Boost your pint and growler sales this season by pairing the best beer with traditional entrees and sides for Thanksgiving dishes. Your friends at A Head for Profits have put together this guide to help you choose which beer that is. No matter what your customers are feasting upon, there’s a beer that will help them to enjoy their Thanksgiving meal to the fullest. This year, make it a great holiday with the perfect Thanksgiving beer pairings.
A Beer for Every Dish
From rich, malty stouts to crisp, refreshing pilsners, there’s a beer for every dish. So, whether your customers are looking to enjoy turkey, stuffing, or pumpkin pie, there’s a perfect beer you can serve from your beer taps and from your growlers to complement the meals your customers are having. When choosing the best beer for Thanksgiving dinner, there are a few things to consider. First, think about the type of food. If it will be a heavier dish, such as turkey or ham, you will want to choose a beer that is full-bodied and has a strong flavor. If your customers are planning for lighter dishes, such as vegetables, you will want to choose a beer that is light and refreshing. Another thing to consider is the sweetness of the beer.
With so many different types of beer available, finding the perfect one for Thanksgiving offerings can take time and effort. But with our Thanksgiving beer pairing guide, you’ll surely find the best match for your holiday menu, and by offering them in take-home growlers as well as from the perfect pint you’ll be thankful for the extra profits.
The Best Beer for Thanksgiving Roasted Turkey:
No matter where you are hosting your Thanksgiving offerings, turkey is most likely the star of the show. When it comes to beer, there are a few different styles that work well with turkey. A light lager or pilsner is a great option, as the refreshing carbonation will cut through the meat’s richness. Alternatively, a malty amber or brown ale can be a good choice. These fuller-bodied beers will pair nicely with traditional stuffing and gravy.
The Best Beer for Thanksgiving Potatoes
Potatoes by themselves are usually light on flavor, so they pair well with heavier beers like strong ales or spiced ales. Similarly, if you are serving a sweeter potato dish, you might want to try a Belgian Dubbel or a porter. Of course, with any of these pairings, the most important thing is to choose a beer that you enjoy drinking. Chances are your customers will too!
The Best Beer for Thanksgiving Dressing / Stuffing
While, as we said, the turkey is always the show’s star, one dish can make or break the meal: stuffing. Stuffing or dressing is a delicious mix of bread, herbs, and spices, and it’s the perfect side to any Thanksgiving feast. But what kind of beer should you pair with your stuffing? We recommend a milk stout or a winter warmer. The bread flavors in the stuffing will complement these dark beers.
The Best Beer for Thanksgiving Vegetable Dishes
For roasted vegetables, we recommend a light lager or Hefeweizen. The subtlety of these beers will allow the natural flavors of the veggies to shine through. If you’re pairing with a heartier vegetable dish, like a stew or casserole, try an amber ale or porter. The maltiness of these beers will complement the richness of the dish. And finally, if it’s a sweet vegetable dish, like squash, we suggest pairing it with a fruit beer or pumpkin ale. The sweetness of the beer will perfectly balance the sweetness of the dish.
The Best Beer for Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie
Any Thanksgiving feast is only complete once it has a great dessert. Pumpkin pie is a classic choice, but it can take time to choose the right beer to pair with it. Try a chocolate or coffee porter. These strong flavors in your beer will complement and help bring out the flavors in any pumpkin pie.
What Beers to Pair with Thanksgiving Dishes
Short on time? Here’s A Head for Profit’s beer pairing information summed up for you:
- Oven-Roasted Turkey – Amber or Brown Ale
- Smoked Turkey – Scotch Ale or Porter
- Smoked Ham – Pilsner or Lager
- Veggies – Hefeweizen or Saison
- Mashed Potatoes & Cornbread – Spiced Ale or Winter Warme
- Pies – Milk Stout or Dunkelweizen
We sincerely hope your business as well as your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving and encourage you to take advantage of the profits that can be gained from offering Thanksgiving pairings in your growlers and from your kegs.
