This pairing event from Sony Ginza's Beer to Go basement café is sure to raise some eyebrows at first. But the chefs and brewers have thought carefully about this unorthodox mixing of sushi and craft beer. As they explained it, craft beer and sushi have more in common than you'd think: both start from a traditional base, with artisans infusing their own creativity on top of it.
The 10 types of sushi on offer are probably not like any sushi you've ever tried before, with each recipe carefully designed with one of the 15 featured craft beers. The hotate (scallops) sashimi is 'escargot-style', meaning a dab of garlic butter between the fish and rice, and paired with a citrusy pale ale called Daydream. The salmon sashimi is topped with a tiny olive slice and an elegant smattering of caviar, and paired with a hoppy New Zealand beer called On The Cloud. The result is a heartier-tasting sushi whose multi-layered flavour does pair surprisingly well with craft beer.
It probably helps that every single beer – from the red raspberry Jazzberry to the dark stout Afterdark – is superb. Though you'll probably want to stick to their pairing suggestions, the event will provide trays and trays of sushi and craft beer samples so you’re free to mix and match.