Hitachino Nest Weizen - Kiuchi Brewery

BDIMike

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice cloudy golden color. A good amount of carbonation with a nice white head that has a fairly fast retention.
Smell is very strong of fresh wheat and biscuit. There is a good finish to the wheat with some nice citrus and floral smell to it, especially banana.
Taste is very strong in the wheat department. Very subtle floral and citrus taste, stronger on the floral.
Mouthfeel has a grainy feel to it as well. Never really felt the strainy wheat feel on a weizen before, very interesting.
Drinkability is very refreshing. This is one of those great hefeweizens that refresh your thirst on a warm day, but have enough flavor to not get boring over a long period. It would be more refreshing if the body were thinner and crisper, but overall a good session beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2008 00:43:42 | More by BDIMike

JBogan

Nevada

4.05/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured a slightly murky gold with a large head which left good lacing. a nice looking brew.

Smelled tart and spicy with a very small hint of banana.

Tasted much as it smelled. Nice citric tartness about it with a hint of banana.

Wonderful mouthfeel. Lots of carbonation present along with a smooth finish. Medium bodied.

This was a very refreshing beer. If it wasn't for the rather steep price ($4 for an 11 oz bottle) I'd rate it higher in this department. Worth a try if you come across it.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2008 21:19:14 | More by JBogan

Winter

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours golden yellow with amber hues and a thick white head. Although it didn't seem to have the cloudiness of a typical hefeweizen. Aroma is light with hints of citrus and banana. The mouthfeel is medium in body and crisp. The taste consists of banana upfront. Midway that transitions to a spiciness that finishes of with flavors of clove and wheat malt.

Drank this while out to dinner one night for sushi. The flavors seemed to compliment the meal pretty well and it was a nice palate cleanser with ample carbonation, between bites of salmon and tuna sushi. Definitely a good beer with food and an overall decent weizen.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2008 00:28:29 | More by Winter

Beerbuddha

Louisiana

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Poured a hazy straw color with a nice white head. Lacing was VERY minimal.

Smell: Bananas and coriander dominate.

Taste: The taste of bananas come through huge in this beer. A bready wheat taste also is present.

Mouthfeel: Light body with medium carbonation.

Overall: Overall an incredible beer. A bit pricey but a great crisp, clean and refreshing summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2008 12:11:43 | More by Beerbuddha

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a hazy golden color, thin white head with some light peppery floaties.

S: Lemons, bananas, and coriander on nose.

T: Some fresh fruit (apples, pears). Nice spiciness from hops as well. Citrus flavor with a light lemon tang. Light fresh bread, lemon meringu, and slight sourness on the finish.

M: Zesty light mouthful, subtle tart lemon tang and good spiciness.

D: makes for a decent example for a summer weizen.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2008 14:18:55 | More by beerthulhu

Bookseeb

Washington

3.2/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Another one Aquired from Uwajimaya in seattle. Appearance is light golden with a crisp but quickly dissapating head. Smell is sweet with mild honey, spice and citrus. Taste is sweet, peppery with lemons and citric acid. Mouthfeel has a good medium body with a good hit of carbonation. A little strong on the acidic bite for me, but still a good one to try.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2008 01:55:05 | More by Bookseeb

Pencible

Virginia

2.58/5  rDev -31.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

This poured a pale straw color with fluffy white head. It smelled like potent yeast with a bit of rice and floral hops. It had a light and watery flavor of sweet and sour lemon grass, but it lacked any further tastes for balance. It was watery with tons of carbonation that actually made it more difficult to taste the flavor, but it had a crisp and bitter aftertaste. Overall this was a little more enjoyable (to me) than most weizens, mostly because its bland flavor made it more drinkable. But as a beer in general, it simply wasn't good.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2008 22:30:09 | More by Pencible

Gmann

New York

3.38/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

1st pour out of the bottle so it is a fairly clear golden straw color with a tight pure white head that quickly dissipates. The smell is of unripe green apples and lemon, quite tart. The taste is of apple cider, lemon, an ever so faint hint of clove/spice. Definitely has wheat beer characteristics but to call it a hefe, might be a stretch. The feel is light and outrageously carbonated; it burns just sitting in the mouth. The finish is tart and tangy. A quite tart brew which would be very enjoyable for those you like your brews tart and funky. However I like my hefe's to be spicy and smoother. Still a good beer, cool bottle for the collection.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2008 05:18:13 | More by Gmann

ElGrecoVerde

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The Hitachino owl is one of the cooler logos I've seen on beer. Pours a cloudy orange with a bubbly head. As with other Hitachino beers, if you pour too fast, the head will erupt out of the glass.

Smell was of citrus and fruit aromas.

Taste started with some fruits like lemons and bananas, but then followed with a strange floral flavor that ruined it for me. It starts great, reminding me of lemon cookies. It's also very creamy and refreshing. But that floral taste really takes away from the overall flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2008 15:56:59 | More by ElGrecoVerde

Monkeyknife

Missouri

4.33/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle a bubbly and slightly hazy straw color with a frothy white head.

