Hitachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale

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

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.

Bottle. I’ll admit, it looks like just about any other IPA out there. That’s about where the similarities end. The cedar really comes through in the aroma, along with a slight citrus hoppiness. It’s there, but not anywhere near overwhelming. Rather woody and malty in the mouth and very tasty. Again, the hops are there, but they play nice, nothing like the stereotypical IPAs out there. I enjoyed this one. Very different but very refreshing at the same time.

11.2 oz bottle. A bit cloudy; orange bottom, brown top. Frothy white-tan head. A few bubbles. Sweet hops and then immediately cedar. The two noses blend into a spicy pepper. A dry cedar pucker works back through the mouth, Undertones of unripe apricot. Semi-dry finish with cherry sweetness in the corners of my lips. Enjoyable.

Pours a thick, syrupy (looking) dark mango with tons of "floaties". Off-white soap head with little retention and medium lace. Pine-cedar spiced aromas predominate. A lighter, fruitier version of an IPA... definitely not bad at all.... I’m picking up mellow citrus and a medium-thick spiced hop mid-palate and back. It’s definitely got a complex character, and I thoroughly enjoy it, but a little less body than a traditional IPA. It’s a unique brew, and a great find!

Poured a hazy dark gold color with a thin off-white head. Woody aroma thats failry strong but not over the top. also notes of incense, saw dust, spice, caramel and sandal wood. For those of you born in the 60’s or earlier it smells like a "head shop". Something about the aroma is addictive. I have to keep smelling it. I am not sure if it is because I like it a lot or because it is so odd you have to keep sniffing. I think because I like it. Caramel malty flavor with some wood. Kind of a let down after that aroma. Dry bitter finish. A little thin but I would like to try another bottle.

From 12oz Bottle. Pours a hazy, murky golden orange color with a tall, soapy head of yellow bubbles. Some yeasty floaties are suspended lazily in the body. A slightly sour aroma of bretts greeted my nostrils at first, but after warming, the woody white cedar aroma of a finnish sauna bench combined nicely with some floral apple blossoms, creating a delightful bouquet. A hint of sour raspberries added a fruity side to the otherwise dry smell. Medium bodied, carbonated mouthfeel that brings out more cedar notes, along with some pear skins and white pine needle hops. Final smack of granny smith apple skins. Quite interesting overall, but the cedar can be a bit overly dominant. I must point out that its very well done, however, and only makes for a unique and distinguishing feature of this brew.

Bottle from Super Saver. Pours turbid dark straw/coppery colored with a 1-finger off-white head. The aroma and taste are simple. Tons of pulpy grapefruit juice mixed with a boatload of ground black pepper and a pinch of woody caramel malts. That’s it in a nutshell, and it is unique and delicious. This would make a great shrimp or fish marinade!