Hitachino Nest Extra High (XH)
Kiuchi Brewery

 

 

 

Pours a fairly clear, light brown color; glass appearance is a semi-cloudy brown; initial thick head reduces to half-finger thick size, off-white in color. Gorgeous malty and spicy nose; hazelnut and cinnamon. Interesting taste; initial rich malt flavor then a slight boozy phenol character at the finish; light caramel; a kind of whiskey-like booziness; a hint of carbboard-like oxidation; sweet with no apparent bitterness. Medium-heavy mouthfeel; slick and a tad sticky; modest alcohol warmth.

I'll assume a fresher version of this beer might provide a more balanced, rounder taste, but as is, it isn't too bad.

Pouring temperature: 40 Pouring temperature: 40 °F; bottling info: XH.22.05
Source: local purchaseF; bottling info: XH.22.05
Source: local purchase

 

 

 

11.2oz bottle coded XH.17.07m poured into a tulip glass at fridge temp 8% ABV. The beer pours cloudy medium reddish brown with khaki colored head. The head recedes to an irregular ring and island of tiny bubbles. The aroma is mild and sweet with notes of dark fruit. The taste is slightly tart and sweet with cherry, sake and mild oak. Minimal bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium to thin bodied with average carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, good. I suspect the nature of this beer has changed in the three years since it was bottled. Enjoyable, but with little that would make one think of a BSDA.

 

11.2oz bottle. Poured out a clear, golden amber color with a small, off-white head of foam. It smelled of rice, caramel and spices. Malty taste with sake notes and a sharp bitter bite.

Hazy brown ale with a medium sized tan colored head.

Smells very sweet. Strong scent of ginger. No real hop scent.

Starts out sharply sour. Bit spicy. Taste of wood and Mushrooms.

Mouthfeel is OK.

Overall, Nope I didn't like it.

Bottle from Brewer's Haven. Possibly the sake influence, but this borders on a sour. Amber brown in color. Interesting take on the style. Overall I was pleasantly surprised.

 

Body is deep amber/caramel with a touch of creamsicle orange one the edges when held to the light. Forms a nice thick head at first, but that lasts only half a minute, sizzling out to a rim.
Aromas of light caramel and sawdust, raisins, dates. Dried fruit with a touch of...something...that's interesting. Like dried wood.
Candy sweet, with loads of raisin, dates, brown sugar, a touch of butterscotch. There's a hint of something a touch burnt, fresh dried wood again, and toffee. Kind of like a wee heavy, though not as syrupy feeling. Medium carbonation and warming alcohol burn provide some balance to the sweetness, though it would still be tough to drink more than one of these.

Some interesting flavours and aromas in this one, it has potential to be excellent if not for the over-riding sweetness.

Not the freshest bottle but refrigerated over time.
Dark amber/tawny pour, slightly hazy; cream to caramel coloured head of about one finger - dense bubbles up side of glass.
Aroma of dark fruit, caramel malt, sweet bread, a bit of spice, fruit cake.
Taste bright spicy to tangy caramel malt, dark fruit, dates, brown sugar, sherry with some spicy tangy hops.
Smooth full bubbly mouthfeel - carbonation tingles the palate to a slightly hoppy tangy finish.

 

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a lightly hazy, medium to dark reddish orange with a thin, off-white head that dissipates to patches with light lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, plums, raisins and a little light sake. Flavor is dry caramel malt with a little biscuit, dates, dried plums, dry sake; earthy and tart from the sake barrel. Woody, dry sake finish. Medium bodied with light creaminess. The Belgian ale character is detectable, but has been dried out and soured somewhat by the shochu barreling. I've had sake many times, but not sure I've tried shochu, although the sake flavor is clear hear and must stay strong during distilling. Although this is interesting and there is some nice wood and a unique flavor from the barrel, I'm not sure the sake tartness fits my palette. The earthy, woody finish is nice, but it's a bit to dry and tart for me.

Murky, rich orange rust color.

White head; nice, if spotty, lacing.

Nose of strawberry, grass & muted caramel. Inviting.

Medium thick mouthfeel.

Sake cask asserts itself in the taste; I shit you not, it tastes like well preserved LP jackets from the late '60's/early '70's smell. Add the muted strawberries & light caramel (which is what I wish Barleywines' tasted like) plus a hop bite & you have a winner tailor made for, well, me.

I'd love to taste the fresh Belgian Brown without the cask aging; bet it's world class.

Classy looking bottle label artwork. I do notice a month & year date on the back of the bottle label Belgian style beers are usually hit or miss with me so let's see how this one goes. On to the beer, the pour is dark copper / medium brown into the snifter & the aroma is of dark candied fruits. Oh wow, I must say that both the aroma & taste is reminiscent of Trappistes Rochefort 8. I'm getting sweet dark candied fruits in the taste, slight roasted malt, some black cherry, slight cocoa, some toffee, & slight coffee & earth spice to round out the finish. There is a little sour taste in this beer as well but nothing too off putting. The booze is well hidden for an %8 beer. This beer is reminiscent of Trappistes Rochefort 8 but it drinks smoother. This is very well made, I am impressed with this beer folks. Well, at least now I can say that I had a beer that was aged in sake barrels. cheers! A-