Link to article
  1. Beer & Food

8 Lucky New Year’s Day Pairings

By:

When ringing in the New Year, we are celebrating the last 365 days, but even more so, looking forward to the year ahead. In hopes of making the upcoming year even better, eating certain foods for good luck on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day have become longstanding traditions in many parts of the world. We’re making your New Year’s a little more delicious by offering suggestions for craft beers to enjoy with some of the classic New Year’s foods.

Pork | Brown Ale

Pigs are eaten throughout Europe as a food that symbolizes progress since the animal rarely moves backwards. Pork as a meat with rich fat content, which some believe symbolizes wealth and prosperity.

Whether it’s chops or bacon, pork works well with sweet sauces and glazes, so the sweetness of a brown ale is a good match. On the other hand, many pork dishes, like smoked pulled pork, have bold flavors, so the brown ale’s malty, fully body is a good, hearty choice.

Grapes | Amber Ale

This tradition isn’t just grapes, it’s 12 grapes to be exact—one for every strike of the clock at midnight and every month of the year. The Spanish custom also says if your eighth grape is extra sweet, you’ll have a good August in the new year.

Amber ales are similar to grapes, which can sometimes be a little bitter and sometimes be a little sweet. The balanced flavors from an amber ale, including a slight floral essence, bring out both sides of the grape.

Noodles | IPA

Throughout Asia, eating long noodles, like soba noodles, symbolizes an extended, happy life. The catch is to not break the noodles while you eat them, keeping them as long as possible.

Since many of the region’s noodle dishes are served with chili paste, garlic, ginger and other spicy notes, an IPA has the punch that can stand up to the heat. While the bittnerness of hops can often intensify hotness, the citrus flavors have the ability to be refreshing as well.

Fish | Wheat

In Europe, eating silver-scaled fish is thought to bring wealth in the future year, as the scales resemble coins. Throughout Japan, fish are signs of fertility, a good harvest and prosperity.

To ensure the mild flavors are not overshadowed, fish requires a lighter beer.  Since many seafood dishes are often prepared with lemon or other citrusy flavors, a crispy wheat beer is a good compliment.

Cake | Coffee Stout

Round or ring shaped cakes are New Year’s Eve staples all over the world, as the shape represents completion of the entire year. In some countries, a coin is baked into the cake and whoever finds it is said to expect good fortune all year.

Dessert and coffee is a classic combo, and the robust coffee and toffee notes in these stouts break through even the sweetest of cakes.

Pomegranate | Pale Ale

The vibrant red color of this fruit represents the human heart throughout the Mediterranean and Africa, where the fruit grows. Eating pomegranate is thought to bring a healthy year, especially fertility.

This antioxidant rich fruit can be quite bitter. A pale ale freshens your palate while still allowing the tart and sweet taste of the pomegranate to shine through.

Orange | Chocolate Stout

In Chinese, the words for orange and tangerine sound very similar to “wealth” and “luck.” The round shape of these fruits also symbolizes completion of the entire year.

A contrasting flavor combination that works well is chocolate and orange. A chocolate stout works with the citrusy orange to make a unique flavor profile.

Beans | Barleywine

Peas, lentils, black eyed peas and other beans are thought to resemble small coins which in many cultures are thought to represent money in the new year. Beans also plump as they cook, symbolizing growing wealth.

Beans often have a very hearty texture. The strong alcohol content of a barley wine has the ability to cut through the denseness and refresh your palate.

Kristen KutcharKristen Kuchar is a writer and editor that is fortunate enough to cover her greatest interests: travel, food, and craft beer. The Chicago native recently returned from a twenty-one state culinary and beer road trip where her passion in both increased even more. She is also a member of the Pink Boots SocietyOpens in new window.

Kristen Kuchar has been writing about the beverage industry for 15 years for a variety of national publications including VinePair, Zymurgy, The Beer Connoisseur, Craftbeer.com, Beer Advocate, Brew Your Own, Thirst Colorado, All About Beer, DRAFT, and dozens more. She is a Certified Beer Server and has a Level 1 Wine Certification with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust while continuing to pursue further wine and beverage education.

CraftBeer.com is fully dedicated to small and independent U.S. breweries. We are published by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent craft brewers. Stories and opinions shared on CraftBeer.com do not imply endorsement by or positions taken by the Brewers Association or its members.