Thanksgiving Beer-Pairing Guide

by Joshua M. Bernstein, Posted Nov 18th 2009 @ 4:00PM

Photo: Joshua M. Bernstein

Joshua M. Bernstein has written about brews, bars and booze for New York Magazine, Time Out New York, ForbesTraveler.com and The New York Times.

While the holiday season is all about tradition, here's one to break: serving wine with dinner. Craft beer's varied styles and flavors mean you can match any festive meal to the perfect brew. Here's our hop-filled primer on Thanksgiving entertaining.

As guests snack on crunchy crudités and crackers and cheese, crack a pleasantly hopped pale ale such as the release from San Diego's Stone. The brewery's version contains a malty, reserved bitterness that complements the hors d'oeuvres without overwhelming them. If Stone's unavailable, Stoudt's American Pale Ale is a great biscuity, citrusy selection. (The appetizer can apply to every holiday.)

To balance rich poultry and gravy, buttery potatoes and green bean casserole, you have two options: Firstly, go big with a Belgian-style brew like the Ommegang Abbey Ale. The ruby-hued brew's high alcohol content (8.5 percent ABV) slices through starches and fats, imparting flavors of dried fruit and licorice, along with a sweet lick. Alternately, cleanse the taste buds with a crisp pilsner like the bright, fresh Victory Prima Pils.

Lastly, when it comes to dessert, beer takes the cake. The classic pumpkin pie readily pairs with a pumpkin beer like Dogfish Head's Punkin Ale, a brown ale brewed with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and brown sugar. Or go the opposite direction with a rich, over-the-top stout such as Deschutes' Abyss. The motor-oil potion oozes with flavors of dark and chocolate and bourbon, a fitting end to any meal.

Find more Thanksgiving menu ideas and tips at KitchenDaily.com.

Filed Under: Holidays
Tags: beer pairing, thanksgiving, thanksgiving beer, thanksgiving dinner, thanksgiving menu

Chew on This

Royal Wedding Cake Details Revealed! - YumSugar

Make Your Own Pop Tarts - CHOW
Denny's Introduces a Maple Bacon Sundae - Eater
Whole Foods Opening Bars in Stores - USA Today
Rules Of Bar Etiquette -- For The Bartender - HuffPost Food

Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-20-2009 @12:04PM kevineatswell said... Thanks so much for this piece, I definitely plan on trying it out this Thanksgiving. I am a bit incredulous about pairing Punkin Ale with pumpkin pie, but I'm game to give it a shot and report back.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

12-01-2009 @11:05AM Kris said... I have been reading a lot about beer pairings recently. One question: What kind of cheese do you suggest with prima pils. I just posted another beer pairing question here too:
http://ask.recipelabs.com/questions/3157/what-kind-of-beer-should-i-pair-with-spinach-and-artichoke-dip
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

12-01-2009 @11:05AM Joshua M. Bernstein said...
The Prima Pils will ably cut through the rich, unctuous flavors of the spinach dip. As far as the Prima Pils' best pairing, maybe try a nice, peppery cheese with a bit of a bite.
Reply