We all know the story of the Pilgrims; a group of about 100 folks who decided to depart from England to search out and colonize a new world about 2,750 miles away from home. Their ship, the Mayflower, landed at Plymouth Rock instead of the original destination of Northern Virginia due to inclement weather, poor navigation and a need for supplies. The real scoop? Supposedly, according to many historians and accounts of the momentous occasion, the real necessity that was lacking was… beer.

“We could not now take time for further search or consideration, our victuals being much spent, especially our beer” – one diary recalls. Now, numerous stories from various sources are available, both supporting and debunking the long lived myth, including articles from well-known beer writers Cecil Adams, Stephen Beaumont, and Bob Skilnik to name a few. Now, whether or not the claim is true, it’s fun to imagine that without the shortage of “victuals” the Mayflower perhaps would not have landed in Plymouth Rock and the sequence of events that transpired thereafter would not be history as we now know it. Leading to the question… without beer, would we be celebrating Thanksgiving?

What better way to pay tribute to the poor planning (or perhaps over-indulgence) of the Pilgrims this Thanksgiving than by celebrating the holiday with a few choice beer selections. The traditional Thanksgiving meal is ripe with perfect pairing opportunities… and besides, how many times do you want to serve Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, or Beaujolais (which, I suspect is so popular for the holiday due to the prior week’s release and retail shops high supplies)? This year, it might be time to think outside the box, or like a true Pilgrim, and offer up some excellent beer pairings that are sure to please everyone.

Apéritif: Chances are, if you’re family is anything like mine, your guests will be looking for something to whet their palates as soon as their coats are off. Start them off right with a nice, light-bodied selection like a Pilsner or Lager. You don’t want to overwhelm their palates with anything too heavy or hoppy, as well as not wanting to select anything with a high ABV so they don’t make it to the dinner table. Some of my favorites include Birra Moretti, Stella Artois, Victory Brewing’s Prima Pils and Weihenstephaner Pilsner.

Appetizers / Hors d’oeuvres: Wheat Beer lends itself perfectly to appetizer fare, including soups, salads, and a wide range of cheeses. Try Allagash White, Unibroue Blanche de Chambly, or Southampton’s Double Wit. For those who don’t enjoy the style, try something a little different like a hard cider or a Brown Ale, both of which will complement a wide variety of typical appetizer fare including smoked or cured meats. Some suggestions: Harpoon Cider, Woodpecker English Cider, Avery’s Ellie’s Brown Ale, or Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale.

The Main Meal: For me, very little compliments a nicely cooked turkey and all of its accoutrements like a German style Märzen or Oktoberfest. The inherent smoky characteristics pair beautifully with the turkey, the usually subtle hop notes counter any rich or heavy items like sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows, and the perfectly present malt sweetness balances out the usually savory stuffing. Try some of the traditional favorites including Späten, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr or Ayinger. Alternately, reach for an American made Oktoberfest such as Flying Dog Dogtoberfest or Smuttynose Octoberfest.

Dessert: The best and most adventurous course for beer pairing! The possibilities are endless here, and the choices each guest will make will be as different as night and day. For me, Brooklyn’s Black Chocolate Stout or Lost Abbey’s Cuvée de Tomme (if you can get your hands on it; it’s a brown ale aged in Bourbon barrels with sour cherries and Brettanomyces) is enough dessert in and of itself. If you’re going with pumpkin pie or assorted cookies, you might want to try some winter seasonals currently available including Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, Anchor Christmas Ale, Sam Cranberry Lambic, New Belgium’s Frambozen or Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot Barley Wine.

For more suggestions, be sure to check out other online resources such as Beerandturkey.com and BeerAdvocate.com.

Now that I’ve offered up some of my favorite Thanksgiving choices, tell me about yours. What beverage do you find works really well with your Thanksgiving feast, or what are you thinking about trying this year? I’d love to hear your suggestions and recommendations.

 

Lauren Buzzeo is the Assistant Tasting Director and Resident Beer Goddess at Wine Enthusiast Magazine. She thrives on shaking up the stereotypes of both wine and beer enthusiast alike. She is currently working on obtaining her Diploma in Wines & Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

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