Hitachino Nest XH

Brewed by Kiuchi Brewery
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Ibaraki, Japan

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Wow, that is an invigorating aroma! The smell is wet and clean with a bit of spice that reminds me a freshly washed woman. Also of burning nag chappa. What images those smells conjue when combined... it realy is amazingly deep in the smell department, I just want to sit a smell it a while. Ok done. Great thick head on pour, last for a while too. very fine but thickish lacing along the edges, clears up in the middle. I would normally score it lower for being a bit light but that allows you to appreciate the thickness of the lacing and suspended particulates. Taste is a bit woody and a bit dulled by the peakiness of the smells and alcohol. Not at all sweet, hard tod taste malt in there. Give it a swirl to warm it and the head comes right back up! The palate really peaks at the beginning and end with the wood and alcohal. Pretty darn good in the glass, only looses on the flavour which is a bit lost under the wood/alcohal combo.

Pours a nice, slightly hazy golden amber with a decent, fine-bubbled off-white head. Aroma is yeasty and malty with just a hint of fruit, not anything special but still appetizing. Flavor has a strong alcohol bite, perhaps a result of maturing in sake barrels. Otherwise it is fairly malty, a little fruity, a little yeasty and slightly sweet. Texture is smooth, edgy and quite lively.

UPDATED: MAY 12, 2011 bottle on 5/12/11. pours a brown with a 1/4" off white head. the nose starts out very sour and funky, but as the beer warms it becomes much more complex. along with the sour notes, some sweet fruit, cinnamon and spice come forward with some chocolate peeking through. medium body with roasted malts, green apple, plum, cherry and chocolate. nice complex finish combine it all in one layered depth of flavors.

on tap at Leon’s Full Service... arrived a deep red with a quarter inch off white head... nice sour nose with some barnyard funk and sour apple... along with light notes of other fruits... medium soft and smooth body with more tartness through the mouth... sweet notes and light oak notes... slight sour finish. excellent.

Bottle opens as a gusher. Murky orangish-brown pour with a small white head. The aroma has notes of maple syrup, honey, cherry, ripe dark fruit, and wet oak. The flavor is very unique. It’s sort of peppery, salty, and sweet. I get notes of dark fruit, honey, damp oak, mango, alcohol. The body is oily and full with a smal amount of tingly carbonation.

12 oz bottle. Pours an amber body- mostly hazy some particles floating and a massive infected head- various sized bubbles- spotty lace. Aroma is tons of earthy funked out brett, light olive brine as well, salt and horseblanket, with caramel and toffee maltiness, some light wheat wine character doughy and light sweet. Flavor is funky earth, toasted malts, light sweetness, some sake notes, cedar, pear and apple, oaky vanilla and very smooth dry soft finish. Nice!

Bottle. Pours a hazy ruby hued brown with a smallish off white/creme head. The aroma notes of oak, grains, rice, and fruits. The flavor notes berries, ripe fruit, cereal grains, creamy sweet malts, and a smooth oak finish. Well crafted.

Hazy brown pour with a thin tan head. Aroma of tart berry, honey, molasses, biscuity malt. Taste is interesting, more burnt malt but still with a tart presence. Thin body with a slightly bitter finsh and a lot of carbonation.

Had this at JKO and I was impressed. Never had Sake or anything so I do not know that had much effect on the taste. But it is a delicious, unique, and satisfying beer.