American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
Thanksgiving is the best! The kind “best” that goes better with craft beer.
The first of winter’s holidays, it’s all about family, food, friends, and for many of us, beer. And few meals allow for such a wide variety of food and beer pairings as the Thanksgiving dinner – which makes your beer choices throughout the day both easy and difficult.
And to make things easier, this year’s guide features prominent beers that are more widely available than in the past.
The ‘First Beer’ Beer
The first beer is your opening experience, and like any introduction, it’s important. It’s that starter beer you’re nursing while hanging out with friends in the kitchen or checking in on the football game.
The first beer sets the stage for an afternoon of snacking and drinking – and a winter traditional like Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Fresh Hop IPA is always a bright and uber-seasonal beginning.
Thanksgiving Seconds
Thanksgiving can sometimes mean hours where friends are together, before eventually migrating to the table. And a well-chosen ‘Second Beer” is not only appropriate – it’s essential.
Just as with the “first beer” the ‘Thanksgiving seconds’ doesn’t need to make a statement. But it does need to be refreshing and ideally not all that high-octane as its best to pace to pace yourself at these kinds of gatherings. Firestone Walker’s 5.3% ABV Pivo Pils is a great beer for this mid-afternoon slot.
The Opening Table Beer
This one’s fun – you’re coming off two beer buzz and have just made your way to the table. For some this is wine time – but there are craft beers that compliment this phase of things so much better.
Allagash White is a terrific table beginning, an American take on the traditional Belgian wheat ale with a hazy, “white” appearance that’s spiced with a special blend of coriander and Curacao orange peel
And because it’s so crisp, spicy and fruity – it will serve you well while you’re serving up your plate.
The Main Course Ale
This is your turkey beer, the beer that you’re sipping as you delve into all the table has to offer – and we suggest porters here.
And when you’re going with Porters, there’s plenty of wonderful choices – but Hill Farmstead Everett is a pretty amazing way to go (if you can find it). But if you’re looking for something a little less high-octane, you’ll be happy with Founders Porter as well – at only 6.5% ABV it’s way more approachable, yet incredibly rich and nuanced.
The Dessert Beer
American craft beer owns dessert beers…And there are so many ways to go here. But this is where you want to go with BIG, high octane beers.
And Sierra Nevada Brewing crafts a perfect Thanksgiving nightcap that’s a barrel-aged version of their terrific Imperial Stout.
Having hibernated for nearly a year is select bourbon casks, Sierra Nevada Barrel-aged Narwhal is an 11.9% beast of a beer that will pair brilliantly with pumpkin by or the last of the fireplace embers.
Named after the legendary horned whale Narwhal is bursting with rich oak, vanilla, and coconut notes layered onto the Stout’s dark chocolate and espresso tones.
###
