As you plan your Thanksgiving this year, don’t overlook the most important part… no, not turkey… Great craft beer!
Here are Craft Beer Explorer’s suggestions to complete your perfect Thanksgiving meal.
Aperitif – Saison Dupont (Brasserie Dupont, Belgium)
Think champagne! This saison has just a touch of the classic Belgian funk, but is full of bright fruity flavors that open your taste buds. It has a creamy banana mouth feel, with a dry cider like finish. It is a little more on the bitter side, unlike most of the American made Belgian style ales that seem to be mildly sweet. Saison Dupont would be a perfect light start to your long day of eating.
Alternatives:
Brooklyn Sorachi Ace, The Lost Abbey Carnevale, Goose Island Sofie
Turkey Dinner – Oktoberfest (Lakefront Brewery, Wisconsin)
This beer is a great authentic American tribute to the traditional German Oktoberfest Lager. This amber lager has a slightly nutty quality which makes it stand out from others of the style. Most Oktoberfests will compliment turkey or honey glazed ham well, and pair nicely with semi spicy sausage stuffing. The crispness of the lagers is a nice compliment to traditional Thanksgiving fare, but amber ales will work great as well.
Alternatives:
New Belgium Fat Tire, Santa Fe Oktoberfest, Sam Adams Oktoberfest, Thirsty Dog Barktoberfest, Avery The Kaiser
Dessert – Pumking (Southern Tier, New York)
Pumpkin pie in a bottle. Southern Tier has perfected the art pumpkin beer with Pumking, and this year it seems more readily available than ever before. Pair this beer with your Pumpkin, Apple, Sweet Potato or Pecan pies for a perfect balance of sweetness and spice. If you have not tasted “the king”, you have not truly experienced pumpkin beer.
Alternatives:
Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, Clown Shoes Genghis Pecan, Left Hand Milk Stout, Carton Pumpkin Cream Ale
Digestif – Imperial Russian Stout (Stone Brewing, California)
What better way to finish your day than a big and boozy slow sipper? Stone Imperial Russian Stout evokes flavors such as dark roasted coffee and dark chocolate. The high ABV will help move that turkey right on down and leave you feeling relaxed and warm, just as you would while sipping a fine scotch to finish your holiday. Don’t forget to use a snifter to properly release all of the complexities of these beers.
Alternatives: Sierra Nevada Narwhal, Dogfish Head Worldwide Stout, Marin Brewing Old Dipsea Barleywine
All of us at Craft Beer Explorer wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving. Cheers!
Craft Beer Explorer 