Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout - Kiuchi Brewery

rhoadsrage

Illinois

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

(Served in a straight-sided mug)

A- This beer pours an opaque black body with a warm tan head that is very creamy but turns rocky after a bit.

S-During the pour the smell of real black espresso beans comes through with a note of black malt and a deep earthy quality.

T- This beer has a big dark espresso bean flavor with a slight tartness and a note of chalky taste.

M- This beer has a full mouthfeel with a creamy texture.

D- This beer has a big espresso flavor with a nice cream stout buried underneath. There is a slight quality of the Hitachino yeast that I have tasted in their other beers and it is just as pleasant in this one. I enjoy espresso and I enjoy this beer, I’m not sure that I could drink many of these in one session.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2007 03:03:34 | More by rhoadsrage

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a five+ finger brown head that fades slowly to a thin layer leaving some lace. Good carbonation and heavy bodied. Black color, no highlights. Nose is coffee and flavor is black coffee and some sweetness from the malt. Pricey at $5.65 for a 330ml bottle from Colonial Spirits, Acton, MA.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 22:29:32 | More by jdhilt

mdfb79

New York

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
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

weeare138

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to egajdzis for grabbing this...
Appears a near black, dark brown with a clumpy, light tan head that fades into a mild film and cap. Spotty lacing is left around the glass.
Smell is of coffee grounds, caramel, nuts, vanilla, cocoa, mocha, and roasted malt.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas with a bitter, roasted wood-like flavor coming through.
Mouthfeel is slightly tart, nutty, and dry.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2007 17:00:38 | More by weeare138

Zorro

California

4.03/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark brown colored beer with a good brown head looks the part.

Smell is strong coffee with an intense Kahlúa scent. Faint chocolate aroma but this is mostly coffee.

The taste starts of neutral in sweetness and strong black coffee with a long coffee aftertaste. Solidly bitter but from coffee not hops. Little bit of chocolate but this is all coffee and Kahlúa flavor, bit of vanilla and cream but mostly it is coffee.

Mouthfeel is pretty thick.

Drinkability is good with the stipulation that you drink coffee. Pure coffee beer here.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2008 01:24:01 | More by Zorro

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle into a Tulip glass.

Pours a dark black with a finger width of creamy tan head that shrinks down into a thin soft retention that left some nice spotty lacing. The aroma is Wow! Just a fantastic bouquet of straight-up eye opening espresso and burnt coffee notes.

The taste is must more of the same. Biting espresso and roasty coffee bitterness that is nicely balanced by a backing chocolate sweetness. Burnt bitterness lasts through the finish and lingers on the tongue. The mouthfeel is full bodied with a creamy feel.

Wow, this one caught me off guard. Just a really fantastic Coffee Stout with an almost perfect blend of coffee bitterness and sweetness, a full creamy body and excellent drinkibility. More please!

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2008 17:49:57 | More by Kegatron

corby112

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +26.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a dark black with a dark brown head. This beer has one of the most beautiful aromas I've ever experienced. Very strong coffee bean/espresso presence as well as a burnt dark chocolate scent. The coffee/espresso theme again is dominant in the taste but a nice dark chocolate taste balances it out perfectly not making it too bitter. A nice combination of caffeine kick and alcohol strength. One of the best infusion of coffee and alcohol that I have tasted and Hitachino's best beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2008 08:18:02 | More by corby112

lacqueredmouse

Australia

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

Pours black and opaque--I can barely get this to show any colour even at the edges. Even when held to light I get a murky blackened red-brown colour. Head is fine, but relatively small. Lacing forms in rings as it is drunk. Good looking beer.

Nose is sharp with coffee characters, but pleasantly so; blended nicely with big roasted malt and astringent piquancy, almost like seaweed. Dark chocolate from the blackest depths makes an appearance, but adds no sweetness. This is a big, dark, roasted-- slightly woody and organic--but unapologetic beer.

Taste is also very good, and very lengthened along the palate. Initially, light chocolate sweetness hits dominate, but these are almost instantaneously removed by the welling of dark bittersweet espresso characters, big grainy richness and a bitter astringency on the finish. It's an extremely long palate, and indeed, one that doesn't even begin to develop until the beer has been swallowed. Throughout it all, there's this oddly organic character that lifts the beer from being effectively muted by a low-pass filter. (If you know what I mean).

Feel is light, but smooth. I would perhaps expect more heft behind such a beer, but as it stands, the lightness in the feel mimics the hidden lightness on the palate.

A very decent brew and a very interesting take on a stout, and even an interesting take on a coffee stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2011 07:07:36 | More by lacqueredmouse

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +4.1%
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

DoubleJ

California

4.38/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

It may be dinner time, but by my side I have an egg, Canadian bacon, and Monterey Jack Cheese on an English Muffin...and this espresso stout. Sounds like yum! On to the beer:

Two finger-thick light tan head, black as night body with faint ruby brown hues at the bottom of the glass. Good lacing. Mild coffee aroma is good. So is the creamy sweetness mixed in. Into the mouth it goes...somewhat thick feel with little carbonation, but it's nothing to weight you down. Bittersweet chocolate upfront, the pleasant coffee flavor rushes in to make this beer a hit. The sweet and astringent flavors compliment each other well. Its coffee bean aftertaste is a pleasant reminder as you finish the sip.

