Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout - Kiuchi Brewery

LordAdmNelson

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Jet black with some dark brown head that sticks around for a while. Nose gives off a bit of espresso, some big chocolate notes, and some malty sweetness--something about it is just a tad stale (maybe?). Flavor is really nice. I love espresso stouts, and this nails it with a nice chocolatey, roasty stout with a supporting espresso accent. It's definitely there, but it doesn't overpower the beer. The flavor really crescendos and develops in the mouth. Feel left me a bit disappointed, however, as it was thin--too thin for this big of flavor. It did make it easy to drink, though.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2011 04:00:52 | More by LordAdmNelson

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served from tap into a 4oz tumbler. Poured a reddish black when held up in the light with a one finger tan head that lingered throughout. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of roasted malt and subtle coffee beans. The flavor was of subtle espresso, roasted malt, a little watery, with a nice cream followthrough. It had a medium feel on the palate with low carbonation. Overall this brew wasn't that bad, but it also wasn't that great either. For me the flavor and aroma profile of this one was lacking a little bit. If this were to have been bumped up a bit this could be quite excellent. Worth trying on tap for sure, but that is about it...

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2010 16:18:26 | More by thagr81us

mdfb79

New York

3.78/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 6/6/10 notes. Had on tap at Max's in Baltimore.

a - Pours a very dark brown, almost black with no head.

s - Smells mostly of coffee and roasted malts. Little bit of chocolate.

t - Taste is mostly coffe, but also roasted malts and maybe a bit smokey.

m - Medium to full body and low carbonation.

d - A decent stout, but coffee dmoinated the smell and taste. Would give another shot.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2010 04:30:13 | More by mdfb79

drabmuh

Maryland

4.22/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer is black (shocking I know), with a big head. The head leaves some moderate lacing on the glass but I have no idea about the carbonation, its too thick at the corners.

The aroma is sweetness and coffee, that's the espresso I suppose.

Medium body to this beer, nice and smooth feeling. The flavors, very sweet up front but not like syrup, like sugar, lots of coffee in the late mid- to the back palate of the beer. This beer probably has too much flavor, very much coffee. Its a seriously huge coffee beer. Be aware, if you don't like coffee....cautiously back away from this beer. Its not for you.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2010 02:33:57 | More by drabmuh

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4.43/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very rich and tasty coffee stout.

Presentation: 12 oz draft pour. Menu offers a short and fair description of the brew. Notes Alc. by Vol. (7.5%) Served in a tall conic glass.

A - Black body pour with minimal dark brown edges. Good frothy head with average retention and nice lacing.

S - Rich roasted malt nose with a nicely predominant coffee range.

T - Rich coffee range, with a sturdy and pleasing roasted malt sense holding the bitter-sweet coffee flavors, a bit of chocolate, and a touch of fruit.

M - Full to medium-full body with medium carbonation and a smooth and creamy finish.

D - This is a great espresso stout with the right and assertive notes of coffee, malt and bitterness. Rather nicely done.

Notes: I keep on being surprised and so far never disappointed by this Hitachino brews, always great to have them around.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2010 00:07:40 | More by Daniellobo

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.68/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On-tap 11/13/09 at Track 84, in Warwick, RI, served in a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a large brown head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of strong coffee and dark chocolate, roasted malts and some dark fruit.

T: The taste starts with bitter-sweet flavors of black coffee and dark chocolate, followed by a very hearty roasted malt character. There's a mild but complementary hops presence and a decent balance. The after-taste is slightly bitter.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is sticky and very dry.

D: A little tasty, goes down ok, slightly filling, good kick, decent representation of style, it's not one of the better stouts that I've had but it's still a decent beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2009 19:31:16 | More by TheManiacalOne

glid02

Georgia

4.08/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours black with a 1.5-finger tan head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving light lacing.

Smells of creamy roasted coffee with good amounts of lightly roasted malts and smooth dark chocolate. Everything's present in good amounts.

Tastes good. Smooth roasted malt flavors up front are joined simultaneously by dark chocolate and coffee flavors midway through the sip. These flavors carry through to a solidly bitter ending leaving hints of coffee flavors on the palate. As with the smell everything's present in good amounts however the flavors don't have quite the oomph the aroma has.

Mouthfeel is good. There's a solid thickness with soft carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass quickly and could have another.

