Hitachino Nest XH

Brewed by Kiuchi Brewery
Style: Belgian Ale
Ibaraki, Japan

I can see that this is a unique beer, a bold experiment, for sure. It might be a combo of a sour ale in the sake barrels. Definately got a sour funk, but in an interesting way to make it curious at what’s going on, color is dark reddish brown and hazy, fine belgian like effers, so it’s made nicely, then the soury funky taste, it’s unique that’s for sure, it’s drinkable to, it always compelled me to have another funky sip, if only to try to identify something. I noticed an oaky peppery finish, maybe they used european oak, even got some tannins? It’s recommend to give it a try, I may come to like it if I try it enough times. :)

Bottle thanks to dchmela. Promising muddy brown and woody sour complex aroma. Lovely must, some floral qualities, and definite sour wood with hints of vanilla. The taste starts of promising but quickly hits an acrid sour tart note, like dollar store fake SweeTarts. That one bit of the taste almost ruined the beer for me, but everything else is so lovely about it... still a worthwhile experience.

Orange colour and bubbly head, floral aromas. A different culture and a different measure of what bitterness is. A definite woodiness, without too much of supporting flavours other than alcohol and a bitterness from the ale itself. I do not believe it was greatly drinkable, by different standards it is a successful ageing/barreling.

Pours amber with an off-white and thin, but fizzy head which leaves a little lacing. On the nose, fruity, wood, vanilla, spicy sweet sake, and citrus. In the flavor this is fruity, there is a a strong sake component, tannic wood, and again an almost tart citrus component. Medium mouthfeel, drying and hints of tartness in the finish. Another interesting wood influenced beer from Kiuchi. The sake is an unique addition to the mix here, quite nice.

[1249-20080404] 11.2floz bottle. Evergreen aroma with sweet grainy rice, mild citrus notes and hints at a cabin in the woods. Hazy, dark amber brown body with a medium-lasting creamy off-white head. Sweet rice grains continues in the flavour with mild mango hints and citrus peel and more woods. Medium-full body hints at bitterness. Quite pleasant.
(w/ jerc, tupalev)

Bottle poured a clear tarnished copper with a lasting amber head, Aromas of fruittiness, oak, toffee, carmel, coriander and light vanilla. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of oak, toffee, apple, pear, spice and light vanilla with a smooth lingering boozy finish.

Courtesy of CigarCityBrew. Pours hazy lazy copper with thin tan head. The aroma is malty sweet for just a moment before a load of tartness unleashes itself on the unsuspecting senses with acidic damage all around (I swear I saw one olfactory nerve ending being carried off the smelling arena on a stretcher). I get just a faint wood note way in the back. The taste is much like the nose with a moment of malty slightly caramelized sweetness before the tartness takes over with a faint note of wood just noticeable at first. The influence of the wood grows a bit into the finish with more tartness going deep into the after taste. I think if the malt was a bit more noticeable I would have enjoyed the experience more.

Hazy with an amber orange hue. Clinging off-white head. Aromas of ginger and cinnamon. Vanilla and grainy rice. Woody notes. Full bodied and bitter. Wow, a great rolling palate. Tart sour cherries. Mild retaining burn. Fruity notes with a good malty backbone. Tasty!