Top 15 American Beers to Perfectly Pair with Sushi & Sashimi
Sushi and sashimi – those delicate slices of raw beauty, dancing with flavors both subtle and striking. But why settle for a traditional sip of sake when you can traverse the craft beer landscape of America? Here, we explore an eclectic mix of brews that complement and enhance the nuances of sushi and sashimi.
The Basics
Pairing beer with sushi is about balancing the beer’s body and the dish’s flavor. A good rule of thumb is matching light beers with delicate flavors and robust beers with stronger-flavored fish. The temperature, bitterness, and carbonation in beer can cleanse the palate, preparing it for the next bite of umami-rich goodness.
Allagash White (Portland, ME) – $10/4-pack
Sushi Pairing: Nigiri with Hamachi (Yellowtail)
A Belgian-style wheat beer that offers a refreshing coriander and citrus note, perfect for the buttery texture of yellowtail.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (Chico, CA) – $15/6-pack
Sushi Pairing: Spicy Tuna Roll
Its piney and grapefruit hop character cuts through the spice, leaving a clean palate.
Stone IPA (Escondido, CA) – $16/6-pack
Sushi Pairing: Eel (Unagi) Nigiri
The bold hops stand up to the sweet, savory sauce on the eel.
Anchor Steam Beer (San Francisco, CA) – $12/6-pack
Sushi Pairing: California Roll
A balanced profile that won’t overpower the crab and avocado’s subtle flavors. The brewery is closed, but this splendid beer is still on the market.
Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA (Bend, OR) – $18/6-pack
Sushi Pairing: Salmon Sashimi
The citrus-forward hops complement the fatty richness of salmon.
Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale (Chicago, IL) – $14/6-pack
Sushi Pairing: Scallop Nigiri
Its smooth and lemony profile highlights the scallop’s sweetness.
Founders All Day IPA (Grand Rapids, MI) – $17/15-pack
Sushi Pairing: Rainbow Roll
A session IPA that’s light enough to let the variety of fish flavors shine.
Lagunitas Pils (Petaluma, CA) – $11/6-pack
Sushi Pairing: Shrimp (Ebi) Nigiri
The crispness cuts through the shrimp’s sweetness and cleanses the palate.
Brooklyn Lager (Brooklyn, NY) – $14/6-pack
Sushi Pairing: Tempura Roll
Its malty sweetness and dry finish balance the tempura’s crunch.
Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale (Longmont, CO) – $16/6-pack
Sushi Pairing: Avocado Roll
The bold flavors of the ale work well with the creaminess of avocado.
Bell’s Two Hearted Ale (Kalamazoo, MI) – $18/6-pack
Sushi Pairing: Toro (Fatty Tuna) Sashimi
The floral hops accentuate the tuna’s melt-in-your-mouth quality.
Dogfish Head SeaQuench Ale (Milton, DE) – $18/6-pack
Sushi Pairing: Octopus (Tako) Sashimi
Its tartness and hint of salt are a nod to the sea and match the octopus’s texture.
New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale (Fort Collins, CO) – $15/6-pack
Sushi Pairing: Smoked Salmon Nigiri
The beer’s toasty notes offer warmth to the smoky flavor.
Alaskan Amber (Juneau, AK) – $12/6-pack
Sushi Pairing: Sea Urchin (Uni) Gunkanmaki
The rich maltiness complements the uni’s creamy, briny flavor.
Firestone Walker Pivo Pils (Paso Robles, CA) – $10/6-pack
Sushi Pairing: Cucumber Roll (Kappa Maki)
A clean, hoppy pilsner that refreshes the palate after the cool crunch of cucumber.
