Hitachino Nest Beer XH

     What an interesting beer! Perhaps interesting is a less than positive way to begin a review, but I'll just say that I thought this beer was great. What makes Hitachino Nest Beer XH interesting is all of the variables used in making this type of beer. This is true craft beer, Japanese style.
When I taste an Imperial Stout that has been oak barrel, bourbon barrel, or wine barrel aged, I can relate to the bite and flavor because I have a frame of reference. I am familiar with the flavors and am able to taste the various components and enjoy the experience. That said, I'm no stranger to Sake either. When I tasted Hitachino Nest Beer XH, I didn't know what to expect. I found myself trying to find a reference point from this beer to others that I had drank before and couldn't quite put my finger on it.
 When  poured, out came a clear reddish amber beer with a very lively head with nice lacing. The smell reminded me of oranges and clove. The taste didn't disappoint either. There was a bit of a tart bite up front which I think was the brettanomyces. There was some sweetness and fruitiness that developed as the beer warmed. I would like to be able to say that this flavor was due to the "Sake" cask, but the casks are Shochu. This is where some light needs to be shed. In Japan, Sake is a general term referring to all alcohol type beverages.
 By contrast, Shochu is distilled and isn't necessarily Sake, the brewed, lower alcohol content drink we North Americans would like to call it. This is merely the difficulty of direct translation. My intention for pointing this out is merely to enlighten and to suggest that I believe some of the flavors of this beer could be attributed to the fermentable used in the making of the distilled Shochu within the cask.
     In the end, Hitachino Nest Beer XH was an exciting beer worthy of purchase if the opportunity presents itself. I will buy more if I can get my hands on it. Cheers.  


*(It is important to note that the website link shows a beer with a very similar label adding Extra High and listing an abv of 8%. The beer I have reviewed here was 7% and the label is reflected in the photo.)