Overall I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this beer. A very good offering for a beer a bit lower on the ABV scale than most others in the category. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2009 03:26:10 | More by glid02

SpeedwayJim

New York

3.73/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Had this one on tap at the Ginger Man NYC. Poured into a snifter.

A: Deep, dark brown colored with a deep caramel colored head that dissipated quickly but left a web-like, stringy lacing.

S: The only thing that really hits me here is the strong roasted coffee and malt aroma that seems to cover everything else. There's almost no hint of the 7.5 abv.

T: A roasted coffe smell lingers throughout this brew with dark chocolate malts coming through the middle. The roasted coffee is a little overpowering here though and it lingers toward the end and into the after-taste.

M: Medium to heavy bodied, leaning towards medium, the strong coffee flavors mask what is really pretty light for an imperial stout. There is low carbonation and the brew leaves a silky coating in the mouth.

D: A 3. This is honestly one of the better coffee stouts I've had. That being said, I realize maybe its time to go back and revisit Speedway stout and Founders Breakfast Stout.

Serving type: on-tap

08-08-2009 00:48:31 | More by SpeedwayJim

drseamus

New York

3.63/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

On tap at the Ginger Man NYC.

A: Great looking beer. Pitch black body with a thick tight mocha head.

S: Strong espresso coffee with some roasted malt in the background.

T: Rich espresso and chocolate with a bitterness that increases in intensity through the aftertaste leaving a fairly intense bitterness at the end. In addition to the bitterness there is super dry cocoa and bitter coffee in the aftertaste.

M: Grainy and puckeringly dry. Medium bodied.

D: The degree of bitterness and dryness makes drinkability hard.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2009 21:05:53 | More by drseamus

CrellMoset

Virginia

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout, on tap at Capital Ale House, downtown location, Richmond, VA, on January 26th, 2009, at Black Moonday.

Appearance: Arrives a deep but not too deep brown with plenty of lighter brown hues, perhaps belying in advance its relatively light body and low abv%. Though there was no head when it arrived, there was a full collar of off-white tan foam, a faint, centrally-located sheen, and a few streaks of lace.

Aroma: Espresso notes, perhaps obviously, dominate, very earthy and heavily roasted, though with lighter flourishes of cocoa, grassyness, and fruity notes. There's also, distractingly, a slight aroma of fish sauce and, less distractingly, a few pleasant brown sugar-esque overtones.

Taste: Again not surprisingly, this is a very coffee-heavy stout, though not a in a milky or overly sweet sort of way - as far as the beer world goes, this is like taking your coffee (or espresso) straight. Other notes - slight toast, faint cocoa, a few acidic though not tart notes, hints of grass, raisins - occupy the remainder of the mouth on this one.

Mouthfeel: Big carbonation, uneven and aggressive, cuts through the medium body, surprisingly light for a stout, though it does even out slightly as it warms. Definitely has that crisp, "coffee acidic" sheen.

Drinkability: Not necessarily my cup of tea (or joe), though I appreciate what it is and what it's trying to be. If you like lighter stouts or coffee-infused stouts, this one's for you - has all the right notes, it's just not quite as "bold" or full as I'd like.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2009 22:32:10 | More by CrellMoset

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Monk's, Philadelphia. 01.01.09

Opaque black body beneath a thick, light brown/dark tan colored head. Average lacing.

Rich coffee notes in the nose. Sharp, nutty/toasty/roasty coffee notes edged with carbon, berries, and black chocolate.

The flavor is fuller than the nose suggests, but with about the same amount of coffee. It's got some caramel notes to it, as well as chocolate. It's roasty and well-balanced without any harsh dark-malt or coffee acidity, although there is a hint of that in the berry character. Some hop flavors are present at low levels. A firm bitterness tethers it, and it finishes drying as the maltiness fades to leave lingering thin roasty notes and some fruitiness behind.

Surprisingly balanced in the end. Drinkable. You could have more than one of these and not be over-powered by coffee. Worth trying.

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2009 03:43:28 | More by NeroFiddled

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Uber the other day.

