Hitachino Nest Pale Ale
Appearance: Solid, peachy cinnamon brown, dark for the style, with a good deal of smoggy tan sediment adding a layer of haze. Head is off-white and fair-sized with good retention. Smell: Yummy. Fresh, green, herbal hops blended perfectly with fruity, toasty, buckwheaty malts and a light dollop of diacetyl. Unexpected tropical (banana, mango) and citric (lemon, orange) notes come through, as does a bit of clove and funky umami from the yeast. Taste: Gorgeous. One of the toastiest, whole-grainiest malt profiles I've ever tasted, wrapped in a fresh, herbal and lightly lemony hop blanket. Yeast provides unexpected Belgian-esque earthy and lightly tart notes. Finish is bittersweet, with a lingering toffee sweetness balanced by the dry weight of hops. Mouthfeel: This is a tad thin, which isn't fair to the robust flavor. Still, the carbonation is just right, and the finish is nice and clean. Drinkability: This is awesome. If only it weren't so expensive, this would definitely be a fridge beer for me. I was sad when I reached for my glass and discovered that it was empty.