Turkey Day Beer Pairings!

With the holidays rapidly approaching, enormous amounts of food and merrily drinking fill my thoughts.  As everyone gathers with friends and family, the duties of the feast is divided among guests.  If you are one who gladly opts out of cooking responsibilities the generic question arises of "what should I bring?"

You could take the easy road and show up with the same bottle of cheap wine as you have done in years past... not a terrible idea, just boring! But why not kick it up a notch and shock everyone with a creative spin on the 'so called' traditional Thanksgiving pairing?  Show up with quality brews to pair with the days festivities.  With these pairing suggestions you are sure to not disappoint!

Hell, throw this little history fact at the group and you are sure to impress even the most critical relatives...

"It been documented in voyage journals that the Mayflower abandoned its voyage and landed in Plymouth due to running out of beer. That one of the first establishments constructed within the Pilgrim colony was a brewery, and that most of its passengers were also separatist farmers, poorly educated and without social or political standing. Given these facts, do you honestly think that they drank wine at the very first Thanksgiving in 1621? Hell no! They drank beer!"  

-This fun fact was sited in beeravocates article on 'Celebrating with Beer this Holiday Season': 

Pre- Dinner Beer:
 Look for a light- bodied beer like a Pilsner or Lager.  This will help arouse their appetite.   Suggestions:
        
        Kona Longboard Lager                       Sam Adams Boston Lager
                        



Hors d'oeuvre Beers:

Moderate level of hops will pair nicely with different types of cheese, salads, fruits, etc.  The hoppy characters in Pale Ales is a great option.  Suggestions:

          
      Anchor Liberty Ale                                           New Belgium Ranger IPA

         

Dinner Beers:
While eating turkey, stuffing, gravy, etc. why not kick it up a notch with a Belgian-style ale.  The higher alcohol in these beers help cut through fats and starches and adds sweetness.  You could also reintroduce the Lagers or Pilsners.  Suggestions:


                 Leffe                                                  Mothership Wit
        


Dessert Beers:
Be careful not to pair a beer that is too sweet with dessert.  Rich stouts tend to work well.  Suggestions:


     Pipeline Porter                                             1554
                    




After Dinner Beers:
Time to settle down and let your meal digest.  You are probably stuffed so something smooth and numbing is probably the best option.  Try a barleywine style ale or a big, complex, malty, alcoholic beer.  Suggestions:


                La Folie                                                 Old Foghorn