Exhibitor: Hitachino Nest - Menabrea

Beer Style: Indian Pale Ale

ABV: 6.2%

Sake-like complexity with malt sweetness and strawberry hints in a rose-pink hue.

Dai Dai Ale is a very unique brew, “Kiuchi/Hitachino” philosophy with highly focused notes of orange/mandarin, quite dry in the finish. Kiuchi Brewery uses a special, very rare type of orange called “Fukure Mikan”. Fukure Mikan is a wild mandarin orange with almost 1500 years of history and is only cultivated around Mt.Tsukuba near the brewery. It is a symbol that stands for “very unique” in Japanese. Fuku is ‘symbol of happiness’ and Kure is ‘coming’ and Mikan is ‘orange’. Fukure Mikan means “Orange which will bring fortune happiness!” Also making this beer singular is the use of Tardif de Bourgogne hops, a natural variety from France. This variety is grown on limited acreage around the Alsace region. It is an aroma type associated with European Ales and Lagers.

It is difficult to find on the market, and in commercial beers. If you do come across some, try it out.