Aroma is sweet like Juicyfruit gum, with ripe fruits, raisins, citrus, and white sugar.

Taste is similar with a sweet fruitiness upfront. A bit like a tropical fruit punch. Finishes with light saltiness. As beer warms the sweetness begins a shift towards sourness.

Light mouthfeel with a bit of dryness and a sharp carbonation.

A really nice Hefeweizen and one try.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2008 19:12:53 | More by Monkeyknife

Manosbeeroffate

Maine

3.9/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From Jess's Market, was not impressed with the red rice ale, hoping that this would be better. it is. pours a cloudy golden color, smell is of sweet fruits and yeast, tastes quite sweet, but not too much, a bit of honey, slight yeasty taste, slight bitter finish, mostly citrus like. Overall a solid weizen, nothing that really stands out from other weizens I've had but very good anyway. Definete recommend.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2008 00:14:56 | More by Manosbeeroffate

dsa7783

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Okay, first thought - I just paid $6.99 for a 1pint, 5 fl. oz bottle with a red owl on it... Just wanted to say I tried it, so I opted to pay the steep price to sample a brew from Japan... Poured an off-yellow apple juice color with obvious carbonation and rising bubbles present... The smell was good but somewhat bland and not at all very dominant... The crisp, refreshing, lightly citric taste is what makes this beer special, (although still not worth the 7 bucks). The overall taste, which is certainly good is satisfying but not over the top and very accentuated - somewhat bland but certainly enjoyable.This is definitely an interesting take on a hefe, and if it wasn't so expensive, I'd certainly buy this again... The mouthfeel is excellent - crisp, refreshing, and very drinkable... I really liked this beer and it's too bad this isn't more widely available.. Definitely recommended if you can find it...

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2007 23:04:08 | More by dsa7783

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Chris and Kyoko for cracking this one.

Pours a hazed golden, thin off white head, some lace spots on the glass, settles to a thin layer. Smell is sour bananas, spicy yeast, cloves, wood, bread, interesting take but it works. Taste is wheat, bread, lots of yeast, banana, spices, sour woody finish. Mouthfeel is light bodied with medium carbonation, interesting weizen, not a whole lot going on but the sourness is neat and this would be excellent if there was more complexity. Thanks guys!

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2007 18:02:35 | More by Viggo

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.35/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a two finger white head that fades quickly leaving no lace. Cloudy amber color. Light-medium carbonation and light-medium bodied. Wheat nose. Flavor is yeasty wheat and slight sweet lemon, no banana or clove. Clean finish. $3.89 for a 11oz (unusual size, I have had only three others this size out of 2260) bottle from Tully's Beer and Wine Wells, ME.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2007 22:27:39 | More by jdhilt

51mmz0rz

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pale Cloudy Yellow with many bubbles, head is white and loose. It fades quickly but leaves a nice white lace on top. Decent lacing on the sides as well.

S: Smells like pleasant fruits and hefe yeast.

Taste: Surprisingly acidic at first, but I got used to it. Good hefe flavor and some extra fruit nuances.

M: Carbonation might be a little light, mouthfeel is fine for this style, finish is dry.

D: Pretty light and refreshing, but the acidity gets to me a bit.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2007 03:21:46 | More by 51mmz0rz

goochpunch

Texas

4.95/5  rDev +31.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours out of the little bottle a cloudy orange with a thick, fluffy head with huge indentations, cliffs, peaks, and plateaus. Leaves loads of thick, raised, and ornate lacing. Smells of a mix of fresh apple juice, cider, and with a bit of funk. I get some wheat cracker tones also. Very faint clove and not much banana to speak of. The banana that is present resembles more of a cand banana aroma. Flavor: wow. There isn't much yeast flavor or much phenolic or estery flavors present, although banana and clove play a background role. What this is big on is the apple and cider flavors. Very tart and dry. A good deal of funk here. This really reminded me of a geuze/hefeweizen mix. Mouthfeel is light and spritzy and serves these flavors well. This beer is interesting, peculiar, flavorful, flavorful, and refreshing. If I could get this in Texas, I would buy it often.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2007 02:40:28 | More by goochpunch

TurdFurgison

Ohio

2.85/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I picked this up in Ikebukuro (Tokyo) and am now drinking it as a nightcap in my hotel room. The bottle is 330ml, a squat fattie.

Everything about this beer was a disappointment to me, as i was expecting a hefeweizen and got more of a wheat ale. There were no flavors such as banana or clove or apple or anything else which I identify with good hefeweizen. Just some mild fruit and wheat aromas (such as an American wheat ale). Pale golden color (almost witbier appearance) was OK I guess, and the mouthfeel was thickish. But other than that I was disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2007 10:50:57 | More by TurdFurgison

mrasskicktastic

New Jersey

3.83/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Hazy golden straw brew with a large foamy head and a thick ring of`lacing.

