Hitachino Nest White Ale

Hitachino Nest White Ale, a white ale brewed with coriander and oranges by Hitachino Nest, settled a heavily carbonated, slightly cloudy green tea color with no head into the glass.  The nose was led by strong wheat, coriander, and nutmeg aromas with some citrus tang in the background.

Hitachino Nest White Ale started dry and opened with coriander and bright, sweet orange citrus with a wheat funk in the background.  There was an herbal, green tea aspect to the ale, and it was as crisp and punchy as sake, leaving the mouth feel very clean.  Throughout drinking, big orange juice flavors persisted in the back of the mouth.

Hitachino Nest White Ale was an interesting experience… much more refined and crisp than most white ales and fearlessly coriander forward without tasting artificial or forced.  While white/wheat ales may not be one of my favorite styles,  Hitachino Nest is certainly my favorite offering of this style.

Hitachino Nest Weizen Ale

Hitachino Nest Beer Weizen, a 22 oz. offering from Hitachino Nest, poured a pale, cloudy gold into the glass with an airy, off-white head.  The nose was light for the style, but carried through tart apple, spicy coriander, and clove.

Hitachino Nest Beer Weizen was crispy tart as it hit my tongue, and it opened to an unripe banana and key lime sweetness over coriander, pepper and clove.  Although not too carbonated, the Weizen dried exceptionally fast in the middle even as it gets a little grainy as the pale malt and wheat compete.  The fade had a pleasant, almost musky dryness to it and a last shot of lemony tartness comes through.

Hitachino Nest Weizen is an interesting, left field take on the Belgian-style hefeweizen, with nods to pale ale and a tartness that brings to mind sour ales.  

Hitachino Nest Real Ginger Brewed Ale

Hitachino Nest Real Ginger Brew Ale, an unlisted offering from Hitachino Nest Brewing, settled a thick, hazy brown in the glass, with moderate carbonation briefly forcing a thin white head.  The nose carried spicy ginger, cloves, and candied sugar over a sweet, cookie-like malt.

Hitachino Nest Real Ginger Brew Ale opened with spicy, ginger snap crackers and a balanced “sweet but dry” malt backbone.  Ginger was always detectable, but never made its way to the front of the mouth.  The ale ends on a peppery and slightly heated dry fade, made slightly tart by the carbonation.

Hitachino Nest Real Ginger Ale is a fine and (mostly) restrained example of subtle use of special ingredients.  All in all, the ale is a great ale but, sadly, priced to reflect the relative low supply and import costs.