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Beers to pair with your Thanksgiving feast
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Thanksgiving is a great holiday. There is no Thanksgiving tree, no cards to send out, no one has to go to an office Thanksgiving party, there are not boxes and boxes of decorations in the basement to be hauled out every year; it is just a time for friends and family to get together and have a nice meal. The Food Network and Gourmet magazine can help you plan your menu, or just stick to time honored family favorites. That just leaves one unanswered question (maybe except for who to invite, but I can't help you there). What beverage to serve with the turkey? Oenophiles have argued for years about which wines pair best with a Thanksgiving feast. There are some great American wineries, so it is keeping with the tradition of celebrating Americana on this day, but this year why not raise your glass filled with a new American tradition? Great beer.
Just over one generation ago there were less than fifty brewing companies in the entire United States. Today in Washington alone there are almost one hundred breweries making beers whose diversity is limited only by the brewers imagination. What does this have to do with Thanksgiving? The proliferation of American breweries means that beer has now become much more versatile than wine for food pairings, and every bit as elegant. A nice thing about beer pairing is that it is up to each individual to decide what beers they like with their bird and side dishes. If you want a lighter beer to compliment big bold flavors, go ahead. If you want a beer with more body to stand up to the wide variety of flavors at the table, be my guest. Pick beers that you like and that you think your guests will like. The only beers I would advise against are the way over the top flavors like German Rauchbiers (although with a smoked turkey that could be good), or anything too fruity (unless it is served with the pies), or anything too boozy like a double IPA. If someone tells you picked the wrong beer for your meal, tell them you saved a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon that would pair perfectly with a Swanson's frozen dinner if they would prefer.
One style that is usually difficult to pair with food is an India Pale Ale. Their bitter flavor tends to take over and dominate a meal. On Turkey day however, Ninkasi's Total Domination IPA from Eugene, Oregon fits perfectly. Thanksgiving dinner should include loads of fresh herbs. Stuffed inside the turkey, under the skin, in the mash potatoes and stuffing, sage, rosemary, thyme, parsley all find their way into some component of the meal. Ninkasi's IPA has a strong earth, pine tree and citrus hop bitterness that is just the thing to pair with those big flavors that fresh herbs draw out. The Total Domination also has nice malt balance to make it food friendly, and is not that high in alcohol content (6.7 ABV) to keep everyone on their best behavior, maybe.
For desert, Ninkasi has got that covered as well with their Oatis Oatmeal Stout. Smooth cocoa, dark chocolate, and a little hint of molasses make this a great beer to serve with pie. The addition of oatmeal gives the beer a creamy texture, and tempers the dark roasted malt flavor. This stout will pair with pumpkin, apple, sweet potato, cherry, or almost any other pie that is part of your Thanksgiving tradition. Ninkasi's beer can be found at most quality grocery stores, or specialty beer shops in town.
Not an IPA fan? Don't despair, there will be many more suggestions in the Examiner leading up to Thanksgiving. Enjoy!!
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