Hitachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale

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

Bottle. Poured a hazy orange with a off-white head that lasts and left nice lacing. The aroma is very citrusy like fresh grapefruit and some spices. The flavor is much the same with grapefruit, yeast, and other hops. I lived in Korea for two years and I found the familiar rice or orient spice in both the aroma and flavor that I remember in many of the drinks there. Light body and enjoyable.

[142-20061221] 720mL. Aroma tries hard to be strawberry wheat fields but in actuality is more like bundles of slightly rotten straw (though not yet unpleasant). Cloudy, orange body with a quick head of off-white creamy foam. Flavour has apply-sweet quality with a boozy aftertaste. Medium body. Complimentary togetherness, despite the aroma’s unusual fit with the flavour.

24.3 oz bottle, via SoLan. Pours a hazy orangish copper colored body under a one finger foamy off-white head that left some sticky lacing. Aroma is pretty straightforward, floral and lightly citric hops over a doughy malt base. Maybe some light woody notes, but nothing that I would specifically peg as cedar. The flavor does showcase the cedar fortunately. Moderate citric hoppiness, light bitterness, and doughy pale malt up front. Finishes with lots of dry woody tannic notes, definately unique in nature. This wasn’t the same as the raw oak that is used on many beers. Mouthfeel is light-medium bodied with a slightly drying finish. The fine fizzy and lively carbonation preps the tongue for that woody finish nicely. This was a neat beer. Unique to say the least. I quite liked it overall, despite it’s fairly weak individual components.

Bottle. Small off-white head that mostly dimiinished with minimal lacing, transparent, visible carbonation, and an orange hue. Nose was hoppy, peppery, spicy, some fruitiness, and lightly malty. Flavor was peppery, hoppy, fruity, and malt. Tingly mouthfeel and medium body. Definitely better than what I had anticipated. Quaffable and would drink this one again evenn though I do not anticipate that happening.

The first thing I noticed in the aroma, flavor, and finish was pepper. White pepper to be exact. It was very strong in the finish. There was a wild spiciness that was intriguing, but not at all overpowering. There was some sake influence to the flavor as well. Behind all the pepper and sake flavors, the cedar taste really starts to develop. As it warmed and I worked my way through the beer, the cedar really started becoming prominent. It had a creamy, bitter body. This was very interesting and delicious!

11.2oz bottle-pours an off white head and amber color. Aroma is musty, hay, medium malt-slightly sweet. Taste is musty, hay, wood, medium malt-slightly sweet, hops-slight bitterness, medium fruit. Medium body. OK carbonation.

Cute bottle with a Japanese owl on it. Orange color with a small, fizzy head. Smell is not too strong but interesting nonetheless. Aroma of hops and grass and something I can’t put my finger on. Taste is fairly watery with subtle hops and a bitter finish. Tastes exactly like it smells. This is an interesting, unique beer that is good without being exceptional. Different, but I’d go with other brands in this category.

Deep copper-amber beer with a thick white persistent head. Aroma is very woody and cedary with a soft earthy sweet malt aroma. A touch of resiny cedar, woody and lightly earthy. Warming brings out a lovely chewy fruitiness, dry earthy/spicy notes on the back as well. Earthy/musty resiny bitterness with loads of of cedar character. Herbal/spicy hops on the back. A very interesting and tasty brew.

Tap at Ginger Man. Hazy amber/golden beer with a very creamy white head. The aroma is slightly dusty and muted. A bit of apricot character over some light UK-type malts. Very tame and muted compared to my recollection of this out of the bottle. Lightly woody and cedary but again, nowhere near what I remember. I’d say this keg has been around for quite some time… just like almost everything I ever get at Ginger Man. 6 4 6 3 12