The beer pours a dark brown color with very good head retention and lacing. Not unexpectedly, the nose provides masses of coffee, with some underlying hoppy bitterness and chocolate. The palate replicates the nose, with the most striking component the beer's light mouthfeel. There is almost a sake barrel flavor to this beer, though I was assured that must be my imagination.... this beer is not aged in sake casks. What's really impressive about this beer is it's light mouthfeel, with an abv. that is remarkably well disguised. So this beer is not the least bit heavy or tiring to drink on the palate, with the abv. well disguised.

Nothing special, but this is a nice, easy drinking coffee stout. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2008 04:44:24 | More by johnmichaelsen

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Pint at Bakyusu Club Popeye in Tokyo.

Pitch black pour with a large tan head and sheets of lacing - a classic appearance! Nice espresso aromas, mixed in with bittersweet chocolate and a touch of piney hops. Great coffee flavour, and more balanced than I was expecting. Dark fruit and chocolate help to elevate this beer to a whole new plane, as does a splash of vanilla. Smooth medium body with very low carbonation.

Overall, an extremely pleasant package and it incorporates the coffee far better than most other attempts. I'll try it again if ever I'm back in Tokyo!

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2008 15:25:01 | More by bobsy

hoegaardenhero

California

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

had this on tap at great japan beer festival 2008:

a: nice brown w/ copious tan head

s: strong coffee w/ hints of chocolate malts; light hops

t: coffee with chocolate malts; lightly bitter hops; really powerhouse coffee flavor, though

m: light carb; creamy bod

d: strong coffee flavor; a great sort of extreme coffe beer; i bet it would be good with a scoop of vanilla in it

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2008 15:01:34 | More by hoegaardenhero

ngeunit1

California

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark black-brown with a finger of frothy khaki-chocolate colored head. Fades normal.

S - Roasted chocolate and caramel malts, molasses, roasted coffee, black licorice, touch of vanilla.

T - Dark chocolate and caramel malts, roasted coffee, molasses, black licorice, a touch of vanilla and dark fruit.

M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sweet, roasted, and dry finish.

D - Nice coffee stout. Good overall balance.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 04:22:03 | More by ngeunit1

acevenom

Louisiana

3.8/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a snifter glass. The beer pours dark brown and falls into the glass as an opaque liquid with a two-finger length creamy tan head. Some webs of lacing are left behind as the head retreats. Coffee hits the nose up front, but not much else. There is some dark malt roastiness that is there, but the coffee takes the forefront. There's just a hint of chocolate in the aroma. The espresso richness and roastiness comes through well in the flavor. There's some maltiness and hints of chocolate in the taste as well. The alcohol is well-hidden and I can't tell that I'm having a 7.5% ABV beer. The body is medium to full with moderate carbonation. The roastiness hangs in the aftertaste and the finish does coat the mouth pretty well. This is a good beer. What this beer does right, it does it well. It just doesn't stand out in the sea of coffee stouts. For $4.99 a bottle, I wouldn't try this unless you are a serious fan of stouts.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 17:37:21 | More by acevenom

MusicaleMike

Pennsylvania

3.99/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Served in tulip glass.

Espresso Stout pours with a thick, pillowy, mocha-colored head and a deep black body that shows blood red highlights when held up to the light. The head is lasting and leaves some lacing on the glass.

Aroma consists of fresh brewed espresso and not much else. It seems fairly one-dimensional and I think that could be improved upon. At least it delivers what it says, and really goes after that rich espresso aroma.

The taste is similar to the aroma, like fresh espresso but has an added depth as well, with nice toasty malt and roasted coffee beans. Not much hop flavor here. Focused primarily on the espresso and dark malt flavor.

Medium to full body with a soft, pillowy head. Full-bodied beer, almost creamy finish, with plenty of carbonation to give this beer a lift on the palate. It goes well with the style and helps improve the drinkability of this beer.

Very solid coffee beer worthy of trying if you see it available would go very well with chocolate cake without overpowering the dessert. I will probably not be purchasing more of this, but I am glad that I tried this beer. Would recommend to other beer drinkers looking for a rich coffee beer experience.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 17:36:26 | More by MusicaleMike

robby23

Iowa

4.43/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

This was my first coffee stout beer and i have to say it was pretty good. What impressed me was the heaviness of the beer along with the smoothness. The second was the smell it smelled like coffee and like a good stout all at the same time, neither of which over powered the the other. Overall as this was my first coffee stout it was a great entry beer in my mind to get someone into this kind of style.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 02:11:07 | More by robby23

Ivanhoes_Backpack

New Brunswick (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Picked up a bottle ovah tha boahdah (that's my Maine accent) for $4.75 plus about the same amount for duty. Ouch.

