Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout

Brewed by Kiuchi Brewery
Style: Stout
Ibaraki, Japan

I would not have thought something this good could come from Japan. Thick and syrupy pour. Head is tan and decent sized, probably would have been bigger if I had poured it right. Black as used motor oil. Wonderful strong brewed coffee nose and dark chocolate laden. Very roasty, toffee, caramel, vanilla all swirled together...almost like a brownie. Flavor is sharp up front...dark roasted espresso, bitter sweet chocolate that smoothes out nicely to a silky sweet finish with a medium hop bite. Nice and thick.

A thick, syrupy, pours black body spawns a massive column of dense, light brown foam. The head settles slowly to a wavy, completely asymmetrical mound. Randomly placed, thick clumps of lacing hang on the glass like pictures on a wall. The aroma is pure, unadulterated espresso. Nothing more, nothing less. This is without a doubt the most intensely coffeed-out brew I have ever some across. Any other scents or aromas that might be present are crushed by the massive avalanche of sharp, biting espresso. A heaping helping of sweet, malty sugar has been added to make this concoction drinkable, which causes it to sit very heavy on the stomach. Still, its bitter as hell, despite the sweeteners. Finishes roasty, with a slight sour tickle in the back of the throat. Just a hair shy of full bodied. I can’t get past the intense coffee and roast, but if espresso is your thing, this one is a must try.

In the bottle from Beertopia. Pours as black as your soul with an equally dark brown head. The aroma is an intense burnt coffee scent. Flavor is like drinking a shot of espresso, except with a deep sourness that lingers throughout. You miss a lot of the roastedness due to this uniform and thorough tartness. Perhaps a bit of spruce kicks in there as well. This is an oily thick beer. Damn good.

Thanks to CaptainCougar and Secret Santa for my share of this beer. Pours black with a tan to brown head. Honestly, this beer looks beautiful. Aroma of old coffee grounds, dark chocolate, wood, and toffee. The coffee quality to this doesn’t appeal to me as it reminds me of throwing away the previous day’s coffee grounds. Tastes basically no different from the aroma; maybe more focus on the bitter dark chocolate. Medium to thick mouthfeel pretty full bodied, kinda gritty feeling, but I might have been imagining that. I really thought I would like this more, as it sounds so good. However, it’s merely okay. I guess the best coffee beers are the ones that keep the coffee elements a bit downplayed, like Speedway.

Excellent Stout. Smells like you’re roasting coffee in the glass (very nice) Dark roasty chocolate flavors, some bitterness, but very well balanced. Extermely dark color

Black coffee nose..not malt...coffee. Folgers w/ some bakers chocolate and herbal bitterness. Finishes the same. The end

This stout is exemplary. Probably one of the most beautiful stouts i have ever witnessed. The blackness is Impenetrably black...like an onyx mirror. The head was like a living Picasso..alive and minimalistically artistic in seductive ways...the darkness was almost metallic, glimmering lace paints the sides of a glass upon a tilt. insane. Nose was like chocolate fog; thick head-explosive chocolate fog with a dose of holiday coffee steam. The flavors start restrictive but refined. melted chocolate an powdery cocoa,adequately sweetened, and with requisite bitterness...Mouthfeel is thick yet wet & slippery...maybe even oily..the end is almost lactic and most certainly sharp ...the thick chocolate flavors grow...and grow, ceasing their restrictiveness...basically, taking over.

33 cl. Opaque black with a 4 finger head that lasts. Aroma is coffee with cream, charred wood, dry oats, and cocoa. Flavors of espresso with sugar and cream, cocoa, smoky hickory, and green herbs. Medium-heavy body is smoooooth and has a just-right dry finish. Best... stout... ever.