Happy New Year!–Chinese New Year that is. The year of the Red Fire Monkey started February 4 and the Chinese New Year will be celebrated Monday, Feb. 8. If you’re a hardcore craft beer enthusiast, like me, you owe it to yourself to celebrate the day with a craft beer or two, particularly with a traditional Chinese New Year meal.
Despite a perception that craft beer’s appeal is uniquely Western, a recent New York Times article suggests that craft beer is in high demand in China, the second largest economy in the world. The idea of drinking locally produced craft beer in China or seeking out world-class beers from American small and independent craft brewers is becoming extremely popular.
With more and more people in the Far East developing a taste for full-flavored craft beer, and a growing middle class with the purchasing power to trade up to craft beer, I think it’s safe to guess that a few American craft beers will get cracked in China as locals welcome in the year of the Red Fire Monkey.
American Craft Beer in China
In the most recent surveys from the Brewers Association (publishers of CraftBeer.com) Export Development Program, the Asian Pacific region of the world showed 38 percent growth for U.S. craft beer exports, second only to Brazil at a whopping 64 percent. While this growth is exciting, it’s on a very small scale. Mark Snyder, Export Development Program Manager, points out that “While interest for craft beer from American small and independent craft brewers is growing, getting beer to China remains a costly barrier.”
Cost and logistics are huge barriers for American brewers who want to export their beer, not to mention making sure that their beer arrives in China in good quality, which places emphasis on finding a way to get craft beer on the other side of the world fast, cold and not exorbitantly costly.
While craft beer fans in China may have a difficult time getting their hands on Heady or Pliny, we’re lucky to be able to celebrate the Chinese New Year with a beer likely brewed within a few miles of home.
Some American breweries are recognizing the opportunity that craft beer represents in our own Asian communities, like Danny Wang who opened CAUTION: Brewing Co. in 2011. Wang saw the potential of Colorado craft beer being introduced to the Chinese food community. He brews his flagship, Lao Wang Lager, with inspiration from his family’s noodle house.
Danny was gracious enough to fill me in on some of the customary dishes that any self-respecting Chinese New Year reveler will need to have on the menu on February 8.
Wang’s Beer & Food Pairings to Celebrate Chinese New Year
Soba Noodles
“Noodles are a staple on the Chinese New Year, says Wang. “Long noodles symbolize a long life, so if you’re buying them dry, don’t break them to fit into a tiny pot—you’re gonna need a bigger pot.”
Lao Wang Lager is brewed with a blend of Asian spices that are used at Danny’s family restaurant Lao Wang Noodle House in Denver. This lager is golden straw in color, and its light malt flavor and gentle hop additions perfectly balance subtle Asian spices.
As a noodle dish gets richer, Brewers Association Executive Chef Adam Duyle suggests going darker: “A dry stout can work with certain noodle dishes that have a mushroom base or are thick udon-style with heavy broth.”
Other Pairings:
- Beer of the Monkey | BTU Brasserie | Portland, OR
- Rocket 100 American Pilsner | The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. | Austin, TX
- Stearns Stout | Figueroa Mountain Brewing | Santa Barbara, CA
Dumplings
Traditionally, the elder meal preparer of the family will put a coin into one of the dumplings.”Whoever chomps on it (and hopefully doesn’t swallow or chip a tooth) will get additional money in a red envelope and have prosperity for the coming year,” says Wang.
Pair these “lucky” dumplings with a blond ale, like CAUTION’s Wild Blonde Ale, brewed with organic Minnesota lake grown wild rice.
Other Pairings:
- Year of the Monkey Ale Porter | Lucky Envelope Brewing Co. | Seattle, WA
- Yellow Card Citra Blonde | Comrade Brewing Co. | Aurora, CO
- Mr. Kite’s Pale Ale | Social Kitchen & Brewery | San Francisco, CA
Fish
Fish on CNY is “cooked whole, with ginger and green onions in a broth,” says Wang. “The pronunciation for fish is yú, which literally translates to remainder or surplus. In this case, the surplus means a leftover amount of money.”
According to tour operator China Highlights, how the fish is served and eaten is extremely important. “The fish shouldn’t be moved. The two people who face the head and tail of fish should drink together.”
Card Your Mom Saison, a saison spiced with cardamom, will offer some nice interplay with the spices on this lucky fish.
Other Pairings:
- Grisette Belgian-style Farmhouse Ale | Sly Fox Brewing Co. | Pottstown, PA
- Mogabi Wheat Ale | Elevator Brewing Co. | Columbus, OH
- 3C India Pale Ale | Triple C Brewing | Charlotte, NC
During the week of the Chinese New Year, CAUTION will be releasing a red ale with chilies called Snake Hug. If you’re looking for luck this coming year, give CAUTION’s Hippity Hops Chrysanthemum IPA a try. Chrysanthemums are considered to be lucky in Chinese culture, and this IPA features whole flower chrysanthemums and Chinese rock brown sugar.
Those born in the year of the monkey are said to be clever. You’d be smart to take advantage of the Chinese New Year as a great opportunity to enjoy some great craft beers.
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