I’m Thankful For Beer

What do you think of when you think of Thanksgiving? Turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, beer…beer? Why not? But how do you make your favorite beverage a part of this holiday? Here are a few ideas that might prove to be helpful.

Cook with it. Beer is great to cook with, especially hearty meals like Thanksgiving. it’s hard to imagine a recipe full of harvest flavors that can’t be complemented with the proper brew. Try brining your turkey with a malty amber, or maybe basting with a brown ale. Ever made beer-can chicken? Try it with a turkey. A little sweet stout in that oyster stuffing could be a nice addition. Lots of recipes on the Internet, too many to list, and I’ll be honest, I have no idea if any of them are good. But it’s your Thanksgiving. Take that recipe you love, and find the best place where beer can add to the flavor.

Just remember, beer bitters quickly when cooking, so don’t reduce it down or you’ll end up with a smack in the face that you hadn’t expected. To be safe, stick with low IBU beers. You can try that Ruination Turkey recipe later, on your own.

Of course, you can always drink the beer. I know, it’s a crazy idea, but people have been doing it for a while, I think it’s safe. Know what your serving, and pair it with the right brew. If you’re being lazy, Oktoberfest and Pumpkin Ales are usually a fairly safe selection. And there’s no better way to introduce your family to quality beer than making them exclaim “Whoa! This beer tastes like pumpkin!” Our buddies at the Brewer’s Association have done a great job of breaking down the specifics at www.BeerandTurkey.org.

For my Thanksgiving, I plan on bringing a couple bottles of the Wheat Porter for the family as well as a 6 pack of Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale. I know some people dislike Buffalo Bill’s, but it’s one of those things I look forward to in the fall.

So have a great Thanksgiving everyone. Drink, eat, and be thankful (and thoughtful).

Speaking of being thankful, I got the image of turkey and beer from the Brookston Beer Bulletin. Check it out as a token of our appreciation.