Looks like bunch of stores are putting in orders for Kiuchi Breweries Hitachino Nest beers with the distributors. I found this among four varieties at Marukai, and also saw some at Whole Foods a week or so ago. Decided to go with the most conventional sounding one to start with, the Japanese Classic Ale.
Pours a cloudy medium amber, sediment in bottle, fair amount of carbonation maintained for quite a while. Interesting aroma, if you look (smell) for it you can detect the cedar. In a departure from what I’ve come to expect from mainstream Japanese beers being pretty clear and clean, this one is fairly complex. It is pretty bitter and strong in hops. Alcohol content is fairly high at 7.5%. It’s not objectionable, but it doesn’t really appeal to my taste. Given a choice I wouldn’t pick to drink it again, and reading the label I see that it was based on an IPA.
Pricey, bar/restaurant price for a beer I drank at home sitting at computer. I did pour it into a glass….
I’m a bit torn on how to rate this beer. I don’t like IPA’s, but this was probably one that I could drink more of, but I’d rather drink something else. 2.5 out of 4 teetering monkeys.
Oh, the owl is cute.
Nice to meet you.
I am a Japanese man who lives in Kobe City in Japan.
I read your blog on the Internet by chance.
It is very glad for me Japanese to be interested in Japanese-made product for you.
Moreover, my best regards because of will being to see it please.