Hitachino Nest XH

Brewed by Kiuchi Brewery
Style: Belgian Ale
Ibaraki, Japan

Poured from an 11.2oz bottle and served in a tulip. This beer poured a dark, glowing orange/amber with a solid haze and a thick head of foamy, light tan bubbles. Excellent retention and lacing. The aroma included crisp fresh citrus, sour cherries, lightly toasted oak, and a moderate amount of funkiness. Very inviting. The flavor didn’t quite pop like the aroma, but it was still very nice. Notes of subdued caramel, citrus, sour pited fruits, followed up by an unexpectedly hoppy finish. Slightly woody and quite dry. The mouthfeel was medium-bodied and had crisp, assertive carbonation. This was a pleasent surprise. Very enjoyable.

Tap at Qbrick. Great malt and spice flavor, with lots of fruit. Excellent hoppy finish for a beer in this style. Great balance and complexity.

Well, it’s been a long time since the last time I had a gusher but this beer sure was excited to see me. Once that was under control it poured a hazy amber-copper coloured body topped by a pillowy, off white, fine bubbled, and long lasting head that coated the sides of the glass as it eventually receded. Quite pretty but hinders drinkability. Citrus, cedar, lychee and tropical and citrus fruits are suggested in the aroma. Somewhat sour citrus character up front is joined by a pronounced bitterness with cedar character appearing in the aftertaste along with some vanilla and almond to blend with lingering strong fruit flavours. Quite tart overall. Medium body is quite dry with very strong carbonation that is a bit harsh on the tongue. If the carbonation were a bit smoother I think I might love this. Tulip glass. Cellar temperature. Bottle. Bottleworks. Aug-08.

Pour is a dark red with a large tan head. Aroma is some wood smoke and sourness with a bit of yeast. Flavor is some ginger with caramel and oak. Some of the sake is left on the tounge but not anything overpowering. Good enough for a try but overall pretty expensive. Its a barrel aged Belgain that’s for sure.

Red-orange, cloudy, big bubbly head. Aromas of sour cherry, soft toffee, and wood. Interesting palate: more malt than sour fruit, spicy and woody, tart and dry. Another beguiling delicious brew by Kiuchi!

11.2 oz bottle - Pours a murky, bubbly brown with a lingering, thin, light tan head. The aroma is yeasty and malty with a little oak. There’s a funk in the aroma and taste that leads me to believe there’s some wild yeast in there. It’s very sweet with a touch of fruit and a medium body. Sake notes come through a bit in the finish. It’s very unusual. While I kind of liked it, it’s not worth a store price of $8 per 11oz bottle to me.

11.2oz bottle. Brown/orangish pour with a nice white head. Smells like green apples, slightly sour. Crisp, smooth flavor, light fruitiness, really easy to drink, not bad at all.

Bottled. Cloudy orange color with some yeast floaters. Thick and creamy off-white head and lacing that lasts throughout the glass, very pleasing appearance. Vinous and slightly phenolic aroma of white grapes, longan fruit, pear, peach and light grains. Some oak hiding in the aroma too. Crisp, refreshing flavor of ginger with a medium hop bite. Interesting transition to a musty twang with earthy nuances of oak. Mildly sweet overall Sake notes are more noticeable on the flavor finish.