November is here, which means holiday décor, images of autumn leaves, cornucopias, seasonal napkins, plates and centerpieces brightening up homes and dining tables. Extra chairs are hauled up from the basement to accommodate the extended family. A sense of celebration and joy hangs in the air as friends and relatives who might not see each other often reunite for the day. Gathering around the TV to watch football and parades, you hear those magic words from the kitchen, dinner time! Of course, I’m talking about Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is the act of expressing or feeling thankful. It is all about giving thanks for what you’re grateful for. And this year, I’m thankful for this selection of beers to bring some fall spirit to your dinner table this holiday season.
Thanksgiving is commonly known to be a holiday for its hearty and homestyle food. While wine or mimosas traditionally pair well with most Thanksgiving dishes, some beers enhance the turkey day feast. Mayflower Brewing Company is taking on this delicious holiday with something specifically crafted to bring the perfect pairing with your turkey and stuffing. Brewed in Plymouth, Massachusetts, this is the first and only offering in their limited batch of seasonal treats. Mayflower Brewing Company’s Thanksgiving Ale is an inspired blend of two brewing styles: American Strong Ale and English Old Ale. Aged in white oak, this full-bodied brew warms the heart with hints of toffee, vanilla bean and toasted spices, the perfect beverage for our favorite meal. There is a slightly earthy, nutty bitterness on the back end, making this ideal for cleansing the palate between every bite off your plate. The attention to detail is what makes this such a special drink. Perfect for the cooler weather and even better at the dinner table, this Thanksgiving Ale is sure to impress you.
What’s Thanksgiving without a little bit of dessert? And only one can reign supreme on Thanksgiving Day, and that’s pie. You got apple, pumpkin, sweet potato and last, but most certainly not least, pecan pie! And the team from Backwoods Brewing Company has concocted the perfect Pecan Pie Porter. This beer is the ideal way to treat yourself after supper. Upon opening, your nose is hit with the brown sugar sweetness you should expect from such an inspiration. There’s a gooey sweetness and some nuttiness. It captures the pecan pie character perfectly! This beer’s name is dead-on as far as the taste is concerned. The five-grain base provides a malt body rich with toffee, caramel and toasty flavors with hints of cocoa. This pastry porter tastes like someone liquified a chocolate pecan pie. As the malt fades, a wonderful, roasted pecan flavor is left in the mouth with a bit of tamed vanilla. From the crust to the filling and even the whipped cream on top, this porter plays the part and does it better than the original.
Maybe Thanksgiving isn’t your favorite meal of the year like everyone else, but you still want to participate in the fall traditions. Nothing tastes more like the fallen leaves than a caramel apple… part of Blake’s Hard Cider Kinder Series. If you prefer a sweet cider, this will be your jam. It’s almost like apple juice with a caramel aftertaste. It’s straightforward, dripping with a maple-like sweetness and complemented by notes of tart Granny Smith apples. This decadent treat is a fall staple, guaranteed to give you that nostalgic taste you know and love. It gets even sweeter, though! This cider was created in partnership with Keep Growing Detroit with a mission to raise funds and awareness for Urban Gardens. KGD is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting a sovereign food city where the majority of fruits and vegetables consumed by Detroiters are grown by residents in the town. All you have to do is try one of Blake’s Kinder Series ciders. Blake’s Carmel Apple Cider is the gift that keeps on giving this fall.
Love it or not, Thanksgiving is one of the nation’s most widely-celebrated secular holidays. Whether or not you celebrate this year, I encourage you to at least indulge in the Thanksgiving spirit by giving one of these beers a try. I mean, hey, everyone deserves a little something to be grateful for this year!
-by Dani Jo Black
