from the importer’s site (the actual brewery’s site doesn’t mention this stout(?!):
From Japan’s most prestigious brewery, the very unusual character of Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout stems from the fact that Kiuchi Brewery is using the recipe of a Russian Imperial Stout as base. Saphir & Northern Brewer hops are used.
from the bottle:
Japanese dark ale brewed with coffee beans
from my notes:
deep, dark brown almost black. Thick, tan, large bubbled head that quickly dissipates and leaves nice rings as you drink. Smells of oatmeal, malts, and roasted coffee. Tastes of coffee, vanilla and chocolate. Manages to successfully incorporate roasted coffee without making the beer taste like nothing bit burnt toast. Very smooth drink with a pleasing light, bitter finish.
Lot’s of coffee stouts go overboard on trying to infuse their beer with the flavor and smell of coffee that end up ruining the beer as all that effort does nothing but make the beer taste like burnt toast or dirt. I know some people enjoy an earthy or peaty flavor to their alcohol but not me. Hitachino Nest manages to thread that needle and deliver a great beer.
Rating (out of five):
Are kiuchi beers worth trying at the $5 a 12oz it costs around here? I’ve been very tempted for a while but completely unwilling to drop that much on something I know little to nothing about.
I’ve only ever had their Espresso Stout though I’ve been tempted to pick up their white beer (I believe it’s a wheat and I’m finding that wheats are my favorite type of beer….) If you’re looking for something with a little more depth than Guinness this is a good choice. I don’t drink a lot of stouts (I like my Guinness (nice and bland)) but this was was good and the coffee flavoring is a benefit rather than a detriment. I’d say your safe spending the $5 on trying it out.