S - Coriander, sour grapes, and allspice.

T - Mild spicy brew - allspice, coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon. Sour aftertaste that resounds of grapes.

M - Smooth, thin, refreshing.

D - Good. Easy to drink, worth a try. Another winner from Kiuchi.

Serving type: on-tap

06-02-2007 00:35:09 | More by mrasskicktastic

Imstillthegman

Delaware

4.08/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy golden-yellow color with a huge white head. Steady streams of bubbles race to the top keeping the head around for a while.

The aroma was a peppery blend of cloves, banana, and lemon zest.

Spicy, peppery cloves and yeast in the beginning, continuing through the rest of the spice cabinet before hitting the fruit basket. Quite an adventure.

Thinner medium body with very active carbonation...more than I am expecting from a hefe weizen. Low abv makes this one very sessionable. One bottle was enough for me, though, this day.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2007 13:28:45 | More by Imstillthegman

jamie2dope

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Lately I've been going a little nuts with the German styles, especially Hefeweizens and Dunkelweizens. When I saw that a Japanese brewery did a German style, I jumped at the chance to try it. It poured a cloudy light golden color, with a small white head that did not stick to the sides. In the nose was a mustyness, and a sort of dour funkyness. It almost reminded me of some of the Belgian yeast smells found in Lambics. Taste was crisp up front, with lots of bready flavors, and then sour towards the end. There was a mild metallic after taste as well. Mouthfeel was light, and the drinkability of this beer was decent. I think one is enough for me, but its pretty interesting. I would stick with the German interpretations of the style, but will definitely be sampling more from the brewery such as the white ale and the milk stout. Cheers

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2007 02:51:05 | More by jamie2dope

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

(Served in a small weizen glass)

A- This beer has a huge super strong carbonation that pushes a snow white head above the glass rim and still holds its shape. There is a golden yellow body that is hazy with little bits of stringy stuff floating around, which I assume to be trub of some sort.

S- This beer has a yeasty lemon note with a light fresh bread note that comes through when it warms.

T- This beer has a dry carbonic acid bite with a finish of green hops that is pretty soft. As it warms a bit more there are notes of slightly sweet bread and a note of wet basement which actually adds some nice depth to the beer.

M- This beer has a big fizz with a medium mouthfeel.

D- This beer has a light flavor but it is not that interesting and doesn’t have much depth. There is a hint of a wild ale note it the taste but it doesn't make up for missing flavor. This beer was not as heavy and most weizens and I didn't feel like I was full after I finished the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2007 19:46:14 | More by rhoadsrage

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a hazy apricot color with impressive white puffy head.
Smell is loaded with fruit with strong citrus but mainly bananas.
Taste also is fruity, citrusy, and had strong bananas notes.
Finishes with more sweetness, but a balanacing bitterness is the perfect ending to this beer.
Very drinkable. one of the best of this style I have yet to try.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2007 00:28:36 | More by tgbljb

shivtim

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Very hazy orange with a huge off-white head. Tons of bubbles. Nose is banana and cloves, crisp and sweet. Taste is sweet oranges, wheat and yeast. Starts sweet of front and fades to a spicy finish. Mouthfeel is decent, drinkability is good. nice brew.
Also, if you call the brewery, they like that a lot.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2007 04:31:53 | More by shivtim

DogFood11

California

4.22/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

poured into a tall wiezen glass it formed a loose smallish head that falls to a ring. Minimal lace. Sturdy looking body, cloudy, leaning towards a light orange in color.

A fairly spicy version of a Hefe. Yeast is the key to this one. Clovey goodness is evident. Mouth is sharp at first but mellows as it closes and is smooth in the finish. Heavy on the lemon and come orange rind give this the complexity that I love in a good hefe. The citrus also helps cut through a slighty candied body very nicely.

Notes: Not quite in the elite class but not far off either. Very good, Interesting, and one I could session all day.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2007 02:34:00 | More by DogFood11

mynie

Indiana

4.83/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a wonderfully hazy DARK gold, bordering on orange, atop which sits one of Hitachino's trademarked gigantic white heads. Quite the pour.

Smells of rich Belgian-y yeast and strong pengs of weizen wheatmalt--white pepper and cloves.

Tastes--whooo! Tastes even better than it smells! Goodness, it's like a blend of a great weizen and a great saison, minus the alcohol burn. Big giant yeast upfront, followed by an entire spice rack--allspice, cloves, white pepper, lemongrass, corriander, and ginger, and ending on a pronounced citrus node. Very nice.

One hell of a beer. For its style, it's amazingly complex and strong. For its size (5%?!?), it's amazingly complex and strong. For the fact that it came all the way from Japan and has to be at least a little bit old, it's amazing complex and strong. This is a remarkably well-crafted beer, and I have no problem at all giving it world class marks.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2006 03:48:13 | More by mynie