Hitachino Nest Extra High (XH) - Kiuchi Brewery

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BA SCORE
85
good
-
418 Ratings

rAvg: 3.79
pDev: 13.19%
Reviews: 311
Hads: 107

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
Kiuchi Brewery

Japan

Style | ABV
Belgian Strong Dark Ale | 8.00% ABV

Availability: Year-round. bottle (298), on-tap (13).

Notes:
From Japan's most prestigious brewery, Hitachino Nest XH (Extra High) is a strong Belgian Brown Ale, matured in shochu (distilled sake) barrels. Chinook & Styrian Goldings hops are use

View: Beers (18) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by MadeInOregon:

MadeInOregon

California

4.9/5 rDev +29.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Found this at a Japanese grocery store. Lucky me! I didn't know it was "retired", but was still more than willing to shell out $6 for a Hitachino Nest I hadn't seen before.

THE APPEARANCE of Hitachino Nest XH is, well, beautiful--as silly as that word is for describing beer. Massive latte-esque foam erupts from the liquid, which is a very nice orangish brown and very cloudy with sediment. Thick, lacing is all over the place. Mouth-watering! The bottle is even attractive--too bad I can't drink that. Foam eventually dwindles down to a nice thin film across the top of the beer.

THE SMELL is candied orange, yeast, banana, and little hops. The candy quality is very unique and clearly references the sake that was stored in the same casks as this beer. Think: Nigori sake + a strong Belgian ale. There are some similarities in fragrance to a bourbon-barrel aged beer, however the XH is much crisper and sweeter due to the rice from the sake.

THE TASTE is equally impressive, and very complex. Flavors progress like this: Sake, banana+candied orange, cotton candy → Hot, spicy yeast → Milk chocolate → light hops → orange peels + banana + hops

THE FEEL is very full and stimulating, yet not assaulting. The alcohol, like with most of the Hitachino line, is mild and well-masked. An American ale this bold would normally push 10%.

CONCLUSION: This is only my second All-5's rating. I find no faults with this beer other than that it's so hard to find! It's a very unique (and Japanese) take on both the barrel-aging concept as well as strong Belgian ales (Yes, I do not think this should be called an “American Strong Ale”. “Belgian Double Ale” would be more appropriate, in my opinion). I'd never heard of, or even thought about aging beers in sake casks so this was my first sampling of such a style. So, Kiuchi Brewery is setting the bar pretty high for future tastings!

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2011 03:37:29 | More by MadeInOregon

More User Reviews:

Artjsantos

Ohio

4.25/5 rDev +12.1%

05-10-2013 15:26:08 | More by Artjsantos

Rathakem

Oregon

3.5/5 rDev -7.7%

05-10-2013 06:16:52 | More by Rathakem

ngeunit1

California

4.11/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Hazy amber-brown with a finger of frothy tannish-khaki head. Fades normal.

S - Sweet caramel malts, Belgian yeast,. spices, sake, oak, vanilla, and a bit of booze.

T - Sweet dark caramel malts, Belgian yeast, oak, sake, Belgian yeast, some spices, bit of vanilla and booze.

M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sweet warming finish.

D - Nicely balanced and the sake flavors are a nice touch.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 05:00:59 | More by ngeunit1

civicm87

New York

3.5/5 rDev -7.7%

05-08-2013 23:43:32 | More by civicm87

schaffer9252

New York

3.75/5 rDev -1.1%

05-04-2013 14:49:51 | More by schaffer9252

Texasfan549

Texas

4/5 rDev +5.5%

04-25-2013 01:43:30 | More by Texasfan549

kjkinsey

Texas

4/5 rDev +5.5%

04-25-2013 01:42:53 | More by kjkinsey

Tone

Missouri

3.68/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours a cloudy, copper color. 1/2 inch head of a white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of sweet malt, slight spice, hops, hint of roasted malt, hint of citrus, and a hint of alcohol. Fits the style of a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Mouth feel is sharp, crisp, dry, and has a average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, hint of roasted malt, citrus hops, hops, hint of sugar, and a hint of rice. Overall, good appearance, aroma, and decent body.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 18:14:24 | More by Tone