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New Feature....."Shauns' thoughts on Thanksgiving with beer......
by Shaun
Let’s Talk Brews with Shaun
Thanksgiving is upon us and no one wants to be “that guy” who brought the jug of Chablis to their hosts’ house. Be bold, make a statement and bring something that’s been constructed by hops, barely, yeast and time… but of course, I mean Beer. I feel that there’s a lot of room to be creative with your beer selections for your Thanksgiving Feast.
Beer pairs with most food, some better than others. Start out a little lighter during the pre-meal phase of the day. No one wants to be too blitzed by the time the meal comes around. No one wants to be the butt of the joke during your next holiday gathering. Example: Remember when Uncle Jack passed out in those scalding scalloped potatoes? Let’s have none of that. So I suggest going lighter during the pre-meal or perchance with appetizers.
a. Victory Prima Pils: A really nicely lager with a lot of malty flavors imbued tastefully with hops. ABV 5.3%
b. Troegs Pale Ale: Always one of my ol’ reliables. This has a nice crisp hop and has a good linger. Never over hoppy or over malty, just a good no BS pale ale. ABV 5.4
When you’re ready to move on to the main event of the day, your beers can get bigger. By bigger I mean move up the ABV ladder a little bit. With these Thanksgiving meals, Belgian/Belgian Styles are a nice idea where the idea is the higher alcohol percentage would cut through the fats in the proteins.
a. Chimay Cinq Cents (Trappist Ale): Chimay has always been one of the Belgian staples. This has a nice slight hop, a good yeastiness with some undertones of honey and some dark fruits. ABV 8%
b. Ommegang Three Philosophers: 98% Quad Ale 2% Kriek This impressive heavyweight will please the mouth and really add something to the meal. This beer is rather unique and atypical for its style. Starts with a little bit of a sour cherry, which is from the lambic they use to ferment this monster, and then it gives of a little bit of raisons and chocolate towards the mid-palate. This beer is quite complex and one I always have fond memories of. ABV 9.8%
Now one would usually move on to the dessert portion of the day. With the day’s events almost coming to a close, this is when you would break out some the bigger beers.
a. Brooklyn Chocolate Stout: Brewed with cocoa beans, this beer boasts a pleasant structure. This has a finish a little bit more reminiscent of coffee flavors, but none the less this would be a really nice pick with your dessert. ABV 10.6%
b. Troegs Mad Elf: This is one of my personal favorites. This complex ale that boasts cherries and honey in the finish, this beer will keep you wanting more. A very limited batch of this is made and quite highly allocated. ABV 11%
We are finally ready for the last part of the evening. After food is an after thought, you can kick back relax, prepare for a nap, and maybe catch the rest of the game. I call this portion of the night, the nap beer.
a. Dogfish Head World Wide Stout: This beer is more than a monster. This huge beer is one of the most complex beers I’ve ever tasted. This is another on of those highly allocated beers. This beer would be the perfect night cap to a long day of eating, friends, and family. ABV 18% Limit: Two per customer.
I hope this was an informative guide to your Thanksgiving needs; it has been a pleasure speaking to you folks.
-Shaun R. Goellner