# 66: HITACHINO NEST BEER XH
Kiuchi Brewery - Japan (Est.1996)
First Brewed - 1997
8% ABV - Strong Belgian Ale
IBU's - 44
IBU's - 44
Ingredients:
Malts: Marris Otter, Munich, Crystal, Chocolate
Hops: Chinook, Styrian Golding
Tasting Notes:
E: Amber in colour that also has a ruby red hue with a hazy yeast laced clarity and a lively bubbly head.
N: Fresh spicy hop aroma with a herbal nose that has a fresh cardomom aroma, backed with a lingering dried fruit sweetness.
P: Sweet port-like flavours coat the mouth with a spicy hop bitterness that takes over.
M: Rich, full-bodied spicy lingering bitterness and a warming alcohol feel.
Other comments:
Kiuchi brewery are just one of many craft breweries in Japan that are leading the way in the current growth that craft beer is having at the moment, especially in Eastern Asia. The Kiuchi brewery has been in operation since the 19th century, producing the Japanese spirit of Sake. Set up by Kiuchi Gihei in 1823 he was the headman of the village called Kounosu, a small rice farming community. His family were collecting rice from the farmers as land taxes, when he had the idea to use the left over rice in the warehouses to produce Sake.
After the Sake boom of the 1950's, it wasn't until 1996 that the Kiuchi brewery decided to brew beer. The brand was named Hitachino Nest Beer and the quirky owl logo was created. Over the years the brewery has won numerous awards nationally and globally for their range of Nest Beers, and have gained increased acclamation.
XH which stands for 'Extra High' has been brewed in a similar style to a strong Belgian Ale recipe, a very popular style of beer in Japan at the moment. XH is a complex beer that is brewed using 4 styles of malts, styrian hops for aroma and chinook for bittering. After the brewing process it is then matured in distilled sake barrels with the final maturation taking place in Shochu casks (a stronger than sake liquor) for 3 months. This maturation is what gives XH its spicy fresh aroma and finish on the palate.
Kiuchi brewery are just one of many craft breweries in Japan that are leading the way in the current growth that craft beer is having at the moment, especially in Eastern Asia. The Kiuchi brewery has been in operation since the 19th century, producing the Japanese spirit of Sake. Set up by Kiuchi Gihei in 1823 he was the headman of the village called Kounosu, a small rice farming community. His family were collecting rice from the farmers as land taxes, when he had the idea to use the left over rice in the warehouses to produce Sake.
After the Sake boom of the 1950's, it wasn't until 1996 that the Kiuchi brewery decided to brew beer. The brand was named Hitachino Nest Beer and the quirky owl logo was created. Over the years the brewery has won numerous awards nationally and globally for their range of Nest Beers, and have gained increased acclamation.
XH which stands for 'Extra High' has been brewed in a similar style to a strong Belgian Ale recipe, a very popular style of beer in Japan at the moment. XH is a complex beer that is brewed using 4 styles of malts, styrian hops for aroma and chinook for bittering. After the brewing process it is then matured in distilled sake barrels with the final maturation taking place in Shochu casks (a stronger than sake liquor) for 3 months. This maturation is what gives XH its spicy fresh aroma and finish on the palate.
Food Pairings:
When pairing XH to food then think down the line of Belgian strong ales and Trappist and abbey style beers. This is a beer with bags of body and strength, so match strong flavoured foods with this. Almost any game will stand up to the bold spicy aromas and the sweet port like flavours. Partridge and pheasant with their bold game flavours will be a fine match with this beer, especially when roasted, as the fats will caramelise and complement the sweet dried fruit flavours in the beer. The game will be neutralised somewhat by the hop bitterness and the warming alcohol. Truffle's will be a good match, again their bold earthy flavours will complement the herby spiciness, whilst the intensity of the sweetness will be balanced. Stay clear of lighter meats and this beer will overpower, as would fish. Wild Boar or Venison would be ideal matches as they have high iron flavours that will counteract the sweetness and blend the beer and meat together well.
My food pairing recipe for this exquisite beer is:
Breast of Partridge with Shitake Mushroom, Jerusalem Artichoke and Truffle
http://www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/partridge-mushroom-artichoke-recipe
SCORE: 3.4/5
When pairing XH to food then think down the line of Belgian strong ales and Trappist and abbey style beers. This is a beer with bags of body and strength, so match strong flavoured foods with this. Almost any game will stand up to the bold spicy aromas and the sweet port like flavours. Partridge and pheasant with their bold game flavours will be a fine match with this beer, especially when roasted, as the fats will caramelise and complement the sweet dried fruit flavours in the beer. The game will be neutralised somewhat by the hop bitterness and the warming alcohol. Truffle's will be a good match, again their bold earthy flavours will complement the herby spiciness, whilst the intensity of the sweetness will be balanced. Stay clear of lighter meats and this beer will overpower, as would fish. Wild Boar or Venison would be ideal matches as they have high iron flavours that will counteract the sweetness and blend the beer and meat together well.
My food pairing recipe for this exquisite beer is:
Breast of Partridge with Shitake Mushroom, Jerusalem Artichoke and Truffle
http://www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/partridge-mushroom-artichoke-recipe
SCORE: 3.4/5
Page: 149
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