Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout
Hitachino (Kiuchi) Brewery
- From:
- Hitachino (Kiuchi) Brewery
- Japan
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #1,621 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #18,174 - Avg:
- 3.94 | pDev: 11.17%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 455
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Wednesday at 05:53 PM
- Added:
- Jul 20, 2007
- Wants:
- 59
- Gots:
- 130
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
This Espresso Stout is brewed using well-roasted espresso beans. The recipe is based on the imperial stout loved by the Russian emperor. Please enjoy the balance of its rich taste and coffee flavor.
Hop: Chinook,Kent Golding
Malt: Pale,Crystal,Black,Chocolate
Other: Roasted Barley, Coffee beans
Hop: Chinook,Kent Golding
Malt: Pale,Crystal,Black,Chocolate
Other: Roasted Barley, Coffee beans
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bbtkd:
Reviewed by bbtkd from South Dakota
3.98/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout, 7% ABV. Pours black with a three-finger light-brown head that left no lacing. Aroma is coffee, light chocolate, and sweet malt. Taste is mostly coffee, roast malt, slightly sweet, equally bitter. Decent mouthfeel, overall very good to excellent adjacent.
May 31, 2026More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Premo88 from Texas
3.79/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.79/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
11.2 oz. bottle poured into Libbey "stout glass"
(no date code)
L: black, 100% opaque, topped with 1/2-inch tall head of brown foam; keeps a sudsy, loose collar of big-bubbled foam; no sticking or lacing
S: coffee, mocha latte, dark chocolate-covered cherries; as it warms, milk chocolate, chocolate shake with whipped cream
T: dark chocolate, coffee, oak wood; lightly sweet up front with an espresso bitter finish; flavors overall are mildly stale, my guess being from an old bottle; a hint of meaty red wine; overall it's not a sweet beer, but the malt is pushing in enough sweetness to help balance the darker, bitter flavors
F: thick, a bit heavier than a middleweight with enough carbonation to give a light crispness
O: decent but nothing amazing; I've a feeling this bottle is well over a year old, and it's past its prime; still, it's not a bad beer if you enjoy coffee, which I do
Feb 14, 2026(no date code)
L: black, 100% opaque, topped with 1/2-inch tall head of brown foam; keeps a sudsy, loose collar of big-bubbled foam; no sticking or lacing
S: coffee, mocha latte, dark chocolate-covered cherries; as it warms, milk chocolate, chocolate shake with whipped cream
T: dark chocolate, coffee, oak wood; lightly sweet up front with an espresso bitter finish; flavors overall are mildly stale, my guess being from an old bottle; a hint of meaty red wine; overall it's not a sweet beer, but the malt is pushing in enough sweetness to help balance the darker, bitter flavors
F: thick, a bit heavier than a middleweight with enough carbonation to give a light crispness
O: decent but nothing amazing; I've a feeling this bottle is well over a year old, and it's past its prime; still, it's not a bad beer if you enjoy coffee, which I do
Rated by RJ_Brody from New Jersey
4.08/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
4.08/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
It's just a bit mobile all around. The pleasant aroma is the only thing that stands out.
Nov 24, 2025
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.93/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.93/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Copenhagen 17/12 2017. 33 cl bottle from Mad & Vin, Magasin, Kbh. K. Cute red owl surrounded by brown and yellow whirlpool on the label.
Pours opaque dark dark brown with light beige head. Settles as thin patch of foam. Remnants of yeast floating around in the beer. No Lacing.
Aroma is sweet and intense on a heavy bitter background. Sweet Cocoa and brown sugar dominated with heavy coffee giving a Sound base.
Medium carbonation and thick, oily texture.
Flavor is medium to strong sweet balanced by coffee bitterness. Lingering bittersweet aftertaste.
A perfect fit for a piece of chocolate after dinner. Well done.
Aug 03, 2025Pours opaque dark dark brown with light beige head. Settles as thin patch of foam. Remnants of yeast floating around in the beer. No Lacing.
Aroma is sweet and intense on a heavy bitter background. Sweet Cocoa and brown sugar dominated with heavy coffee giving a Sound base.
Medium carbonation and thick, oily texture.
