Thirsty Thursday: Hitachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale & Red Rice Ale
Ever since the leaves turned and the temperatures dropped Thirsty Thursday been fixated on reviewing darker richer beers to keep your motor chugging during the winter months. But today we’re mixing it up with two completely different beers from Japan: The Hitachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale and Red Rice Ale.
Made by the nearly 200 year old sake brewery Kiuchi in central eastern Japan, the Hitachino Nest Series came into existence in 1996 and is known for the unique owl on its labels. Though there are twelve different beers brewed in this series the Classic and Red Rice might be the most unique.
The Classic follows an original India Pale Ale recipe brought to Japan in the 19th Century and the beer is slowly matured in the same type of cedar casks used to age sake. The result is one of the most distinctive, non-IPA like, and strangely pleasant beers you’ll ever have…one that you literally have to taste to believe.
The Red Rice is brewed with a combination of malt hops, barley and a special red rice that provides the ale with its cranberry like color. The beer tantalizes the nose and is unique on the palate with an unfiltered sake like mouthfeel.
And for as strange as the following detailed descriptions of the beers might sound, both are highly recommended for their experience and enjoyment values.
Hitachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale (7% alc)
Pours burnt hazy orange in color with a skimmy sea foam froth on top. The nose expresses notes of toasty lemon spice and the amazing/perplexing essence of salty soy sauce* (yes you read that correctly). Medium bodied, the Classic Ale is relaxed and smooth on the palate revisiting the flavors from the nose. With every sip the beer’s soy sauce aspect strangely grows on you and makes you wonder why you’re not enjoying this with sushi.
*Other reviewers of this beer have found the nose to express more of a cedar essence
Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale (7% alc)
Diluted cranberry fizz cocktail in color, the nose is floral and provocative with sweet citrus fruits and a tartness wrapped into one joined by a smattering of yeast and cloves notes. Crisp and refreshing the beer has a mouthfeel similar to that of an unfiltered sake that is unusually comforting causing one to forget that the fruit and nut flavors on the palate are virtually non-existent.
Both beers are currently available in Japan and the U.S. (retailing around the $4-5)
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Love the label and bottle top, so cute and fanciful. Unfortunately I am not a big fan of these types of flavoured beers, but it was nice to read about them. Thanks, have a great weekend, I’m off tomorrow.
Thanks Eva and have a great weekend!
Nice to see the beers I’m going to win when some snow shows up on the National Mall. Actually, they sound pretty interesting. Where’d you get them?
Picked em up at Circle Liquor up the street from me. I’ll see if they have any more even though you lost.
WOW this one sounds very interesting. ……….. especially being aged in the cedar, bet the flavour is incredible.
It is very distinctive and worth finding a bottle.
Guess I won’t be trying these any time soon – unless they make their way to SA.
Mandy
Have an awesome weekend.
You need to start harassing the import industry down there.
Have a great weekend Mandy!
I go to sushi restaurants relatively frequently but rarely order any of the beer. It’s sake all the way! I’m going to start looking for these. I’ll tell them I’m on assignment for Sports-glutton.com. Maybe I’ll get a free seaweed salad.
I know. Dream so big and you’re apt to get disappointed. I’ll risk it.
LOL. Let me know if you need a biz card or two. Plus why not both sake and beer?
I am completely hypnotised by both your description and the owl! I would give a lot to taste this beer… Maybe on my next visit to Japan? I would have never guessed you would recommend something I will put on my tasting list for Japan! Thank you!
Hi Jed! I don’t drink beer…but wanna to say hi, Hi!
I’ve never seen a beer that’s cranberry colour. I don’t drink beer but my husband does and I’m quite sure he’s never had a Japanese beer – I’ll let him know to look out for these xx
What are the odds of this making it to a Japanese place by me?
Guess it depends on the distributor, huh?