561912 Thu Oct 02 14:39:32 -0700 2008 6 35 Beer 0 4077766 Very surprised to see this hit my local co-op. They started carrying their White Ale recently, but now the space reserved for it has been replaced by this nearly five-year old celebration ale. I bought one and haven't tried it yet. Any Hitachino fans come across this particular ale at stores recently? Thu Oct 02 14:39:33 -0700 2008 36389 nakni 1 4078643 It is fantastic. Burnt orange color with nutmeg and spices. Hold onto it until the dead of Winter. Your local co-op may have been holding it because beers with higher alcohol content just improve with age. Fri Oct 03 00:40:50 -0700 2008 4077766 107992 kelarry 2 4079953 That's good to know, as I was cynical regarding the reason a five-year old beer was making its way into Idaho, like someone somewhere was looking for a way to dump the stuff and decided to do it with a new vendor in a small isolated market. I guess I'll buy another bottle and save them for January! But once the supply is gone I sure hope the White Ale comes back, or even the Red Rice Ale which I seem to be in the minority in liking. Fri Oct 03 13:10:06 -0700 2008 4078643 36389 nakni 3 4087671 I was suprised to find Hitachino Nest and Red Rice at the local Whole Foods. I really wanted to like them, but they were just too sweet for my tastes. Still, I'd rather drink them than the Sapporo/Kirin that's brewed in North America. Those are too Budweiserey/Molsoney for me. I wish I could find Suntory Beer in America. Does anyone import the stuff? About the only Japanese-brewed beer I can find is Orion. Tue Oct 07 08:13:20 -0700 2008 4079953 12359 monkeyrotica 4 4089239 Orion <shudder> Suntory? Never seen their beer, even in Japanese markets. At least we get their whisky here. Actually I've never seen Hitachino at a Japanese market either. My last visit to one yielded Japanese-brewed Asahi (in large cans only), Asahi Kuronama black ale, Yebisu (made by Sapporo), and Echigo. Tue Oct 07 17:19:34 -0700 2008 4087671 36389 nakni 5 4089950 Suntory makes a wide variety of interesting beers. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/865 Unfortunately, it seems like they do not distribute in North America. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/521122#3706098 Wed Oct 08 03:54:16 -0700 2008 4089239 12359 monkeyrotica 1 4087604 That's really odd. I've only ever seen this beer when newly released. I would sample the one you have to make sure it's OK, and if it is, I would then buy several more to hold on to. Tue Oct 07 07:50:03 -0700 2008 4077766 10809 Josh