Hitachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale

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

Hazy tan body emanates a very piney aroma. I guess part of it is the cedar cask, but part of it has to be the hops as well. A touch of leather. Fairly dry. Definitely hoppy. This is a really interesting take on an IPA.

Pours hazy gold into a tulip. Significant off-white medium-sized head. Asian flowers and ladies powder room notes. Bubbly with up-front fruity notes that quickly turn very bitter and unpleasant -- perhaps it’s the cedar.

Pours a cloudy brown golden with a huge light beige head--stupid bottle fizzed over upon opening it. Aroma is mainly funky yeast, though it does have some earthiness, wood, and pepper. Smells good, though not necessarily like an IPA. Quite peppery in the taste, more funk and plain bitterness. Herbal and kinda fruity. It may get points for originality, though I’m not entirely sure how much I like this one. Carbonation a little too sharp.

very nice. the aftertaste actually tastes good. i was worried about beer from japan, but it’s delicious. i recommend to anyone with taste buds. 5 out of 5 at the seattle beer fest. best IPA yet.

Pours a hazy amber orange with a lingering white head. The aroma has a bit of fruit, citrus and pepper. Medium body and light carbonation. The flavor is slightly sweet/sour and has the big hops I expect in a IPA, but it’s on the low side of the IPA hoppiness scale. Nice grapefruit bitter finish.

Pours waxy golden amber w/ full semi creamy froth. Aroma is slightly musty w/ ripe grapefruit . Medium nectar w/ ample reidual effers. Flavors are dry w/ a defined white grapefruit rind character. Finish has a nice bittering. Overall: It’s a hoppy, aspirin laden, delicately flavored IPA from Japan. Alcohol is well hidden. Not a malt bomb. *****Revisited 8-9-2007.***** I have to say this brew is classic. It hits the 7% abv mark, it’s not overly malted and the hops are define yet not out to burn you. It’s fresh, snappy, white grapefruit flavors are very inviting and a nice change a pace from the usual IPA. Highly recommended.

Yow! A gusher! Quickly got it and the glass, and went away for a towel or two... Hazed amber color, enormous, fluffy head, maintains it’s dominance for a millenia, it seems... Aroma broadcasts yeast and malt, long and high...biscuits and gravy...buttery, oaky notes....mellow fruit, a zesty, bready thing, with tidy hops and citric hints...nice. I like it. A return of the same on the tongue. Spicy, fruity, malty, ...tasty, drinkable. Good. Meaty. A fine pale ale. Can’t really feel the effect of this "cedar cask maturation", but that’s my fault, I guess. Can’t find a fault with it, but neither is it a socks-knocker-offer... Good ale, ’nuff said.

Pours a hazy copper coloured body with an off white nice lacing head. Aroma is dominated with cedar but past the cedar there is some citrus hops and lots of black pepper. Flavour is malty with lots of black pepper and cedar wood notes. Hops create a bitter finish. Very unique and quite tasty.