Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale

Brewed by Kiuchi Brewery
Style: Traditional Ale
Ibaraki, Japan

Bottle. Pours red with some orange tones and off-white head. The aroma is very, very rice-like, somewhere between sake and rice vinegar. There are also aromas of unripe fruits and a touch of wood. The flavor is definitely similar to sake. Rice and berries are here mostly as well as noticeable alcohol. Wood comes in the finish. Definitely interesting, but not great.

330 cl. Clear copper-ruby with a small, fleeting head. Aromas of waxy wood, bubblegum, and salty smoked beef. Flavors of sourish cherry, salted oak and cedar, with a finish of sherry vinegar-soaked bubblegum. Palate is light, acidic-tingly, dry, and somehow rejuvenating. Reminds me of a Flanders sour ale (except I like this a bit more). I appreciate the fact that these types of beverages are a work of art and have a lot of complex flavor, but still I don’t enjoy them so much as a hoppy, malty brew.

Beautiful clear bright copper with peach amd strawberry blonde highlights--really great color--with a thin, loose, dissapating head. Light fruit, grain, and yeasty fermentation characteristics in the aroma with just a touch of tartness. Light and dry with some mild toastiness and a hint of subtle berry fruit. Body is light and a bit flat with a slightly bitter finish and some lasting alchohol warming.

Bouteille de 12 oz achetée chez Charles St. Liquors (Boston, MA). Arôme: Odeur d’huile d’olive (?) et d’épices. Apparence: La couleur est rosâtre voilée avec une moyenne densité de bulle. Présence d’un mince col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût d’houblons fruités. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement onctueuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Légère présence d’agrumes en arrière goût. (Rating #1142)

Well, the beer actually did pour a rustic red color, and it did look nice. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much else going on. Decent tasting ale. Light and refreshing, if not somewhat boring.

It annoys me that a beer this distinctive and enjoyable is rated so low. I really like the red rice taste in this clean beer that goes very well with Asian food.

Big bottle. Aroma is slightly sour and fruit-malty with cedar and olive overtones. Pours a tinged brown-gold, big white head, fizzy, nice bottle and painted label. Moderately cloudy. Sour and olivey, slightly salty, distinct cigar box cedar quality. FInishes with a warming effect and a residual floral thing. Mouth is thin, goes flat quickly. This was an expensive experiment that made me wish I’d spent the funds on a nice pack of Fullers.

Bottle. The wise old owl looked down and saw a beer on the ground. He thought to himself: Hmm, that looks quite tasty, all nice and ruby-red grapefruity with a thick body. He swooped down for a closer inspection and found, to his semi-dismay, an aroma of plastic wine with cherry and 7-Up. He sipped the beverage and found more plasticity in the form of sugar and cherry. He noted a weak Saison spice trying to assert itself. Our feathered friend made note of a mouthfeel that seemed to be just adequate-- nothing spectacular. As he flew back to his perch in the tree, he thought of this interesting libation but concluded that there were other, more interesting, beverages out there to explore.