Craft Beer And Sushi: The Perfect Pairing

Sushi is a delicate dish, and its main ingredients are big umami providers. The best drink pairings will enhance these flavours and tone down the sinus-clearing heat of any wasabi. While Japanese rice lagers are a common go-to, a proper pilsner can also bring out the rich salty-sweet and earthy flavours in the dish. Other beer varieties that pair well with sushi include Kölsch-style beers, hefeweizens, witbiers, saisons, and helles lagers.

Japanese rice lagers

The addition of rice to the malt bill helps to clean up the beer, both in terms of look and flavour. It adds clarity, crispness, and a slight sweetness. It also improves the drinkability of the beer, allowing brewers to showcase the characteristics of unique hops strains. Japanese rice lagers are often described as easy-drinking beers that are versatile and highly drinkable. They are also considered a gateway beer, helping drinkers accustomed to macro-brewed light lagers transition to more assertively-flavoured craft beers.

Some examples of Japanese rice lagers include Asahi Super Dry, Sapporo, and Kirin Lager. Asahi Super Dry is a popular choice for pairing with sushi, as are other Japanese beers such as Kirin Ichiban and Kirin Classic Lager.

Pilsners

When it comes to sushi, the general consensus is that lighter beers are the best pairing. This is because sushi tends to have delicate flavours, so you don't want to overwhelm them with a heavy beer.

For example, Sam Adams Noble Pils is a good choice, as the hops and carbonation whisk away any fishy fat, even when spicy mayonnaise is involved. The hops and carbonation also help to cleanse your palate between bites of sushi. Pilsners can also accentuate the wasabi spice, while the sweetness from the grain will help to balance it out.

Ales

For example, the Brooklyn Brewery's Sorachi Ace is a saison that uses the Japanese Sorachi Ace hop, which gives it distinct lemongrass flavours with hints of pepper and citrus. This makes it ideal for sushi, sashimi, and everything that comes with it (ginger, soy sauce, etc.). The beer is light and refreshing enough not to overpower the dishes, and the high carbonation levels scrub the fish oils off your tongue, cleansing your palate for every bite.

If you're looking for something a little more unusual, Left Hand Brewing's Good Juju is a crisp and clean ale spiked with a generous dose of fresh ginger. This beer is perfect if you don't usually use the plated pink ginger available at sushi restaurants, as it provides the same fresh sweetness without the fibrous chew. The graham cracker softness also balances perfectly with the tangy vinegar of the sushi rice and enhances the natural sweetness of the fresh fish.

For those who enjoy their rolls doused in salty soy sauce, a British pale ale is a good choice. It has a nice malty, somewhat fruity balance to it. If you're a fan of tempura shrimp, opt for a nice effervescent saison—the carbonation will balance out the oil, and the peppery citrus notes will work well with pickled ginger.

For richer fish, such as fatty tuna, a Belgian Tripel-style beer is a good option, as its high carbonation helps cut the richness while remaining low in bitterness.

Belgian wits

When it comes to ABV, witbiers tend to range from 4.0 to 7.0%, with the best examples falling somewhere between 4.5 and 5.5%. Witbiers are often served with a lemon garnish, but if you want to truly savour the subtle flavours of the beer, it's best to order it without.

Some popular examples of witbiers include:

• Blanche De Chambly (Unibroue)
• White Rascal (Avery Brewing Company)
• Blue Moon Belgian White (Blue Moon Brewing Company)
• Hoegaarden Original White Ale (Brouwerij van Hoegaarden)
• Wittekerke (De Brabandere)

Lagers

If you're looking for a lager to pair with your sushi, you might want to consider Asahi, Kirin, or Sapporo. These are often available at Japanese restaurants and are a great choice to accompany your meal. They won't overpower the subtle flavours of the sushi, but instead complement them.

If you're eating sashimi, a helles lager is a good choice. The low bitterness and slight sweetness of a lager like this will complement the raw fish. A premium American lager, such as Full Sail's Session, is another option that will allow the fish flavours to shine through.

For those who like their sushi with a kick of wasabi, a pilsner can be a great choice. The bitterness and hops of a pilsner will bring out the rich, salty-sweet and earthy flavours of the sushi, while also toning down the heat of the wasabi.

Frequently asked questions