– Review – Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale / By DJ Adams
And now for something completely different. Last week Port Street Beer House took delivery of a small number of cases of beer from the Kiuchi brewery based in Ibaraki-Ken, Japan. Craft beer from the USA? Check. Classic beers from Belgium and elsewhere in mainland Europe? Check. Amazing small-brewery beers from the UK? Double-check. But craft beer from Japan?
Beers from Japan are making an inroad into the UK via importers in Europe, Italy in particular. Port Street Beer House has heralded Hitachino Nest’s arrival in Manchester by being the first establishment to stock it, in particular the Weizen, Espresso Stout, Sweet Stout, Amber Ale and the Red Rice Ale.
If the first word that comes to mind is ‘sake’ when thinking of Japanese breweries, you’re on the right track. Hitachino Nest is the main beer brand from the Kiuchi brewery, but they only started brewing beer in 1996. Over 150 years prior to that, the brewery was established by Kiuchi Gihei to brew sake from the warehouse stocks of rice collected from farmers as land tax on behalf of the dominant Mito Togugawa family in that region. After the end of the Second World War, when demand for sake increased, the Kiuchi brewery, by then under the leadership of Mikio Kiuchi, bucked the trend and remained true to quality and craftsmanship, resisting the temptation to mass-produce.
So, Red Rice Ale. Not as unusual as it sounds, rice is a common starch adjunct used in brewing beer, most famously (infamously?) used in Anheuser Busch’s Budweiser pale ale. Adjuncts are used for a number of reasons, from cost saving measures (rice is cheaper than barley) to introducing taste, body and mouthfeel features. The addition of red rice is additionally interesting as traditionally it is regarded as ‘weedy’, in other words a variety that produces fewer grains per plant than cultivated rice, and is considered a weed or a pest that grows despite, rather than because of, cultivation.
That the red rice starch adjunct is considered a weed becomes completely irrelevant when you consider the immensely positive impact of it’s addition to the brew of this amber ale. With a pinkish pale colour and impressive soapy-white head, a light sweetness is at the heart of Red Rice Ale, with a fruity rice aroma on the nose reminiscent of rose water, and a subtle strawberry-laced experience throughout. I never thought I’d say this as something positive, but a waxy mouthfeel lends a distinctively pleasant note to the drinking experience. None of the 7.0% ABV strength is evident (except when I walk from the bar to a nearby table to write this review), and the beer is a very easy drinking experience.
Hitachino Nest has been established in the USA for a decade or so now, and rightly so. With its distinctive Owl logo, quality top-fermented beers and innovative techniques, it’s only a matter of time until they’re established over here too. Until then, get yourself down to Port Street, and see for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.
Brewer: Hitachino Nest
Brew: Red Rice Ale
Style: Amber Ale
ABV: 7.0%
Words by DJ Adams http://www.pipetree.com/qmacro/
– Brewdog Paradox Jura Keg launch / Wednesday 7th March 2012 – 7pm
Having one of only a handful of kegs outside of the Brewdog bars we thought we would shout about what a great beer this is!
This 15% imperial stout, barrel aged in single malt Jura whiskey cask promises to be spectacular and goes on sale on draft exclusively in Manchester on the Wednesday 7th March.
Josie from Brewdog will be coming down to introduce this epic beer before you lucky customers a chance get to try it.
Come down at 7pm to be one of the first to taste it.
– Festival of Britain(s beers)
We’ve had a summertime American Beer Festival along with an autumnal Europtoberfest, so we thought it was high time we dedicated ourselves to showcasing the very best that Britain has to offer. We try and offer the best British beer all year round with our cask lines and a dedicated UK keg font, however we think we can do better, we’ll be aiming to have a complete British tap takeover (barring one or 2 branded fonts). The festival will be kicking off on Monday 26th March with a very special ‘Meet the Brewer’ event hosted by a very special guest (to be announced soon), who will also be helping us curate our selection of beers for the festival.
We wanted to give you an opportunity to get involved with the festival from the outset by providing some suggestions of beers you think are worthy of being included in a celebration of the beers of Britain, cask, keg or bottle. So speak now or forever hold your peace, or at least until next year.
– Teacake presents : A Pint Of Mixed / Eggs No Soldiers & Other Unseen Moments
From March 1st 2012 Teacake will be exhibiting a special collection of photographs taken by the late Tom Culley. Split over two venues, this installation of large-scale images offers a glimpse into the varied past times of one man and his closest companions.
Discovered inadvertently, these images taken from a collection of over 5000 meticulously cherished slides portray life through the eyes of an accomplished amateur photographer. Always fascinated by the colourful antics of ordinary people enjoying extraordinary activities this perspective is both personal and insightful.
Only ever before seen as part of a good old-fashioned slide show theseare nostalgic, heart-warming and often-humorous portraits of life as it happened.
Tom’s passion for photography was simple; his aim was to preserve the funniest, most charming, most special and most poignant moments in order to share them with his loved ones.
Now we are lucky enough to be able to share them with you in the form of ‘Eggs no Soldiers’‚ at Common and ‚’A Pint of Mixed’ at Port Street Beer House.
/ BIOGRAPHY
Born on the 17th August 1925, Thomas Culley attended St Peters School, Accrington. In 1939 he was apprenticed as a painter and decorator at Milton Fodens. Before joining the Royal Navy as an Able Seamen in the Gunnery Branch Battleship King George V in 1943. As part of the Pacific fleet he was present at the formal surrender of the Japanese in Tokyo Bay 1945.
Returning home, Tom joined the Lancashire County Fire Brigade and served as a Sub Officer for 30 years at Accrington Fire Station. He received the long service medal and good conduct medal in 1971 before retiring in 1980. As a keen fisherman and model boat enthusiast Tom enjoyed a full itinerary of hobbies including painting, drawing and shooting cine films. An avid reader, he also had an extensive knowledge of local history. Tom died at the age of 84 in Lancashire on the 8th April 2010.
Teacake presents
EGGS NO SOLDIERS & other unseen moments captured by the late Tom Culley
Opening night – Thursday 1st March 2012 – 6.00pm onwards
@ Common, Edge Street, Manchester, M4 1HW
Exhibition continues – 2nd March 2012 – Late July 2012
followed by :
A PINT OF MIXED & other unseen moments captured by the late Tom Culley
Opening night – Thursday 1st March 2012 – 7.30pm onwards
@ Port Street Beer House, Port Street, Manchester, M1 2EQ
Exhibition continues – 2nd March 2012 – 2013
All prints are for sale – please enquire behind the bar or drop us an email – cheers!
