Hitachino Nest Sweet Stout
Kiuchi Brewery

11.2oz bottle coded SS.21.6 i poured into a perfect pint glass at fridge temp 4% ABV per label. The beer pours dense dark brown with no light penetration and huge light brown head. The head eventually settles to a thick, uneven cap. The aroma is mild with unsweetened cacoa and lactose. The taste is tangy, semisweet dark malt with notes of cocoa and coffee. Moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with above average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, good. I suspect age may have been a factor.

12oz bottle into a pint glass. Coding no help in determining age.

Looks decent enough. Black/brown body with a good tan head. This reduces to a fat collar and covering, scattered lacing.

Kind of a molasses/ licorice aroma.

Well, despite the brewery description, this is not sweet at all. The taste is as predicted by the nose, and non too pleasant.

Mouth medium, finish a faintly sour bitterness.

Overall, may be age related, but this doesn't taste good at all. Unlikely to finish this one.

 

 

Blind-tasted except for the beer's name and brewery/country, zero reviews below read (yet!)...
L- Inky black, though held in front of a halogen there is the slightest glimmer of deepest ruby through the waisted glass. Pours with a dark tan cap of foam. Holds well.
S- Slightly toasty, it might also have a hint of cocoa to it.
T- Reminds me of watery iced coffee. It also has a charred aspect, but it's not outright smokey.
F- It has the challenge of a quite pungent lower-ABV% beer --> it comes over as thin on mouth-feel.
O- My first sip wasn't great, but I'm surprised that my palate is adjusting to it. It doesn't seem to have a clear sweet note to me, 'some richness' instead, and I do *not* like sweetness in beer. Interesting to try, something a bit different but not one I'd buy or wish to drink again. I might suggest serving well chilled to take the edge off any sweetness.
Review2033/scoring all done, now the reveal, I get to read the lables to see what I missed! Contains: Wheat, malted barley and lactose!? Haha... I get the Sweet/Milk Stout style etc but surprising as according to which source you trust up to 90% of Japanese are lactose intolerant!
330ml bottle £2.80 BB: March-2022. Bought from TremblingMadness, York/UK as part of a large pick-your own consignment to London.

330 ml bottle, from Matkroken Stokka. BB date 01.2014. Black colour, large to moderate tan head. Aroma of lactose and moderately roasted malts, hints of chocolate. Smooth mouthfeel. The flavour is nice and smooth, with mild roasty notes, some lactose (but not too sweet), hints of mild coffee and chocolate. Pleasant and easy to drink. Might well buy again.

 

 

 

 

Poured from an 11.2 oz bottle into the test glass
A - Chalkboard dark color, with an off white cap.
S - Condensed milk, espresso, dark roast malts.
T - Follows the nose closely, the milk sugar is stronger than I like, with roasted malts and a kiss of smokiness
M - A bit slick, start is sweet, and stays that way.
O - Glad to have tried this offering, it was out of balance for me, lessen the sweet and it would be a winner

 

This one is just odd. It caused me a double take of sorts as I sipped at it to try and sort out what it was I was tasting. Just a hint of sweet, a mild dose of sour milk, and then some gently pleasant earthiness. An acquired or regional taste I think, and definitely not to everyone’s taste. Beyond the sour milk thing, an unremarkable brew. Subdued, thin bodied.

 

 

 

 

Appearance - Pours thin dark brown color with thin tan head that dissipates before I could put the bottle down.

Aroma - I am not really picking much up at all, maybe some lactose and mild chocolate. The aroma has a sour smell to it.

Taste - Wow this is not appetizing at all, I do not even know how to describe this. It seems spoiled.

Feel - Terrible bitter sour taste

Overall - I was not expecting this to be that bad, I cannot even find anything appealing about this beer.