Thanksgiving Beer Pairings
Nov 22, 2016
STEPHANIE
Appetizer
Food: Everything salted crackers and aged cheddar cheese
Beer: Reissdorf Kölsch
Reason: Wakes up the palate with salty, crunchy crackers and the herbal hoppiness of the Kolsch balances the sharpness of the cheddar
Main Course
Food: Herb-crusted roasted turkey
Beer: Saison Dupont
Reason: Champagne-like effervescence with earthy, citrus and spice flavors from the Saison complement the herbal and buttery notes of the turkey
Dessert
Food: Bourbon-spiked pumpkin pie
Beer: Allagash Curieux
Reason: Vanilla notes from the bourbon-spiked and bourbon-barrel-aged combined with heat of the ABV
KEVIN
Appetizer
Food: Baked Apricot Brie with assorted crackers
Beer: Allagash White
Reason: Citrus notes of the beer complement the sweetness of the apricots and the crisp finish contrasts and cleanses the pallet from the rich soft cheese.
Main Course
Food: Bourbon and maple brined turkey
Beer: Weihenstephaner Pils or Abita Amber
Reason: Turkey and fixin’s are the star at this meal and beverage should just play a supporting role. I like lighter lagers for the main course.
Dessert
Food: Apple PieA La Mode
Beer: North Coast Old Rasputin
Reason: I like like the roasted, coffee, chocolate and caramel flavors of the beer with the sweetness, cinnamon, and vanilla of the pie.
LIZ
Appetizer
Food: Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
Beer: Strand 24th Street Pale Ale
Reason: Simple and good
Main Course
Food: Glazed Ham
Beer: Tripel Karmeliet
Reason: It’s a stellar complement to the glaze
Dessert
Food: Banana cream pie
Beer: Flying Dog Kujo Coffee Stout
Reason: perfect hint of coffee with dessert
BRIAN
Appetizer
Food: GOOD Cheese and crackers
Beer: Aecht Schlenkerla Märzen Rauchbier (smoked beer)
Reason: Because the big smoky beer goes perfectly with creamy white cheeses
Main Course
Food: Turkey of course
Beer: Bitburger Pils
Reason: Goes perfectly with food, not too heavy
Side Dish
Food: Stuffing
Beer: Weihenstephaner Vitus
Reason: It tastes delicious, goes well with food and ramps up the ABVs
Dessert
Food: traditional Pumpkin Pie with real whipped cream,
Beer: Anderson Valley Pinchy Jeek Bourbon barrel aged pumpkin
Reason: why not?
ZACK
Appetizer
Food: Pumpernickel Bread and Butter
Beer: Kostritzer Schwarzbier
Reason: What better way to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal than to be full of bread? Warm and roasty flavors complement a crisp, similarly flavored lager
Main Course
Food: Turducken and honey cornbread stuffing
Beer: St. Bernardus Tripel
Reason: Alcohol, spicy yeast, and crisp carbonation competes with the three-bird entree and herb-filled , honey-sweet stuffing.
Dessert
Food: German Chocolate Cake
Beer: Weihenstephaner Korbinian
Reason: Complementing toffee and caramel notes, with an alcohol level and crispness for balance. German on German.
SINEAD
Dessert
Food: Soft ripe cheese
Beer: Petrus Aged Pale Ale
Reason: Tartness of the beer cuts through the creaminess of the cheese
MIKE D.
Appetizer
Food: Turkey Spring Rolls
Beer: North Coast Scrimshaw
Reason: crisp, clean palate, and a dry finish.
Main Course
Food: Thai Turkey
Beer: Tiger
Reason: slightly sweet note and an amazingly clean finish
Side Dish
Food: Plymouth Cucumber Salad
Beer: Humboldt Red Nectar
Reason: Light in taste
Dessert
Food: Pilgrim Cantaloupe sorbet
Beer: Mission Hefeweizen
Reason: pairs well with the lite taste of banana cream.
BRENDAN
Appetizer
Food: Corn Chowder
Beer: Reissdorf Kölsch
Reason: Crisp Kolsch cuts rich chowder
Main Course
Beer: Paulaner Marzen
Reason: melanoidins in the beer and crispy turkey skin
Side Dish
Food: Roasted Bacon & Brussel Sprouts
Beer: Strand 24th Street Pale Ale
Reason: Roasty/smokey with crystal malts
Dessert
Food: Pecan PIe with bourbon infused whipped cream
Beer: Anderson Valley Huge Arker
Reason: Complementary bourbon & Roasted malts with crisp gooey pecans!
LARRY
Appetizer
Food: Liver paté on toast
Beer: St. Bernardus Tripel
Reason: Both are rich and the carbonation of the Tripel cuts through the paté nicely
Main Course
Food: Traditional turkey with dressing
Beer: Schneider Original Weisse
Reason: Schneider is a very balanced beer without being too heavy
Dessert
Food: Pumpkin pie with orange peel and Cognac
Beer: New Holland Dragon’s Milk Stout
Reason: Dragon’s Milk will balance out the sweetness of the pie