Thanksgiving Beer Pairings

Thanksgiving and the start of pie-eating-pants season is upon us! All the good eats are ready for noshing, but what beers should we pair with our favorite dishes?

Let’s start with the main dish on the Thanksgiving dinner table. Whether roasted in an oven, fried in a vat of oil, or slowly smoked to perfection, the main meat of the day’s festivities is Turkey! There are several different styles of beer that are complementary t o this versatile poultry.

Brown Ales with their nutty and malty flavors pair well with the roasted skin and dark meat of the bird and they even compliment the stuffing, especially if the stuffing has been cooked inside of the turkey and has soaked up all those rich, delicious juices. Brew to try: Major Trail Brown Ale, by Skaneateles Brewery, Skaneateles, NY, 5% ABV.

If you’re all about the white meat of the turkey and tend to stay away from any fatty skin, you might consider a fruited Lambic. The mildly-fruited tartness and bright acidity of a Lambic combined with its characteristic finely-bubbled carbonation allows for the delicate meat to not be overpowered by the beer. Brew to try: Kriek (cherry) or Pomme (apple), by Brouwerij Lindemans, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Belgium, 3.5% ABV. The great thing about the Lindemans Lambics is that they come in a variety pack of 4 – with Peche (peach) and Framboise (raspberry) rounding out the bunch. Bonus, it’s easy to pick up while completing your holiday grocery shopping at Wegmans!

Mashed potatoes and gravy are loaded with buttery, fatty richness. A classic green bean casserole is creamy and packs a flavorful punch. Both of these side dishes welcome a beer with high carbonation to cut through the decadence in order to cleanse the palate a bit with every sip so that your taste buds are renewed and ready for your next forkful! A Belgian Dubbel, Pilsner, or a Helles Lager will all get the job done. Brew to try: Spaten Münchner Hell (Spaten Premium Lager), by Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu, Munich, Germany, 5.2% ABV. This Helles Lager can be found at most any grocery store.

Butternut squash, carrots, yams, sweet potatoes and other types of root vegetables are typically passed around the table at Thanksgiving too. These veggies may be simply seasoned or fully and fancily dressed. Beneath any toppings and seasonings, one can usually still uncover the earthy flavors of these bountiful vegetables. A Farmhouse Ale or Saison can be the perfect accompaniment to these dishes by enhancing flavors with its own earthy and rustic undertones. Brew to try: Hennepin Farmhouse Saison, by Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY, 7.7% ABV. Bonus: The Hennepin is brewed with coriander, ginger, orange peel, and grains of paradise and also pairs lovely with cranberry sauce!

It just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without dessert and there’s nothing more American than pie! Pecan, pumpkin, and sweet potato pies call for rich, sweet beers such as a Russian Imperial Stout or Baltic Porter to lend notes of chocolate, coffee, and potentially dark fruits such as plums, figs, dates, and black cherries. Either of these styles of beer aged in bourbon barrels also add another layer of complimentary complexity. Brew to try: 2026 Parabola, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Paso Robles, CA, 13.4% ABV. This is an Imperial Stout that is aged for 12-months in bourbon barrels and boasts notes of vanilla-bourbon, tobacco, espresso, and charred oak.

Apple pies are best enjoyed alongside Pumpkin Ales and other Spiced Ales. These ales typically contain cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice within, which contribute to and enhance the spices and fruit of the pie itself. Brew to try: Maple Pumking, Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, NY, 8.6% ABV. Treating yourself to a slice of apple pie with a pouring of the Pumking is like having extra dessert – the maple flavors are prevalent throughout the beer, along with toasted caramel notes, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, which just add to the spiced apple and buttery crust of the pie. YUM.

One more tidbit for your Thanksgiving feast…if it feels like too much to try all these different beers with different dishes, there is a beer that will overarchingly accompany every single food piled onto your plate. The Belgian Quadrupel or Belgian Quad, for short, is an excellent choice with its slightly sweet, malt-forward characteristics that politely conversate with every morsel that hits your tongue. Brew to try: Three Philosophers, Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY, 9.7% ABV. You’ll also find a fair amount of carbonation and a hint of cherry within its malty depths. It’s a great all-around choice.

Are we hungry and salivating yet? I sure am!

Cheers to a full-belly, sweatpants-wearing Thanksgiving and holiday season ahead!

Kristin Merritt

Just your average craft-brew loving gal slinging your monthly pour of beer education and the low-down on all things beer related in the immediate CNY area and beyond. Along the way I hope to give a few recommendations for your grocery list, events to attend, and local hotspots to hit-up for shenanigans with friends, ideas for date night, or at the very least enlighten you with a bit of random knowledge to use towards trivia night or simply give you and your teammates a suggestion on what to drink at the bar! Cheers!