Hitachino Nest Weizen

Brewed by Kiuchi Brewery
Style: German Hefeweizen
Ibaraki, Japan

Hazy banana yellow body with abundant chunky particles and a medium thick, slow-fading sudsy white head. Aroma of sweet honey, citrusy esters, pineapples, and oranges plus fresh wheat bread. Flavor is drier than expected with some quenching tartness. Has notes of coriander, spice, and plastic with some phenolic bitterness. Dry, somewhat thin body. Good, but lacks the depth of a great German Hefeweizen.

01.11.06 Very cool 720ml bottle with the new logo. The beer, hazed and speckled, is alive with streaming eff meandering coolly through it brilliant golden depths. On the surface, a mountainous white head, lasting firmly, with stiff peaks and thickly coating lace. Bright wheat and lemon aromas greet the nose beside some fresh ginger or allspice, exciting in anticipation of a refreshing quaff. Underlying the classic bavarian aromas is a slick twist of farmhouse tartness that inspires the transition from nose to palate. The first sip is wild with tingling effervescence and a pleasing acidic bite. This beer demands attention, delighting with all the lemon grass tartness and a hint of sweet chile pepper (without the heat) that might be the flourish of a tangy Thai soup. Medium full and lightly coating, the body is fulfilling while retaining enough snap to pair nicely with this lightly oiled pork stir-fry. Unexpectedly, I find only the mildest yeasty spice and the usual punch of banana is present but rather astringent like the unripe fruit. In all, this is a real treat of a beer, beautifully crafted, delicious, and unique.

Bottle at Flat Top Grill in Ft. Wayne, IN. White small fizzy head, carbonated, transaprent, and yellow hue. Aroma was sweet, banana, clove, and spice. Flavor was bananas, spicey astringent, somewhat tart and acidid. Smooth palate.

very carbonated orange juice with a sour aftertaste. not great, not horrible. it’s one of those beers...

This was a weak Hefe. yellow with foamy head. Nose had some banan and tasted some clove, real watery.

Pours a large initial head of soap bubbles. Under average aroma. Pale colour. Spicey taste, a bit of wheat and yeast, easy quaffable. Medium to slightly thin mouthfeel. Drying banana creamy finish. Clove and vinegary tart and malt aftertaste.

Medium sized white head diminishes via large rocky bubbles. Cloudy and dark yellow. Strong citrus hop aroma gives way to kiwi fruit, or very green bananas. Smooth mouthfeel, with a sharp citrusy bite at the finish. My overall impression of the flavor was of a lemin-lime drink (with a hint of grain). Not overly impressive.

Poured bright orange and cloudy, with a surprising head for a weizen. Fantastic aroma with a great balance of light hoppiness and belgian spiciness. A pleasure to breathe in, over and over. Taste is huge, full of fruity esters...cherry, pear, banana, and pepper flavours dominate. Lots of great spicy notes with notable clove and lemon zest tones. A bit of hop bitterness brings you back to its essential beeriness and the mouthfeel reminds you of the malt sweetness. Actually much better than many (most) german Hefeweizens I’ve tried. A gem of a beer.