Nest Beer

Cape Cod-style seafood restaurant The Mermaid Inn is serving Hitachino nest beer, a fantastic Japanese white beer that is distinguished by the appearance of a cartoonish bird on its label.

This is no Sapporo. The unfiltered beer is crisp and refreshing, with the distinct flavor of citrus. The website for the Kiuchi Brewery, which produces Hitachino, does not explain why it is called "nest beer," but does offer the following historical account of its creation: "In 1823 Kiuchi brewery started to brew Japan's national beverage,SAKE. 173 years later we begun to brew Nest Beer. All ingredients are selected very carefully using knowledge passed down through generations. When you enjoy a Nest Beer you will encounter flavors and aromas that are not only typical of the respective beer style but also reminiscent of traditional Japanese caulture [sic] and heritage." Look for it at Bierkraft in Brooklyn.