Is there a coffee stout I'm not impressed by? It's great to see Japan come out with one nearly as good as the ones I've had.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2008 02:57:21 | More by DoubleJ

glid02

Georgia

4.08/5  rDev +3.6%
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

Gusler

Arizona

4.22/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer decamps the stubby 330ml bottle a soot black with some light ruby highlights, the head pompous, the color chocolate and the texture creamy, upon its depletion the lace forms a nice concealing sheet. Nose has a rich nut like aroma, chocolate, coffee, caramel and a pinch of hops. Start is nicely malted; sweet with a burnt grain and hop spicy bite at the back, top is full in feel. Finish has a standard acidity, the burnt grain and hops provide a lingering bittersweet bite, aftertaste dry and long lasting, a fine stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2007 23:45:34 | More by Gusler

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a dark opaque color with a light cherry tan head.

S: Dry pine and citrus are on the nose.

T: Nice oaked aged woodiness for flavor along with dry pine, raisin, fresh espresso beans, dark chocolate and some lactose. Theres some citrus hopping. Theres a dry pine fade from the hopping and the coffee flavor is very rich and clean leaving you wanting more along with some vanilla bean and dark roasted malts and grain.

M: Moderate body and creamy mouthful along with an unique citrus hopping per style with a rich espresso coffee flavor.

D: Good drinkability in a small stout bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2008 18:41:11 | More by beerthulhu

DrJay

Massachusetts

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

Very dark, basic black beer, tan cap of fine bubbles that settled quickly to a thin sheet, spotty lace. Intense coffee, roast, and caramel aromas. A bit burnt, some toffee. Same in the flavour, but with moderate to strong bitterness and mild hop character. Light alcohol towards the end with lingering bitterness. Full bodied with mild warmth, nearly creamy texture. Solid.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2010 00:46:30 | More by DrJay

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

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

The beer is an uncompromising shade of charcoal black. Coming out of the bottle it was rich with maroon highlighting, but in the glass and even to the light, it is stark and opaque. There was a crowd of bubbles off the pour but all seem to have disappeared, leaving the surface barren and almost completely desolate of even a trim.

The aroma is more abundant with chocolate malt than espresso. It tickles at the nostrils with scents bittersweet. Alongside the chocolate are notes of molasses, dark caramel, blackberry, caramelized sugar and black coffee. It's nice but unlike other big stouts is not something I could sit there and smell all night.

The taste mirrors the smell with an ample level of dark bittersweet chocolate, java, caramelized sugar, molasses and cocoa beans. The taste of espresso is present, but shares the flavour profile equally with the others. This has much less coffee, but far more dimension, than I expected.

Kiuchi uses a recipe for a Russian Imperial as their base for this beer. It does show in the mouthfeel, which is thin but gooey with rich notes of anise, roasted malt, and bitter chocolate lingering. The sugary sweetness, alongside an absence of alcohol, mirrors this with many Foreign stouts too.

Whatever they set out to do, these Japanese brewers surely achieved it. Dark caramel, strong black coffee, raw cocoa bean and hints of vanilla make a great accompaniment to dessert, or just as well a dessert unto themselves. This doesn't exactly compete with my favourite higher gravity stouts, but it can hold its own. Be sure to give it a try.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2008 02:32:07 | More by biegaman

Brad007

Vermont

4.47/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Haven't reviewed enough beers from Japanese breweries.

Pours a pitch-black color with a brown one-finger head into my glass.

Aroma has a light amount of bitter coffee followed by cream and a bit of chocolate. Not bad so far.

Taste is light and creamy upfront with astringency from the coffee kicking in the middle. A bit of chocolate and dark fruit as well. The coffee is the star here but it's not too bitter.

Moufhfeel is full of lingering coffee and cream. This stout goes down so easily, there's barely anything left on the palate.

A very nice example of its' style. The coffee feels just right here. The mouthfeel is exactly where I want it to be. It's decent for sure.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2009 21:09:40 | More by Brad007

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.85/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours black with a wipsy brown head. It smells strongly of espresso up front and somewhat of fresh cream as well on the finish. Pleasant. The taste is bitter, even medicinal with coffee and bitter orange notes. The cream on the nose doesn't come through in the taste. It's pretty intense, bone of the more bitter examples out there, but the flavors are deep and lively. The mouthfeel is a bit tannic- could use a bit of that creaminess. Can't say this is the most drinkable beer, but its intriguing enough to keep sipping.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2007 02:39:05 | More by Georgiabeer

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.22/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2 oz(330cl) bottle: Blackened brown semi glossy body capped well with a medium sized crown of firm, creamy tan foam. Which diminshes to a thick skim and a thicker collar. Lots of fantasic lacing painted about in patterns like that of butterfly wings.

