Thanksgiving Is My Favorite Holiday

Pair these delicious Thanksgiving staples with the perfect beer.

Illustrations by Em Sauter

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. There's family, football and food but there's also a time when you think about all the things you are thankful for. There's an uplifting spirit that surrounds the holiday where you take stock of the goodness in the world. It may be the most optimistic holiday that exists.

Another great thing about Thanksgiving is that beer and Thanksgiving foods work really well together. Beer's broad spectrum of flavors translate well to the many foods of Thanksgiving. Here are three beer and food pairings that will delight you and your family and friends.

Appetizer

Baked Brie with cranberry sauce and Biere de Garde

Everyone knows the eating starts way before everyone gets to the table. Beer and cheese is a classic pairing and adding cranberry sauce to a delicious baked brie is an easy way to stay on brand. Biere de Garde is a French beer style known for an herbal, earthy, malty flavor and aroma. Some older Biere de Garde's exhibit a mushroom, basement quality that some shirk as not true to style. I like when a Biere de Garde gets this way, especially when it can complement a bloomy rind cheese like brie. The acidity of the cranberry will contrast the earthiness of the beer as well. The rustic nature of this beer will be an excellent pairing and make your appetizer feel très français and surely impress the relatives.

Beer Pairings:

Two Roads Holiday Ale (Stratford, CT)
Two Brothers Brewing Domaine Dupage (Warrenville, IL)

Entrée

Roasted turkey and Belgian Tripel

One of the best food pairings out there. Turkey and tripels are meant to be together. The savory bird, with its salty lean taste is a great contrast to the fruity, spicy tripel. The alcohol warmth will make you think "and I've been drinking white wine all this time?!" (no offense to wine- drink what you want!). Added bonus- what I call the "mouth napkin," high carbonation from the beer will scrub your mouth clean, readying your tastebuds for another perfect bite. Tripels works well with all the trimmings too from mashed potato to sweet potato to stuffing.

Beer Pairings:

Chimay Cinq Cents (White) (Belgium)
Port O’Pints Brewing Co. Three Sisters* (Crescent City, CA)

*Gold medal winner at New York International Beer Competition

Dessert

Pumpkin pie and scotch ale

Drink your caramel instead of drizzling it on your dessert! A warming scotch ale is the perfect after dinner beer and an excellent dessert beer as well. It'll add an extra layer of sweetness to your desserts but not overpower them. Pumpkin pie spices will complement the beer as well. There's something about scotch ales that just warm you up. It's a perfect accompaniment to the unpredictable late November weather.