Lite beer with your sushi?

[Robin Garr]

Knowing the ongoing beer debates on this forum, I couldn't resist a chuckle when I saw this big sign on the BACK of Wasabiya on Baxter, back by the dumpster and grease collector.

sushilite.jpg

Haha, well done Robin! I can't think of better ambiance to accompany a Miller Lite sign!

This brings up an interesting point: what beer do you all prefer to eat with your sushi?

Since I tend to avoid overly rich and highly sauced rolls, I tend to opt for aromatic light pale ales, preferably those that are dry hopped if available. Founder's Dry-Hopped Pale Ale comes to mind as a good example.

At least they are not calling the beer great, just ice cold.

This brings up an interesting point: what beer do you all prefer to eat with your sushi?

I love my IPAs, but usually go with Sapporo with sushi, when in Rome type of attitude.

[Robin Garr]

love my IPAs, but usually go with Sapporo with sushi, when in Rome type of attitude.

Yeah, same-o, same-o. Sapporo, Kirin, Ichiban, just for the cultural connection, and happy memories of pulling cold cans out of streetside vending machines during a July visit to Japan years ago.

If a sushi bar had a row of local beer taps I'd definitely choose from those, but I'd still go with a crisp pils style like Browning's Helles Lager or the BBC equivalent.

have to share this commercial. one of my favorites

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Rs6YEZAt8

[Robin Garr]

have to share this commercial. one of my favorites

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Rs6YEZAt8

Whoa! The commercial is way better than the beer!

Thanks, Jeremy.

have to share this commercial. one of my favorites

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Rs6YEZAt8

Whoa! The commercial is way better than the beer!

Yeah that happens a lot, doesn't it?

love my IPAs, but usually go with Sapporo with sushi, when in Rome type of attitude.

Yeah, same-o, same-o. Sapporo, Kirin, Ichiban, just for the cultural connection, and happy memories of pulling cold cans out of streetside vending machines during a July visit to Japan years ago.

If a sushi bar had a row of local beer taps I'd definitely choose from those, but I'd still go with a crisp pils style like Browning's Helles Lager or the BBC equivalent.

Kirin is brewed by AB/Inbev, do you enjoy supporting the great satan?

The fine print on the bottle: Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Kirin Ichiban® Beer,
Los Angeles, CA

That sign and the music blaring in the front of the restaurant actually scared me from going to Wasabiya. Fortunately, my s.o. persuaded me to go there and the product is 100x better than the exterior. I even mentioned these "turn-offs" to management and a light joke was made. Eventhough, the annoying sign and music are still there, the sushi and sauces Henry prepares are better than the local competition.

Diet Coke and cheap hot saki with my sushi. It's a personal problem I suppose.

[Robin Garr]

the sushi and sauces Henry prepares are better than the local competition.

I don't know Henry, but when we went in anonymously we were served a couple of sushi dishes that sounded great but lost their luster for less-than-fresh fish. I'll eventually give them a second chance, but this is a major, major issue for me with a sushi bar, where serious dedication to freshness marks the difference between applause and a big FAIL.

this is a major, major issue for me with a sushi bar, where serious dedication to freshness marks the difference between applause and a big FAIL.

Especially when there are a plethora of sushi bars in town that serve top-quality fish.

Hops and Belgians.

The problem with "when in Rome" is that beer as we know it isn't a Japanese creation; beer was brought to Japan, which (until very recently) emulated the light-side German lager mode.

What this says to me is "anything goes." Jim Huie had it right at Maido: Hop bombs with lots of pine and grapefruit, and ales like La Chouffe.

By the way, the photo absolutely does not encourage me to set foot inside. Any place capable of getting the beer so wrong -- can it be trusted to cook?