Day 9, 1.9.11. Hitachino Nest - Espresso Stout

This evening it's cold and quiet and wife, dog and I are sharing the couch.  A perfect evening for a nice dark beer: Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout.  I've tried the Hitachino Nest Wheat Beer and the Red Rice Ale.  both are very good.
Like most things produced in Japan, this beer seems very well made.  It's black as night and has a very creamy, velvety, beige head.  When I put my nose in the glass, it's like inhaling what's left at the bottom of a french press after a great pot of coffee.  And don't get me wrong, it does have the bitter aromas that such spent grounds have, but when you take the first sip, it's nothing but smooth.
It's a delightful full bodied stout with the addition of  really nice, earthy espresso flavor, simple as that.  It doesn't promise to be more than that, and it's not.  It's a perfectly executed example of a classic style.  I don't have much more to say about it.  Highly recommended.  8 out of 10