Hitachino Nest Sweet Stout -- Kiuchi (Kounosu, Japan)
I saw this at a local Japanese restaurant and had to sample. Don't be put off by the name -- this is not a "sweet" beer in the sense of the Lindeman's lambics or Leinie's Berry Weiss. The owl label is a total bonus.
Characteristics: Dark, deep brown, almost no head and very slight carbonation, light-to-medium body, slightly bitter and fruity finish (apple?) with hints of curdled milk.
Minor Gripes: Rare as hell and therefore VERY expensive in the states. Could use either more body or more carbonation (though not both).
Bottom Line: For a light stout, this is a solid beer. Stands up well to (and plays nicely with) wasabi and soy. It's light enough for summer nights. Perhaps for that reason I'd hestitate to call this a stout in the grand sense (even if the beer labels itself as a "lacto" or milk stout). It's really somewhere between porter and brown ale.
Rating: 5.75 / 10
ive been trying to find a real good tasting beer for a while and i think i would really like this but i dont know where to buy it, i live in alabama and ive tryed looking it up but still have no idea where to purchase it...thanks, kristi :)
I'm not a great source on where to find beers, since distribution tends to be regional (and distributors can't afford to take too many chances on new or unusual beverages). I first saw Hitachino at a really nice sushi bar in DC and had not previously heard of it. Sorry...