Hitachino Next XH

Ridiculously good beer. If you haven't had it, you must. Because I have no idea what Shochu tastes like, or it's casks, I cannot isolate the flavours in this one. Does anyone have any idea what might've gone into the XH for it's strange fruits and leathers? It's not all cask that's responsible for flavouring this beer—as bold, unique and yet structured as it is.

Hops used: Chinook, Styrian Goldings
Malt: Pale Malt, Caramel malt, Munich malt, Chocolate malt
Original Gravity: 1.079
Alcohol Vol: 8.0%
IBU: 40

Soju tastes like someone filled a rusty industrial dumpster 1/2 full with vinegar, and the other 1/2 full with nasty garbage, let it ferment in the hot sun for a while, then knocked a hole in the corner and collected, then bottled and sold it to unsuspecting persons. Horrible, horrible stuff.