Hitachino Nest Real Ginger Ale

Sampled at Village Pourhouse courtesy of CUJO. Poured a very inviting deeply dark brown. Taste was not as much ginger as I would have guessed... not even close. More like a starchy malt tone with asian/belgian spice undertones. Palate was hearty. The image of the bottle is making me laugh..

tap: pint glass: VPH: I must say I like this brewery for their use of unique flavors, this one being no exception. Pours mostly clear deep amber... lots of pour bubbles leaving a solid finger of white head. The nose was very aromatic, very bright, lots of citrus fruits, florals and some spices. The carbonation brings the flavor immediately throughout your mouth... a rush of medium/ full bodied malts, a blend of sweet and bitter that is hard to put a finger on. There is the distinctive scratch in the back of your throat that the spice of ginger can bring, but not overpowering. Truly a solid brew.

Bottle. Pours a murky reddish brown with a thin soapy off-white head. Aroma is sweet, citrus and ginger with a malt backbone. Flavor is basically malt with a slightly spicy ginger backbone. Full, bubbly carbonated mouthfeel.

330mL as Hitachino Real Ginger Brew (olive label). Pours an unclear reddish amber with a two-finger, fizzy, soda-like, dark tan head. Leaves some okay lacing. Great crystal malt and caramel nose with some funky leather, spice, cinnamon, ginger root. Taste is spicy, vinegary with apple juice, sour tartness, and some grainy dryness in the finish. Ginger is not overwhelming. This overall is very well balanced, a bit sour, and is quite refreshing. Very interesting. A nice surprise.

Bottle. Pours with a off-white head over a gold body with a few small particles. Aroma of both fresh and pickled ginger, caramel and ginger-ale. Taste is ginger, earth, and dirt. None of the sweetness I like with ginger-ales, not caramel malty back bone either. Low residual sugars, tastes like I am eating the root straight. Lightly spicy finish. Fizzy and dry.

Bottled - could not drink this one down (I’m not a huge fan of ginger, so that was probably the issue). Looked wonderful, with nice carbonation and a thick head. Tasted just like ginger with a citrus-y bitterness.

Hitachino Nest Ginger Brew is a translucent (but not at all transparent) orangish red ale. It’s very sparkling with lots of particles. It has a thick multi-colored head, marbled from white to rusty brown. It’s dense, with outstanding retention and lacing. There is a lot of dirty ginger in the aroma with a touch of sweetness. It has a very fluffy medium body that’s very smooth with a sharp, slightly gritty finish. There’s not really any sweetness. It’s tangy. The ginger is pretty prominent, but not dominant. It’s tangy, leathery, Belgian-like, almost salty. It’s very unique!

Orange copper in color. Smells like ginger. Lovely nose with just enough malt and hops integrated with the ginger. Tastes of ginger, slightly bitter, with clean bitter finish. The mid palette and middle flavor profile are disappointing on what is otherwise a solid beer.