Hitachino Nest Commemorative Ale - Kiuchi Brewery

PatrickSwayze

California

2.7/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: Pours a light orange with a haggard foggy brown tent to it. Not the prettiest looking beer

S: Orange peel rolls into your nose like a blistering freight train

T: Orange peal mixed with ginger followed by a light hint of vanilla bean and finally apple spice . Not sure if it really works together, as the flavors seem to detract from each other. On paper it sounds good but not really a well rounded beer.

M:  Full bodied with a medium dry finish. Nice carbonation

O: This beer was one of those that had such potential but kind of fell short. It is worth a  try but kind of unimpressive

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 04:49:27 | More by PatrickSwayze

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

2.25/5  rDev -40.5%

05-08-2013 03:55:41 | More by tommyguz

Boto

Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

330ml bottle: 2011 version. This one pours a hazy amber color. There was almost no head on it, and what was there was off-white. This one has a really nice nose. Definitely spicy, with coriander at the top of the list. A bit peppery too. The taste very good. Peppery and coriander notes on top of a malty brew. There is a slight tartness and bitterness to the taste. Definitely some fruity notes, and very complex. A really nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 00:12:34 | More by Boto

tbryan5

Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

04-28-2013 17:06:17 | More by tbryan5

UCLABrewN84

California

3.74/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

On tap at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach, CA.

Pours a clear golden orange with a foamy bone head that fades to nothing. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, honey, and slight spice aromas. Taste is much the same with honey and spice flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that smells slightly better than it tastes in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2013 02:40:25 | More by UCLABrewN84

eulerthegrape

California

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

04-01-2013 19:07:26 | More by eulerthegrape

RoryOMoore

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -14%

03-22-2013 01:01:40 | More by RoryOMoore

hpthebull

California

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%

03-15-2013 04:20:12 | More by hpthebull

strongaf

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

03-05-2013 07:04:00 | More by strongaf

CaptainNomihodai

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.8%

02-28-2013 05:16:05 | More by CaptainNomihodai

kayrex

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

02-21-2013 23:14:57 | More by kayrex

quilty

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

02-19-2013 00:29:25 | More by quilty

beerhawk41

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

02-15-2013 22:30:50 | More by beerhawk41

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

02-08-2013 02:00:04 | More by spycow

nmann08

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

02-03-2013 03:08:48 | More by nmann08

stcules

Italy

2.6/5  rDev -31.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Hazy orange,a lmost no foam, and floating chunks.
Spicy smell, strange: cinnamon, corianderm in a strange mix. Decent malty base.
Some sugar in the mouth, but again spices, more strong, for a sweet candy effect, quite tiring, realy.
Light body, the aftertaste starts with a soft sugariness, but quickly overwhelmed by a too strong spiciness.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 20:15:55 | More by stcules

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

2010 version. Pours a amber to brown with a full, frothy and easily two finger head at pour. Cloudy in appearance - looks hearty. Head disappates over time. Not much lacing. Smell is spices and orange citrus. Strong orange gives it alcohol presence even on the nose. Taste is semi-sweet with more spice presence - vanilla and coriander. Orange peel is present and gives some burn on the back of the throat but not overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 01:34:20 | More by Oakenator

Jayman931

Mississippi

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Hitachino Nest Commemorative Ale 2011
11.2oz bottle served in a snifter 8%

Very nice orange/amber color...white head that disappeared pretty quickly.

Decent malt smell and faint spices (hint of licorice and some orange and I guess the other is coriander)...wouldn't hurt to have a little more but this is 2 years old.

Its a solid beer. I would purchase it again. Really nice malt character but not overboard. Little caramel with light spices. I bet if this were a newer vintage it would have more spice flavor to it but I was expecting a little more spice but i am very okay with the lighter spice flavor.

Mouth feel is good. Well balanced and no heat from the alcohol.

Over all I think its a solid ale. I have had quite a few better...but have had a ton alot worse.

Cheers

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 03:42:54 | More by Jayman931

cliff1066

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hitachino Nest Commemorative Ale 2012, 8% ABV.
Pours a frothy light amber head with moderate retention with a deminishing head.
Aroma is malt, hops and spices - coriander and nutmeg feature with hints of vanilla and
cinnamon.
Flavor is a mix of fruity flavors, citrus, and spices, with a decent malty backbone, late vanilla, coriander and nutmeg notes. The alcohol is well hidden.
Overall very drinkable spiced beer reminiscent of a belgian.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 05:03:15 | More by cliff1066

IDontBelieveYou

4.01/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

This beer, and the brewery, ignite an expectation of greatness that is not executed in this brew. The expectation of greatness almost is the downfall of this beer itself. If I had discovered it in a back alley, I'd want in engraved on my epitaph... it's intriguing texture, body, and mouth filling properties ... with citrus, banana, dominican republic essence, session potential, paired with balance and complexity .... yay beer. but i've seen you do better

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 01:25:43 | More by IDontBelieveYou

YamagamiTravis

Japan

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

01-02-2013 03:01:56 | More by YamagamiTravis

benimmyeo

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%

12-28-2012 12:08:35 | More by benimmyeo

grahamboudreaux

Tennessee

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

12-21-2012 04:33:41 | More by grahamboudreaux

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.2/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a hazy caramel orange amber with a half-finger off-white head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, orange, banana, holiday spicing, especially cinnamon. Festive. Flavor follows with caramel malt, orange citrus, coriander, cinnomaon clove and a hint of ginger. Well integrated. Finish somewhat thinner with residual spices, caramel and orange. Very pleasant creamy medium body. I enjoyed this take on a Belgian inspired holiday ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 04:26:14 | More by LiquidAmber

2neardead

California

3/5  rDev -20.6%

12-10-2012 02:52:30 | More by 2neardead