Turkey and beer

The leaves have fallen and there have been some flakes in the air. And for those of us in the northeast- about a foot of those flakes. Thanksgiving is less than a week away. I have been looking at different ciders and beers to have with turkey and stuffing.

DOWNEAST PUMPKIN CIDER combines apples, pumpkins and chai spices. This is a great starter to hand out when guests are arriving on Thursday. Its not too sweet and not overpowering in spice. It preps the tastebuds for the meal to come. It’s the flavors of apple and pumpkin pie combined.

Next is 1911 CRANBERRY HARD CIDER. It has a blush color that could easily be poured into a wine glass to enjoy with your holiday dinner, but I think it would go best with an appetizer course. It is not overly sweet and the flavor pairs nicely with a cheese or relish platter.

For the main course I choose TRADER JOE’S SOUR CRANBERRY ALE. It does have a brightness that will help balance the richness of stuffing and gravy. The cranberry flavor is front and center. An enjoyable, easily drinkable beer.

Something different for you Gose lovers- LONG TRAIL’S CRANBERRY GOSE. I tend to think of Gose as a summer beer, but it can certainly be enjoyed in other seasons. This beer is available all year long. It is not as cranberry-forward as the other brews in this review. There is an aroma of cranberry that tickles your nose, which seems fun. You get the salt and tartness of a Gose- which makes it an excellent beer to drink with food. If you want to be a bit more adventurous go for this one!

Try one or all of these holiday pairings. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!