Flavor is medium to strong sweet balanced by coffee bitterness. Lingering bittersweet aftertaste.
A perfect fit for a piece of chocolate after dinner. Well done.
Reviewed by SpaceCamp from Virginia
4.04/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L: Pours a dark brown, forming a thin espresso head that fades quickly. A faint ring of lacing around the edge, and a light bubbling swirl on the surface.
S: Coffee beans, slightly metallic, cacao nibs, hint of malt.
T: Medium-roast coffee and notes of dark chocolate and roasted malts. The espresso imparts a general bitterness, and there is an almost herbal element to it. Maybe a dash of hops?
F: Medium-bodied. Decent carbonation and sits slightly heavier than expected on the tongue. Slick mouthfeel.
O: It's a fairly decent coffee stout, albeit with a slightly lower ABV than hoped.
Apr 16, 2025S: Coffee beans, slightly metallic, cacao nibs, hint of malt.
T: Medium-roast coffee and notes of dark chocolate and roasted malts. The espresso imparts a general bitterness, and there is an almost herbal element to it. Maybe a dash of hops?
F: Medium-bodied. Decent carbonation and sits slightly heavier than expected on the tongue. Slick mouthfeel.
O: It's a fairly decent coffee stout, albeit with a slightly lower ABV than hoped.
Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
3.63/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.63/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Black color. Nice, beige head. The aroma of coffee, roasted malt, and... window detergent; probably a spoiled bottle. Surprisingly great taste with a lot of coffee and strong roasted bitterness.
Mar 25, 2025
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois
4.04/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.04/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Among Kiuchi's 4 most popular brews, 3 are Belgian-inspired. Only this Stout is not. As I've said in other Hitachino reviews, Kiuchi applies themselves well. They have done a nice job with this AIS as well. In part, it is because they did not brew it too strong and its many flavors seem to emerge as more delicate.
How they have applied themselves and interpreted the style is subtle. While Nest Espresso does not Look particularly active, its Smells are a nice blend of bittersweet chocolate and coffee. This allows the Tastes to be subtle as well, with all elements melding together and finishing almost dry in what often is a sweet ale. Medium-mouthed, but still viscous enough. A good dessert for me.
I give good Overall Hugs to Kiuchi because of their dedication to studying a tradition and interpreting it with skill. However the main interpretation I'd like I can't find on their website: no English button. But I did find a beautiful video with subtitles and it you find that, I recommend it as well.
Dec 24, 2024How they have applied themselves and interpreted the style is subtle. While Nest Espresso does not Look particularly active, its Smells are a nice blend of bittersweet chocolate and coffee. This allows the Tastes to be subtle as well, with all elements melding together and finishing almost dry in what often is a sweet ale. Medium-mouthed, but still viscous enough. A good dessert for me.
I give good Overall Hugs to Kiuchi because of their dedication to studying a tradition and interpreting it with skill. However the main interpretation I'd like I can't find on their website: no English button. But I did find a beautiful video with subtitles and it you find that, I recommend it as well.
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania
3.86/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.86/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
11.2 bottle into a pint glass. Appears to have been bottled October 2022, so over a year old.
Black body, small dark tan head doesn't last long, no lacing. Dark coffee aroma, with an odd barrel note. Taste is earthy dark espresso coffee with a faint underlying chocolate touch. Finish is only coffee, with a light abv burn. Overall, not bad for wake up juice.
Dec 10, 2023Black body, small dark tan head doesn't last long, no lacing. Dark coffee aroma, with an odd barrel note. Taste is earthy dark espresso coffee with a faint underlying chocolate touch. Finish is only coffee, with a light abv burn. Overall, not bad for wake up juice.
Reviewed by lordofthewiens from New Mexico
3.92/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
The beer is dark brown/near black in color. Small tan head.
Aroma of coffee and chocolate.
The taste amplifies the aroma. Espresso coffee, dark chocolate.
A little on the thin side, but still a very drinkable beer.
May 13, 2023Aroma of coffee and chocolate.
The taste amplifies the aroma. Espresso coffee, dark chocolate.
A little on the thin side, but still a very drinkable beer.
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