Kiuchi Brewery - Hitachino Nest

Microbrewery in Naka, Ibaraki, Japan 🇯🇵
Associated with 4 Venues

Established in 1996

Contact
1257 Kounosu, Naka-shi, Naka, 311-0133, Japan
Description
Kiuchi Brewery (木内酒造) is a brewery in Naka, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It was established in 1823 by village headman Kiuchi Gihei as a sake and shochu producer. Craft beer production began in 1996 after a change in Japanese law governing micro brewing. A number of Kiuchi's products seek to combine European beer-making technology with traditional Japanese brewing techniques; for example, its XH Hitachino Nest Beer is matured in shochu casks.

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3.5/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 3 Flavor 3 Texture 3 Overall 3
Unfortunately, my bottle was for sure infected, not drinkable, taste of rotten mushrooms, at the final, I detected some strawberry, 07.05.17
Tried from Bottle on 20 Apr 2026 at 11:27

8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Interesting beverage, a generous sour beer, aromatic, fruity, a lovely side of peach, sour and sweet, sparkling, a final note of hay, a bit creamy, lime from a brewery that I had good and bad experience, 14.03.21, at Epalinges.
Tried from Bottle on 19 Apr 2026 at 09:51

6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
Dark gold with a medium sized white head. Tangy and yeasty with tropical fruit, citrus and growing bitterness. Medium finish and body.
Tried from Can on 11 Apr 2026 at 20:38

6.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 6.5 Texture 7 Overall 6
350 ml can. Pours amber with some fine suspension and light head. Aromas of limes and biscuity malts. Flavors of bitter yuzu, and other dull citrus with toasted malts.
Tried from Can from Cascadia Liquor Stores (Nanoose Bay) on 01 Apr 2026 at 22:20

7.1/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7.5 Texture 7 Overall 7.5
Bottle. Very dark brown with a fading tan head. Aroma of chocolate brioche, oranges, light herbal and floral notes. The oranges and cacao are bittersweet and so is the beer. The deception of the eye is a big part of it, I guess - the malt is lightened by the fruit before a moderately bitter finish. Typically nicely balanced.
Tried on 22 Mar 2026 at 13:51

6.3/10 Appearance 2 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 8 Texture 7 Overall 6
pours a dark copper color with light head and lots of suspended chunks which looks like protein coagulation, as opposed to sediment. Aromas of sweet caramel malts (possibly rice) and dried fruit. Flavors of sweet caramel, muddled fruit and soft toasted malts.
Tried from Bottle on 21 Mar 2026 at 02:22

7.1/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 7.5 Texture 7 Overall 7.5
Bottle, bb 5/16, Sessions Box Hill. Black with a ~cm of tan head. Shyish roasty aroma with some earthy and dark fruit notes. Upon a taste the fruit is obviously the cherry wood - both fruity and drying. It's nice but maybe pushes the roasted flavours a little far back. But it's smooth and gracious. Good.
Tried on 19 Mar 2026 at 12:05

6.5/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 5 Overall 6.5
Backlog November 2013. Deep amber, almost black body under a small beige head. Mild aroma of dark malt and chocolate. Taste is sweet, dark malt, chocolate and light bitterness. Not too sweet actually but a bit plain and straight forward. Medium body and average aftertaste.
Tried on 10 Mar 2026 at 19:28

7/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 7 Overall 7
Bottle @ home. Almost clear golden body under a disappearing, medium sized white head. Aroma of grain, an herbal touch and typical Sorachi Ace hops. Taste is very smooth pale malt, grain, herbs, fruity chewing gum (Sorachi Ace) and moderate bitterness. Balanced, quite light body and same aftertaste. An unusually but interesting choice of hops for a lager, but it works out great and I like it.
Tried on 08 Mar 2026 at 07:57

6.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
$5.29 can, GGG/ Hazy golden orange with a white head. Nose is yuzu, lemon zest, yeast. Flavor is yuzu, lime zest, yeast, grasses.
Tried from Can from Greenwood Gourmet Grocery on 04 Mar 2026 at 21:35