I'll leave the food aside, only to mention that the four course set menu is great value and the sake tasting tray is well worth it. There's also soju, and a few other, more sedate, Asian beers. But the main reason we were there was for Kiuchi's Hitachino Nest range, with their dinky 33cl bottles and impossibly cute owls on the label.First up the White Ale. It's surprisingly spicy for a witbier. A look at the ingredients shows that, along with the coriander and orange peel, they've added nutmeg and it really adds an extra dimension. A bit more typically there's a lemony perfume to it which balances the spices without being overpowering or artificial. Witbier with a twist, this, and a great match for my tiger prawns.
The Weizen is a long way from its purported style. Bavarian heritage and banana flavours are promised, but I couldn't find them. Laura got lemons from this one, and I think she's closer than the label copy is. It's piquant to an unusual degree, while also pumping out earthy, funky vibes. Add this to a brown body, lighter and fizzier than your typical weizen, and the word that springs to my mind is saison. And who wouldn't prefer a saison to a plain old weizen anyway?
The funk jam continues with the Japanese Classic Ale, though it's no louder for the beer being 7.5% ABV. The chilled glassware in Yamamori did a lot to take the edge of the flavour (as, in fairness, did the banoffi pie). After a few minutes' warming and a palate-cleansing sake, however, the complexities were more apparent. More saison-like spice, but it's deeper and edgier with strong elements of incense and aftershave. Had I read the label, the reason would have been obvious: it's aged on cedar. I don't think I've knowlingly had a cedar-aged beer before (Baladin Nora, maybe?) but I approve.
I'm very pleasantly surprised with this lot. Given what generally passes for Asian beer around here Yamamori's imports are a welcome addition. It would be great to see them in off licences and more restaurants.
It was a good night. I also recommend the sake tasting tray.
ReplyDeleteAny other Dublin restaurants with good unusual beers?
Apparently Decency on Mountjoy St does African Guinness -- I've never seen that on sale anywhere.
ReplyDelete...Have never had a japanese craft beer - the Wit sounds good, especially with the prawns. In love with those labels, though!!
ReplyDeleteNice joke in yr blog head, though I suspect those unfamiliar with Dublin English won't get it.
ReplyDeleteAfrican Guinness - I thought it was in reaction to the grey market in Nigerian-brewed Guinness in Dublin caused by an increasing number of African immigrants that Diageo started selling FES on 'home' ground?
Yeah, if I were part of the proper media I'd never refer to anything that absolutely everyone doesn't understand. People hate learning new things and will switch off if they don't understand *passive-aggressive cough*.
ReplyDeleteThat's true about Guinness, but the grey market survives, apparently. Like I say, I've never seen Nigerian FES on sale myself.
You obviously don't shop in dodgy back-street corner stores, which were the only places where Nigerian Guinness used to be sold in London in the 1990s before it started being available in places such s Tesco.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. I suspect there's a whole world of weird and interesting beers available down off the less fashionable end of O'Connell Street.
ReplyDeleteBlimey. In London, we're still lucky to get Asahi Yebisu. Nutmeg is a fascinating addition to a wheat beer -- we'll have to give that a go. Did it not make it taste too.... Christmassy?
ReplyDeleteNo, not at all Christmassy. Unless you spend your Yuletide getting mace-sprayed in the face. Raw spice is what it added.
ReplyDeleteYep it was a fun evening alright. I hadn't had many Japanese beers before this and they were all of the tasteless lager variety. These ones were different. Maybe they appealed more to me because of the terribly cute owls but these were great. I especially liked the white beer.
ReplyDeleteOh heck yeah. Hitachino Nest is a nice producer... especially considering the rarity (at least in the US) of good Japanese craft breweries, as you point out.
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of their White Ale. For me personally it's one of the 3 best examples of a white ale I have had. I also enjoy their Japanese Classic Ale; it is both unique and delicious, which I love. Haven't had their Weizen but I mean to.
The one effort of theirs I definitely don't recommend is their Red Rice Ale. Granted, I've never had another red rice ale to compare it to, but after that experience I don't plan too. It was just way too funky in flavor to me and didn't have many redeeming qualities.
The only problem I have with Hitachino Nest is that in SoCal I have to pay over $5 per 12oz bottle... that's as much as many six-packs cost here. Super expensive, but good for the occasional splurge.
Apparently Yamamori did have the Red Rice originally but it's gone from the menu now. Maybe for the best.
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