Kirin, (not only a beer, but) a Japanese mythological creature

One of the most interesting mythological creatures of the Japanese folklore is frequently met not in temples or shrines... but in restaurants. I'm talking about kirin, a mythical chimera well known throughout the world as the symbol of the beer bearing the same name...

Kirin looks like a unicorn deer with the body covered in scales and with the tail of an ox. A symbol of good luck, kirin is a good omen, considered to bring prosperity, success, and becasue it is considered to live a thousand years, it is also a symbol of longevity...

Scroll down for a close-up view...