Kirin Beer and Sushi

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Millennial Central for Kirin. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

It's been a while since I made homemade sushi, so I jumped at the chance to write a post about an Asian recipe paired with Kirin Ichiban beer. I had never tried Kirin beer before and I enjoyed the light variety with vegetarian sushi. I could also see it pairing well with a stir fry or tofu with noodles and vegetables. 

Kirin is one of Japan's oldest breweries and it was started in 1888. The Kirin Beast (one-half dragon, the other deer) on the label is thought to be a good omen of serenity and prosperity. In Japan, it is customary to never fill your own glass and never let another's glass get completely empty! When everyone is ready to drink, they salute with "kanpai.

Kirin Ichiban is a 100-percent malt, first-press beer with rich flavor, a smooth finish and clean aftertaste. It pairs well with traditional Japanese and modern Asian cuisine. It's unique because it only uses the first strain of malt liquid.

Kirin Light offers full flavor and authentic Japanese-style beer and a bottle is only 95 calories. Since it pairs well with healthier Asian dishes, I chose to try the Kirin Light with the sushi.

I was provided the sushi rice and nori seaweed, so I just added avocado, cucumber and carrots and rolled them up!

Kirin has partnered with celebrity chef, Candice Kumai, to bring Japanese-style beer to the growing Asian cuisine movement. The clean and pure taste of Kirin is a wonderful complement to refined traditional Japanese cuisine and the bolder flavors of modern Asian food. If you're interested in checking out special recipes throughout the year, Kumai will share recipes and pairing tips on Kirin's Facebook page. 

If you've never tried Kirin beer before, I would highly recommend it! 

Thank you to Millenial Central and Kirin for this opportunity!