While some are popping champagne and others are drinking oddly colored mixed drinks, have a casual, yet totally fun New Years Eve, and don’t worry about being the first to pass out while drinking MateVeza Beer. MateVeza (yerba mate + cerveza) is a true unique beer, as it is organic and the first naturally caffeinated to be made with yerba mate, the South American herbal tea. Yerba mate gives a fabulous herbal tasting finish to the beer, and gives you just the boost you need to make it through your night. Yerba mate is to South America what a “cup of Joe” is to America. Yerba mate provides the same amount of caffeine as is in one half cup of coffee, per twelve ounce serving, but isn’t as harsh as the caffeine found in most coffee, and is longer lasting.

MateVeza has two fabulous beer offerings, Yerba Mate Gold and Yerba Mate IPA, both of which are brewed with organic yerba mate, Cascade and Centennial hops, alongside other fabulous ingredients. Yerba Mate IPA was just recently released and is an organic India Pale Ale that mixes earthy, herbal tones with bright hop flavor and aroma.

MateVeza was founded in 2006 by home brewer, Jim Woods after he had a cup of brewed yerba mate followed by a hoppy pale ale, and realized he had a fabulous idea on his hands. Woods learned about yerba mate from his cousin, but then experienced the yerba mate culture in South America when he traveled to Argentina to learn more about the herb. Woods’ beer is brewed and bottled in Ukiah, California by the Mendocino Brewing Company, and it USDA certified, you can rest assured with every sip that you are supporting both organic farming and local business. Woods’ was working in San Francisco as a real-estate broker for Deutsche Bank, and found himself promoting his beer on nights, weekends and vacation days. With the recession on the horizon and numerous changes taking place at Deutsche Bank, Woods’ politely asked his boss to lay him off, so that he could use his severance, unemployment and time to put toward making MateVeza a success. Days later, he was laid off, being one of the few people to thank his employer, and he took the opportunity to build MateVeza, and bring naturally caffeinated beer to the masses, both casual beer drinkers and beer connoisseurs alike.

MateVeza is available in single 22-ounce bottles and 12-ounce four packs nationwide at Whole Foods and BevMo, as well as throughout California, Oregon and Washington and select local retailers, co-ops and natural food stores. Visit MateVeza.com for more information.