Thanksgiving is here, and homes and dining tables are decorated with holiday décor, autumn leaves, cornucopias, festive napkins, plates, and centerpieces. Extended family members are accommodated by hauling chairs from the basement. In a festive atmosphere, friends and relatives who do not often see each other reunite for the day. You hear those magic words from the kitchen as you’re gathered around the TV to watch football and parades… “It’s dinner time!” Thanksgiving is the act of expressing or feeling thankful. It is all about giving thanks. And this year, I’m thankful for this lineup 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 home-style food. While wine or mimosas traditionally pair well with most Thanksgiving dishes, let us remember our post-feast couch beer. Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale is an award-winning sipping beer with a distinctive bourbon nose. The unique flavors of vanilla and oak are imparted to this special ale as it rests in freshly decanted Kentucky bourbon barrels for up to six weeks. It makes an excellent aperitif and after-dinner drink. Alltech Lexington Brewing & Distilling Company launched the beer in 2006, and it has become its flagship beer. Taste follows with light butterscotch, toffee, roasted barley, and mild bitterness. The mouthfeel is silky, but the carbonation is crisp, lighting up the overall experience.
I’m looking for something to add a bit of pop to any occasion this fall. How about a stand-out sour from our friends at Rhinegeist Brewery? Electric Glow features a refreshingly tart, cocktail-inspired blend of cherry and citrus flavors electrified with subtle spice. Sometimes, all the night needs is a little jolt. First impressions are a nice cherry-strawberry juice color body, a pinkish-tinted white head that fizzles, and well carbonated. A pleasant aroma, sweet notes of white sugar, citrus, lemon-lime soda (Sprite), and maybe a hint of maraschino cherry/kiddie cocktail. Just a slight touch of “sour” or “funk.” It’s a very light aroma, but pleasant. Flavors of cherry and an indistinct, almost cola spice make an appearance. This sour is super smooth, crisp, clean, light-bodied and refreshing. Overall, it is very approachable and easy-to-drink stuff from Rhinegeist once again. It’s an excellent beer for anyone. You could trick any beer hater into thinking they’ve just had the best seltzer of their life with this one.
In the spirit of fall, it was only appropriate to shout out a beer designed for football season in Kentucky. Cardinale is a crisp, light-bodied Blonde Ale. The can art for Cardinale features the iconic “Heisman Bird” logo to celebrate football season. “We are thrilled to share this partnership with Gravely Brewing and introduce Cardinale as our Official Craft Beer of the Louisville Cardinals,” UofL Director of Athletics Josh Heird said. “Gravely knows Louisville, and they know Card Nation.” Gravely opened in 2017 and just celebrated its sixth anniversary. It’s the most decorated brewery in Kentucky, including multiple medals at the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup.
Whether or not you celebrate this year, I encourage you to at least indulge in the fall spirit by trying one of these. Everyone deserves a little something to be grateful for this year. All these drinks will be available at Mellow Mushroom this November and there is no better place to feast with the family and enjoy a cold one. From our hand-tossed pizzas to our ever-growing bar menu, there’s plenty of Mellow for everyone to be thankful for. Wishing you a harvest of blessings, good health, and good times.
-by Maeve Black
