Thanksgiving is undoubtedly the centerpiece holiday for all food lovers. This is a day filled with abundance of food that leaves many of us sidelined on the couch slipping happily into a food coma by mid-afternoon. However, drinks are just as vital to enjoying your meal to the highest degree. This year why not have some great craft beers on hand for friends and loved ones to enjoy.
Wine has long been viewed as the go to alcoholic beverage for holiday celebrations, however craft beer has far more to offer the culinary world. Whether it be appetizers, main courses, the second main course or dessert, there are some great craft beers to have handy for Thanksgiving. Here is a short list of some great choices to have in your fridge this holiday.
Brewery Ommegang- Abbey Ale: The dark fruit and subtle spicing of Belgian yeast makes Abbey Ale a great beer for Thanksgiving. This has enough heft to find a home with any pairing on the table but goes especially well with turkey and cranberries. The sweet malts make a great match with many desserts. This is a beer for everyone and everything.
Kane Brewing Company- Fall Saints: While many breweries brew pumpkin beers, Kane decided to do something different and instead made a decadent fall inspired beer using butternut squash. The result is a beer that has perfect balance with the right touch of spices and a very smooth mouthfeel. Fall Saints is another beer that goes with any course but is most definitely at home with sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie.
Brasserie Dupont- Saison Du Pont: This world class saison brings with it the beautiful aromatics of the saison yeast strain with touch of lemon, spice, and a subtle amount of tartness. The dry finish makes this a truly refreshing beer that can cleanse the palate perfectly. This is most definitely the beer of choice with the main course of turkey. The natural juice in the dish will melt into the malt bill and the citrus flavors of the beer will elevate the turkey to new levels.
Firestone Walker- Pive Pils: The pilsner style has long been corrupted by macro beers and has ruined the style to many drinkers who aren’t familiar with more flavorful variations. Pivo Pils carries with it a great hop bite that has spice and light citrus notes settled perfectly in a light biscuity malt. This is a perfect beer for some of the fixings such as mashed potatoes and stuffing.
Sam Adams- Winter Lager: Let’s be honest, we aren’t only going to be doing our drinking around the table, so a great all-day drinking beer is a necessity. Sam Adams has an endless array of phenomenal seasonal beers but Winter Lager may be one of their best. This spiced wheat bock, brewed with fresh ground cinnamon, ginger and orange peel has a wonderful array of flavors that don’t fatigue the palate and subconsciously get us prepared for Christmas. If you want to give your family and loved ones a real treat, grab a bottle of Sam Adams Utopias. This 28 percent ABV beer drinks more like a fine cognac and is the perfect way to end any holiday celebration.
Thanksgiving is just one day to give thanks, but the leftovers will last us for weeks, so be sure to stock up on your beers to keep the pairings going as long as possible. Remember to give thanks for living in a country that offers these wonderful pleasures freely.
