Hitachino Nest Commemorative Ale Zymatore - California Zinfandel Barrel - Kiuchi Brewery

MasterSki

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Local Option. Served in a tulip.

A - White foam settles to wisps, a solid collar, and spotty lacing. Hazed amber body.

S - Spicy oak, berry notes, mild lactic sourness, peach and stone fruit malt flavors. I initially thought this might have been the gin barrel version, but after confirming this was indeed the Zinfandel I'll chalk up the perceived botanicals to some of the spices already found in the base beer.

T - Nice lactic sour bite, some fruity malts, a bit of wheat to it. Comes off as a soured, vinous, witbier/Berliner hybrid, as the orange peel and vanilla bean flavors have lingered through the barrel-aging. Less oak, more malt in any case, and a surprisingly clean finish. Didn't realize this was 10% - might partly explain why I was still drunk for my flight the next morning.

M - Smooth medium body with some tannins present. Moderate carbonation, and a dry and fairly clean finish. Again, no trace of he listed 10% ABV.

D - Pretty nice beer, and significantly better than anything I've had straight up from Hitachino. I'm really digging these Zymatore experiments, as they put an American Wild ale spin on exotic base beers. A deceptively strong sour wheat with some nice vinous oak and spice.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2012 03:29:07 | More by MasterSki