Sushi tonight? How many times do you crave Japanese cuisine… and how many times do you probably not know what to drink with it? Of course, the classic glass of sakè or maybe a cup of green tea are very traditional, or even a glass of wine… But have you ever considered craft beer?
This pairing, often underestimated, can bring great satisfaction, provided you choose the right beer. Sushi is a symphony of delicate flavors, where the sweet and sour of the rice, the saltiness of soy sauce, the spicy kick of wasabi, and the umami of raw fish must be enhanced without ever being overwhelmed.
For this reason, fresh and light beers, with good palate cleanliness, are the ideal companions. Wheat beers also play an important role: their fruity and floral nuances make them perfect to enhance the delicate flavor of raw shellfish and crustaceans.
In short, with the right beer you can turn your Japanese dinner into an even more gourmet experience.
But what are the best craft beers to pair with sushi? The beer sommeliers at Maltese explain it to you!
The 3 best craft beers to pair with sushi and sashimi
The choice is really wide but we want to guide you towards 3 top options:
● Low fermentation smoked beers, especially the gentler Rauchbier, are very interesting when paired with dishes where salmon is the star;
● If you like crustaceans, especially shrimp, a Blanche with its citrusy and spicy notes can be an excellent choice;
● For more flavorful and spicy sushi, like uramaki with spicy sauce, it’s better to go for a Porter or even a Stout, capable of standing up to stronger flavors.
Dreaming of Japan: Japanese beers on Maltese
When we talk about beer and sushi, we can’t help but take a trip to Japan, where the craft beer scene is booming. In recent years, the Land of the Rising Sun has embraced the Craft Beer Revolution, experimenting with local ingredients and new hop varieties, often blending Western techniques with elements of Japanese tradition.
An interesting example? The use of local rice in brewing, which gives lightness and a particular dryness to the drink, making it perfect to accompany fish dishes. Some Japanese breweries go further, working with sakè yeasts or typical Japanese ingredients like soy or miso, to create unique beers.
On Maltese you can find some of the best Japanese craft beers, like those from the brewery Far Yeast Brewing Company, including the very rare “Mori Tomori,” produced precisely with saké yeast.
What to pair them with? Japanese beers are delicious with marinated anchovies, raw crustaceans, tempura, citrus seafood carpaccio, marinated and grilled salmon. And to finish beautifully, why not pair them with a dessert like a mochi filled with azuki bean jam? The meeting between the pronounced sweetness of this typical Japanese filling and the spicy notes of these beers can offer pleasant surprises!
