Hitachino Nest New Year Celebration Ale

Brewed by Kiuchi Brewery
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Ibaraki, Japan

Hot damn, this one is good. Pour is amazing. Dense cream colored foam, about 50% of the pour, sits on top for what seems like an eternity. When it finally settles down, what you get a burnt amber, cloudy and dank as all hell. Some fine particles in there. Nice reflective gold flecks in the light. Perfect appearance. Nose is mad spice, defintely the orange peel and nutmeg mentioned all the bottle. I also get some anise and hibiscus notes. Thick and chewy in the mouth. A huge malt and wheat presence blast you up front, lactic notes mid swallow. So many flavors to pick out. LOTS of spice. I dont get a lot of coriander, but there is quite a bit of vanilla and cinnamon, as well as bitter orange peel. I get a lot of dark dried fruits in this one as well, especially in the latter half, once the palate gets used to the spice. Finishes unexpectedly, but enjoyably so, bitter and dry. Who ever knew the Japs could make such fine brews? Yum yum.

Thanks for sharing this one at the tasting, decaturstevo! Vintage 2004. Murky brown tan head that dissapates quickly. Rich malty barleywine aroma, dried fruits, dark caramel, sweet vanilla. Flavor follows the aroma. Nice.

2004 Vintage: Poured a hazy brown color with a large quickly diminishing off-white head. Sweet fruity aroma with notes of oranges. Kind of dusty and oxidized at the end. Sweety fruity flavor, aged malt, and dried ketchup. I think time took its toll on it.

Storng rich aroma of fruit. A taste of sweet something with alcohol mixed in. It was just slightly over carbonated and fizzy. A gift from my wife .

O4 bottle drunk 5-06. Glowing red hued cloudy beer. Smells of light cinnamon with booze and cream. Enjoyable cinnamon, brown sugar pop tart flavor I like it. Ap- 3 ar-7 tas-6 pal-3 ov-14

2006. Murky amber/brown. Modest, foamy, off white head. Aroma is herbal, fruity, spicy, sweet. Same flavors with definite wheat, crusty bread, and nice bitter hops. Dry, spicy, sour finish with a touch of alcohol. Medium, well carbonarted . Soothing is an excellent descriptor. Great brew.

Here’s a very unique brew with a nice artisan feels to it. Finally something from Japan that is not a mass produced article for large consuming markets. Cloudy orange body with a short lived white head. Smells wild, like a cross between a Gueuze and an IPA!!! Full of herbal and mineral spices, hard candies, spicy caramel and fruity orange flavours all blend together in a hard to describe way. Very hoppy and like its sister Hitachino Classic Ale the hops are incredibly intense. 9% well hidden. Amazing. Very Distinctive. I can’t decide which one of these two Hitachino sisters I prefer, they both have great bodies and go down easily, I need to have them both at the same time to make up my mind. I’m talking about beer you pervert!

poured orange brown haze with a tan off white head. huge nose of fruit hops, apricots, dates. sweet mouth feel with a rock candy aftertaste of more fresh fruit and mixed spices. some warmth of alcohol pushing this beer and a bit of bitter overtones. good.