Hitachino Nest White Ale

Brewed by Kiuchi Brewery
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Ibaraki, Japan

Draft at the Threepenny Taproom - Poured a slightly hazy pale yellow in color with a medium bright white head that produced a medium amount of lacing on the glass. Aroma is very citric... orange and lemon mostly... with coriander and orange peel mixed in. Flavor is strong of malted wheat and slightly sour. The flavor of orange is quite distinct with spices and bready yeasts mixed in. Thin palate with a sour finish. Perhaps the best Japanese beer that I have had to date.

Refrigerated bottle. Taste is strong orange juice and coriander. Lots of taste, but too much orange. Best Belgium White Ale I have had.

Slightly hazy yellowish straw pour with a nice frothy white head. Aroma is very citrusy- mandarin oranges, tangerine, orange peel, lemon, clove, coriander, and nutmeg. Refreshing, crisp, and spicy. Flavor is wheat malt, lemon, further citrus proliferations, and lots of spice. Nutmeg and clove are most noticeable with coriander being quite subtle. Palate is very light, but crisp, clean, and refreshing.

Hazy straw colored pour, 1 finger frothy white head. Aroma holds lots of orange juice, tangerine, lemon, and good nutmeg and Belgian spice notes- really nice citrus character overall. Flavor is quite light, with dominant notes of lemongrass, nutmeg, and other spices; the orange citrus notes fall into the background. Palate is also quite light, but this is, as a witbier should be, nice and refreshing. Good brew overall.

Draft at redlight redlight. Pours a pale yellow. What a nose. Lots of bright spices. The nutmeg come through and adds a lot of distinction. The orange peel and juice acts as a nice backdrop without dominating the aroma. The flavor is also quite nice with the orange coming more to the forefront with the spices receding but continuing to keep up the complexity. Light and bubbly. Refreshing and very good.

Bottle at blind tasting 5/09. Pours clear dark gold and head fades abruptly. Aroma of lemon and grapefruit. Initially sour on the tongue, then some sweetness, then a mild sour finish. Very quick bubbles on the tongue.

smells of wheat malt, corriander, oranges and a hint of cinamonn. Light and thick, but still very light in colour. Taste of light malt and orange, bits of corriander, a typical wit. Smoother and bubblyer on the after palate than the aroma or taste would suggest. An all right white.

330. Pours a deeply cloudy bright orange leaning to light gold. Fizzy white head rises briefly to visibility and then settles to the faintest of rumors at the edges. Huge blast of oranges and coriander on the nose, really a shot across the bow of people who think wits are stupid little training wheels beers. This one has a lot of ammo up front. Fizzy medium body with big fat tangy orange business happening, the hop oil and the citric acid really combine to give it some bite. Dark spices and a little bit of white-peppery hop near the finish. Nice wit.