By Jonathan McNamara
Any experienced Japan-o-phile can tell you that the country’s major beers taste pretty much the same. It’s true. Whether your slugging down a Sapporo, Kirin, Asahi or Ebisu you won’t know which one you’re drinking for sure unless you look at the label.
Mind you, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Japanese beer is extremely light and ultra-refreshing which makes downing a few mugs (or several hundred tiny glasses poured by someone else) over Takoyaki an absolute delight.
Hitachino Nest has completely bypassed this concept of uniform beer manufacturing. If Asahi Super Dry is the drink most consumed by Japanese business men, Hitachino Nest’s White Ale is the beer most enjoyed by roving bands of Kabuki actors.
Tastes: like flower-flavored magic. Produced in a sake brewery in Ibaraki Japan, Hitachino Nest’s White Ale has a surprising floral essence to it. Don’t shrug this off like a flavored beer though. It may be a bit too delicate for dark beer drinkers, but those who can appreciate the subtlety of a beer filled with floral essence might make this their new favorite ale.
I had mine: Shortly after purchasing it from Bevmo! At Tempe Marketplace. This is the only place I’ve seen Hitachino Nest products so far.
Goes with: sitting on patios conversing with friends or writing haikus. No, seriously. Hitachino Nest White Ale has a flavor so unique and mild that I recommend enjoying it without food if possible. Save the Kirin gold for your sashimi and bust out the White Ale as a meal-closing beverage.
Verdict: I’m not sure what mana tastes like, but this has to be pretty close. Savor every delicious drop of these 11.2 oz. beauties on special occasions. An everyday beer it is not, but it has the potential to alter mental states through its beautiful complexity.