Pours a dark brown with minimal head, but a good tan lace around the edges. Smells sweet, dark fruits, dates, chocolate, no coffee smell as one might expect. Smells more like a strong dark ale. Bittersweet chocolate on the palate giving way to a nice bitterness, maybe even a hint of spice and a nice warming feeling on the back of the tongue. A bit rough feeling on the mouth, but otherwise this is pretty darn good beer. Best of Japan, as far as I go. Worth $10 a 12oz bottle? euhh...

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 01:01:17 | More by Ivanhoes_Backpack

seand

California

4.01/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: Pours a deep opaque black with a large amount of tan head. The head dissipates to a thin but solid blanket, but the larger ring around the edge leaves nice lacing.

S: Lots of smoky molasses, cocoa, and coffee. It's just short of harsh, but nice.

T: Mildly sweet and mildly bitter roasted coffee, with the bitterness coming through more towards the finish. The balance is nice with good complexity and nothing overwhelming.

M: Medium body, medium carbonation.

Overall, nice, and a little unusual. Worth trying, but definitely not my favorite stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 03:51:13 | More by seand

schoolboy

Ohio

4.26/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

This is the third beer I've picked up from this brewery. They have all been quality products and very enjoyable.

This Stout pours the usual color. It has a small but nice head. The aroma is subtle but just right. The taste similarly is what it should be. It is very reserved. The aftertaste is exceptional. It is coffee flavored but perfectly so.

I doubt that I would ever pick up any of these again, at least not for the price ($4.99).

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 01:56:29 | More by schoolboy

leaddog

Alberta (Canada)

4.36/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

720 ml bottle

Appearance- Pours a dark chocolate brown/black with two fingers of frothy mocha head.

Smell- Espresso beans, chocolate syrup, cocoa, vanilla.

Taste- Hit right away with strong espresso and coffee bean followed by bittersweet chocolate and cocoa nibs. Roasted flavours linger in the finish. Flavours lean to the bittersweet side of the spectrum.

Mouthfeel- Medium to full bodied with light carbonation.

Overall- A bold and flavourful espresso stout. Definitely delivers on the espresso side of things as I feel like I am getting hit with a jolt of caffeine (in a good way). Sticking with bittersweet flavours makes this stout an enjoyable and unique experience.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 02:52:55 | More by leaddog

beergoot

Colorado

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Black body capped with a thin tan head; decent lacing along the glass. Coffee, bitter chocolate and cocoa make up the bulk of the aroma. Rich, bittersweet chocolate flavor with a nice bitter undercurrent. Medium-heavy body, velvety smooth feel richly sweet texture.

A very well done stout, full of body and flavor. Rich and nicely complex. The espresso notes were immediately evident in the aroma and taste, yet the chocolate flavors soon came to be the dominant flavor. Lots of good stuff from this Japanese stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 02:30:20 | More by beergoot

mwilbur

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 330 mL bottle into snifter.
A: Pours a very dark blackish-brown with 1/2 inch bubbly dark tan head. Good retention. Decent lacing.
S: Nice espresso note, dark sweet chocolate malt, and a hint of cream. Delectible.
T: Wow! The espresso note hits strong. Dark chocolate and hint of cream...follows aroma well, which is a great thing.
M: Light-medium body. Some bitter coffee and chocolate notes. Bitterness is well-balanced by a sweet and creamy feel.
D: One of the best coffee brews I've had. Quite the pleasant surprise from a Japanese brewery. Not complex...but what it does do, it does very well. Seek it out!

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 04:52:37 | More by mwilbur

quirkzoo

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours straight black with a very thin khaki head. Nice looking beer, exactly what I want from my stout.

Smell is very nice. Tons of roasted coffee up front with some other dark malts behind it.

Taste is also very good. Very roasty up front with just enough bitterness to balance it out. Pretty straightforward in both aroma and taste, not terribly complex but what it does, it does well.

The mouthfeel on this is just about perfect for me. Slightly creamy, full but not filling.

Overall this beer exceeded my expectations, definitely worth picking up if you like coffee stouts.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 07:34:39 | More by quirkzoo