Hitachino Nest Commemorative Ale is only available during the new year and its quite a treat if you really give this beer a chance. Upon opening this beer and then pouring it into your pint glass, you'll quickly get a scent not pleasant to the nose; this beer smells dirty... almost like dirty feet! It almost makes you want to toss the beer out,but if you are a Hitachino beer fan like I am you give it a chance. This beer blows you away on the palate and that is where this beer scores its points. Furthermore, this beer is best enjoyed out of a snifter glass and not out of the bottle or pint glass, this beer really opens up in the snifter and this allows this ale to drink to its full ability. Also, like all Hitachino beer's, this beer is a bit expensive... at $6.99 for 330 ml bottle which translates to 11.2 oz its a pretty steep price to pay for any beer this size. In addition, this beer is bottled at 9 % abv, and for a beer with that high of an abv you really can't taste the booze. In all this beer really pleases once you get past the whole smell thing, so please do try this beer and enjoy it with any chicken dish or pork dish, this beer makes a good dinner drink.
Color: Brownish.... almost copper. quite hazy with big head. Light lacing and well carbonated.
Nose: Not pleasant. To much going on with this beer that it muddles the nose and creates a really bad aroma. It can be that there is to much spice going on here and with the hops on this beer it creates a dirty stench.
Palate: Big point here. you get all sorts of tasty, smooth, and complex flavors. Orange peel comes through with a bit of nutmeg and vanilla bean. Also evident is some coriander and other citrus. Definitely a medium bodied beer with plenty to offer in the mouth.
Finish: Medium with a nice hop Finnish. Plenty a spices make all the way to the end giving this beer some good character. Still this beer lacks a bit at the finish.... this beer could be a bit more layered and bolder.
Rating: 88 out of 100
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