The Best Craft Beers for Thanksgiving

4 Course Beer Pairings

Every food lover and shopper's holiday is just around the corner and now is the time to get the shopping and meal list together for another Thanksgiving Dinner. But while everyone knows what to expect on the dinner table this holiday, what will there be to drink?  Make an impression this year with a great selection of craft beers for connoisseurs and adventurous beer drinkers alike with this list of 4 great types of craft beer pairings for the different stages of a great Thanksgiving dinner.

Pilsners - A light-bodied beer is a great way to start off a large meal and a pilsner is a great match. Some pilsners, particularly German style, are more bitter than others but all share a similar pale, golden color and distinct flavor and aroma. Kick off your big dinner right with pilsners like The Wright Pils from Great Lakes Brewing Company or Troegs Sunshine Pils.

Black Ales - Pair a full meal with a medium-bodied beer like Black Ale. Also referred to as Black I.P.A.s, black ales range from dark brown to black in color while hinting of roasted and malty notes and having a lower carbonation level while still maintaining a good hoppiness. To give your dinner guests a little surprise out of an IPA, try Back in Black by the 21st Amendment Brewing Company or Snow Day Winter Ale by New Belgium Brewing.

Belgian-Style Tripel - Give a beer tasting its own course with a Belgian Tripel. The name “tripel” refers to the amount of malt used in the brewing process, which is three times the amount. This triple dosage results in a dense head, complex finish, sweet notes and strong beer that can be deceivingly high in alcohol content. Sipping a tripel is highly recommended but the full flavor will be something you will definitely want to savor. Golden Monkey from Victory Brewing Company is a go to tripel as well as Chimay Tripel by Bieres de Chimay.

Porters and Stouts - Serve up dessert in a glass with porters or stouts. While the two types can have slight differences, both offer dark, rich, thick bodies. A good porter is well hopped and made with brown malts. Stouts feature a little more roasted flavor and are typically stronger than porters. Take the TKO after dinner by offering Black Butte Porter by Deschutes Brewery or Chocolate Stout by Rogue Ales for dessert.

Want to give your guests a special souvenir to remember your craft beer-paired Thanksgiving Dinner? Complete the evening and dinner table with specialized and personalized glassware. Create personalized beer glasses and personalized beer mugs to give your table guests something extra to be thankful for!