Hitachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale

Brewed by Kiuchi Brewery
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Ibaraki, Japan

Bottle from Dilly Deli. Poured a hazy copper color with an average off-white head that lasted and produced good lacing. Heavy hoppy citrus and pine aroma. Medium body with soft carbonation. Medium hoppy bitter flavor with a full hoppy citrus bitter finish of average duration. Solid drinkable brew.

$4 bottle from Takanaya in Tokyo. Finally a beer I look forward to finishing. The past few beers I’ve tried I haven’t looked to finishing, because they are skunky or too sweet or something. I love smelling this beer, the Cedar cask really shines through and through. I smell it over and over again in my tulip glass. The head is a creamy paper thin layer covering the surface of the beer. The best temperature is a little cooler, not warm. There is a little background sweetness, but the beer leans nicely toward more hops. I think much better than other IPAs. Tastes mellow, and not harsh. Very flavorful, and yet could be a great session beer. I quietly say I love it. There’s a reason it’s rated second best beer in Japan.

Purchased at Beverage Castle, Tampa. A sediment laden pour looked somewhat hazy with orange/copper hues. The aggressive carbonation created an initial inch and a half tall light tan head. The aroma is sweet grapefruit hops mixed with sweet smelling malts. It starts to smell like orange flavored hard candy. The big carbonation causes an initial explosion of citrus hop bitterness that is quickly sweetened with malt. Then there is an earthy quality that surfaces along with grain or pale malts and then more earthiness. The whole while there is a persistent citrus hop bitterness that rides right into the after taste. Nice IPA.

Again, a year later and I am right above my brother! Ha! Not a bad beer. I haven’t tried any other beers from Japan, but I would now after trying this one. Very light in look and taste. Much lighter then typical IPAs. Evidently I dislike most Indian Pale Ales, but this is agreeable. Not a bad beer.

Lightly sweet aromas of mixed fruit. Slightly hazy light amber color, with a decent white head. Starts a bit tart, moves to light fruitiness. The body is not strong. The wood casks seem to contribute a light earthy, woody aspect. It’s really quite pleasant, and there is a decent amount of hop bitter. If it wasn’t so expensive, I’d buy it on a regular basis.

Bottle: Dark ruddy orange with a nice rolling hill head of solid foam. Interesting light fruity aroma. This drinks quite well, full of fruity flavors ... watermelon, carrot juice, green tea, blood orange. Solid cloying hop bitter finish. This is an exceptional, different beer ... quite delicious. (#2951, 6/3/2007)

Pours an attractive, slightly hazy copper with a billowy off-white head. Prominent earthy, cedary aroma with a touch of pear, nice. Flavor has notes of pear/apple, cedar, light caramel, earthy British hops and pepper. Pleasant level of sweetness, moderately bitter. Medium bodied with a smooth texture and lively, spritzy carbonation. A very original IPA. Neat stuff.

much more like a yeasty belgian than an IPA. Yeasty and floral aroma, with hey, farm and outhouse notes. Very bitter finish. Obviously matured in sake casks