Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout

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.

Fat 12oz bottle pours black with a lasting brown head. Huge coffee aroma on this one. Malted milk balls, some chocolate, and a full blast of cold pressed coffee. Unsubtle but awesome. Taste is not as good as smell, unfortunately. Coffee flavor present but a little thin and one dimensional otherwise. A nice effort and good to try for fans of coffee stouts like myself but not one of the better examples.

Pours black with a large, dark head. First impression of the aroma is sweet, lactic chocolate, uncannily like chocolate milk. Swirling brings out a bitter espresso which mixes very well with the chocolate. The combination is not unlike lightly toasted baker’s cocoa. That same combination carries over into the flavor, which ends with a decidedly espresso-like bitterness. Very well done.

Black, with a brown head. Rich. almost decadent aroma of espresso and a hint of dark cocoa. Very rich palate. Flavor is pretty much the same as the aroma, but with a bit more chocolate. This was a nice surprise.

Pours pitch black wtih a mostly receding tan head. Aroma of coffee, roasted barley and stale coffee. Tastes of brewed coffee, strong burnt roast, earthy, chewy dirt like flavors. Mouthfeel is full to heavy bodied with smooth carbonation. Has some nice qualities, but this is very coffee-centric.

on draft and a small serving wasnt sure what to expect but the strong espresso aroma was more than enough for me. tasted very good and not sure i would drink a 10oz glass. was creamy and very strong and that’s good. this could be a good last beer of the eveing.

The beer decamps the stubby 330ml bottle a soot black with some light ruby highlights, the head pompous, the color chocolate and the texture creamy, upon its depletion the lace forms a nice concealing sheet. Nose has a rich nut like aroma, chocolate, coffee, caramel and a pinch of hops. Start is nicely malted; sweet with a burnt grain and hop spicy bite at the back, top is full in feel. Finish has a standard acidity, the burnt grain and hops provide a lingering bittersweet bite, aftertaste dry and long lasting, a fine stout.

Draft: This has to be one of my favorite stouts it hits the mark on every level from the wonderful pour and the nose that gives a wonderful mocha aroma to the long lingering espresso finish. I wish this beer was more widely available in the states.