Aroma is straight up cold creamed coffee, semi blackened malt roastyness, dusty dark chocolate bits, and a dark berry sweetness emerging upon deeper wiffs as well as some molasses and fig notes. A complexing nose thats very nice to take in. Perhaps not overly huge like some coffee stouts/porters out there, but its worth every wiff.

Tangy, mid-ranged mild taster with a semi roasty core of coffee, tanged lightly with a heavy and dark berry-like presense melding within. Chocolate makes up some more of the tang and sweetness levels along with a small portion to some bittering dark chocolate notes. A small mix of molasses shows late in the finish as it holds a solid tone of bittering coffee and chocolate notes for good length. Again, fairly complex, but nothing overpowering. Just a smooth ride of easy going dark stuff.

Smooth, creamy, tangy, dark, and fun with a nice balance of roast and darkly sweet tang. Seems about medium with a low carbonation level of goodness that creates a well constructed amount of easy drinkability.

A very solid stout! Osu! Too bad about the price tag though, seeing its from Japan and all.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2010 01:15:32 | More by tavernjef

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -10.4%
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

Cyberkedi

Georgia

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

Aroma is strong and mainly of unsweetened chocolate; there are some coffee and malt hints. It pours a deep sable, almost black, with a thick, dark tan head. Flavor is chocolaty and has some smoky, malt and hop undertones. Texture is smooth and pleasant. Drinking this beer is somewhat like drinking liquid unsweetened chocolate that has a little well-roasted coffee in it.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2008 00:45:51 | More by Cyberkedi

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Stubby bottle into a large open snifter. Dark brown in color with an off white creamy foam. Aroma is sublime, milk chocolate and malt. Seriously milk chocolatey. In the flavor, some roasted malt, hint of chocolate, touch of vanilla and an even bitterness. Alcohol is certainly well masked. A flavorful brew and was very impressive, worth revisiting.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2011 04:38:03 | More by Stinkypuss

largadeer

Kentucky

4.08/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Completely black with a dark mocha head. Pretty nice retention here and a good bit of lace.

Smell: Roasted grains and espresso - pretty mild in aroma for a coffee beer. There's a bit of malty sweetness to it as well, but it's decidedly more roasty.

Taste & mouthfeel: Bittersweet coffee, like espresso with a cube of sugar in it. There's a roasty, acidic twang that hits the sides of the mouth mid-sip, leading into a long, bitter and drying finish that's unsurprisingly similar to espresso. Nice and thick for 7.5% ABV while still remaining pleasantly dry - lots of oats in this I'd guess.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2008 19:19:17 | More by largadeer

avalon07

South Carolina

4.72/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a black color and a thick consistency. There was a big. creamy, long-lasting head and excellent lacing. This is one of the best-looking stouts I've seen.

S: The espresso comes through the most, with traces of malt and some hops.

T: The espresso is almost overwhelming at first, but becomes less noticable as you go along. Also has some chocolate, mellow malt and just noticable hops.

M: Well carbonated with a dry finish. Full-bodied.

D: An incredibly drinkable imperial stout. Very easy to like.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2008 14:55:16 | More by avalon07

gford217

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

330mL bottle poured into a tulip.

Pours dark brown out of the bottle and sits almost completely black in the glass with a huge tan head that shows excellent retention and lacing.

Aroma is like a mocha with some espresso and cocoa sweetness. Lightly roasted black malts, caramel and vanilla.

The taste has a little bit of lactose sourness with the sweet vanilla and espresso bitterness. Pretty sweet taste where the coffee isn't nearly as dominant as I expected. Some caramelized sugar as well.

The mouthfeel is excellent, super smooth and creamy. Lightly bitter in the finish.

This is a solid if not spectacular stout that's extremely smooth and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2010 02:47:29 | More by gford217

nickfl

Florida

4.6/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - Pours with a medium brown head one finger tall. The body is black with no light penetration. The head hangs on for a couple of minutes before settling to a raft of big bubbles in the middle of the glass and leaving a nice ring of lace clinging to the walls of the glass.

S - Strong aroma of chocolate, cherries and espresso. Subtle hops in the background with some minor yeast notes.

T - It begins with the flavor of bitter, dark chocolate, followed by malty sweetness. The espresso flavors come in the middle and are balanced by a moderate, velvety hop flavor. The finish is all malt bitterness, with chocolate and coffee flavors melding to produce a flavor very similar to a chocolate covered coffee bean.

M - Fairly thick body, with moderate carbonation and just enough sweetness in the finish to keep the bitterness from becoming overwhelming.

D - Wow, this may be the best coffee beer I have had. The aroma is simple, but robust and immensely enjoyable. The flavor is nicely balanced and brings out the best in the coffee. I am not much of a coffee drinker, but the beautiful character of the espresso in this beer could really change that. Easily drinkable and one hell of a coffee stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2008 06:26:24 | More by nickfl