy, tasty complex and unique IPA, great!

Bottle. Pours an orange body with an off white head. Spicy pine and pepper with woody dry sawdust notes. Dried woody fruit character and a light pepper note. Very nice.

Hazy dark orange pour, light white head with some retention. Strong cedar aroma along with floral hops; spicy hop flavor with some leafiness. Moderate herbal finish, creamy mouthfeel with plenty of bright, sparkly carbonation. Novel and good.

Belgian Strong Ale impression, with a herbal-woody Garrigue on the back palate of patchouli and marijuana. Dense blonde pour with goldy tan head. Nice hay and cat pee hop aromas. Tastes a bit citric and herby hops that have nice bitterness. some fruit pepper and candy. it’s actually a little bit charming because it’s unique.

First of all, this really did not seem like an IPA to me. Respectable amber pour. Complex and unusual aroma: some yeast, floral hops, grains, malty sweetness, and a touch of sea breeze and wood. What is a classic Japanese ale anyway? I guess this is the living definition. A very well balanced amber that is mellow and complex, with grains and hops coming on nicely in the finish. The flavor from the cedar casks comes into the picture as well. A very fine and unusual ale. I look forward to Hitachino Nest getting some of the higher ratings that they deserve.