Beers to Say Goodbye to the Year

Eating 12 grapes, taking a walk with your suitcase, putting money in your shoe, or lentils in your pocket are some of the most popular rituals to welcome the New Year. Each one symbolizes a wish, such as seeking money, abundance, or travel.This New Year’s Eve, in addition to your favorite rituals, we invite you to incorporate one more in gratitude for your cherished flavors or industries. In my case, I will accompany my 12 grapes with 12 beers, wishing for the prosperity and growth of one of the strongest industries in Mexico.Let’s remember that since 2010, Mexico has been the number one exporter worldwide, surpassing major beer-exporting countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Furthermore, the brewing industry, according to its production, ranks among the 19 most important activities in the manufacturing industries, with a total of 288 classes of activity, according to the INEGI report published by Cerveceros de México.Similarly, in the case of independent craft beer, there has been sustained growth over the past 10 years. This 2021 closes with a 25.8% growth in the production of independent craft beer, with a total of 1,462 independent breweries across the country, according to the industry report presented by Acermex.These numbers are worth celebrating and thanking the entire value chain behind each beer! So, if you are passionate about malt and hops, you have to try these beers for your New Year celebrations. They have all the spirit and flavor of the holiday season, and they will perfectly complement your feast to welcome 2022.The classic of the season Some of us wait for winter to pop open the infallible seasonal beer: Noche Buena, the first Bock-style beer in Mexico, whose origins date back to 1924 by German brewers who produced it for personal consumption. This beer, made by Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma - Heineken, began to be marketed in 1938 and is now a seasonal classic. It is mahogany in color, has dense foam, aromas of toasted malts, and flavors of caramel and coffee. Its great body and structure make it perfect for pairing with breads and desserts.From Guadalajara to the world Jalisco is the capital with the highest production of independent beer in Mexico, and this season always stands out with its limited editions. Without a doubt, the favorite is the one that Cervecería Minerva, a leader in the craft brewing industry, produces annually. It's Minerva Navideña, which this time was made in collaboration with one of the most traditional table chocolates: Chocolate Ibarra.It is a Double Stout beer with toasted malts, notes of cacao, coffee, caramel, and cinnamon. When enjoying it, the flavors of toasted malt grains and caramel predominate, in perfect balance. If you like chocolate and beers with body and personality, this beer is for you. You can find it at Beerhouse, Liverpool, and Chedraui.Another beer with the spirit of the season is Wee Heavy, produced by Corazón de Malta, in Ajijic, Jalisco. It is a complex Strong Scotch Ale beer with notes of nuts and caramel from its malts, a medium body, and mild bitterness. If your New Year’s Eve dinner will feature spicy or seasoned food, don’t hesitate to pair it with this amazing beer.With the flavor of winter If you prefer the wintry flavor of Mexican beaches, we invite you to try Burro Winter. It is the third edition of the winter beer from Baja Brewing Company, a brewery located in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur. It is a Chocolate Imperial Stout beer with a high alcohol content, perfect for the cold season, reminding you of winter by the sea. Black in color and robust in body, its perfect combination of semi-bitter chocolate and alkaline cocoa from toasted malts is delightful on the palate. It has a complex character and great body, with notes of coffee and chocolate. Enjoy it with pork dishes or marinades, or with ribs or turkey. You can find it at Beer House, The Beer Cow, EOW Marketplace, and Cervexxa.Taste of apple Cider lovers and those who enjoy fermented drinks must try the labels from Itañeñe, a brewery in Mexico City, which includes an Apple and Peach Wine fermented with champagne yeast, dominated by notes of peach and apple, as well as their Apple Cider, made with a fine selection of apples from Zacatlán and Chihuahua with Mosaic hops.A beer with a cause To conclude the beer recommendations for bidding farewell to the year, we recommend a collaborative beer with a lot of heart: La Rama Cervecera. Made in Mérida, Yucatán, by brewers Ceiba, Esmeralda Brewing, La’ Hach, Thodes Ale, Casa Pinillos, 420, Hop3 The Beer Experience, Santo Vicio, and Beermex. This beer donates all its sales profits to the children of the Salvation Army, to buy toys and useful items for the AC. It is a Chocolate Christmas Stout style beer, with aroma and flavor of chocolate and malts, perfect for pairing with cod, grilled dishes, and chocolate desserts.Don’t wait any longer and pop open your favorite beer to bid farewell to the year!