We all know that Laetitia Pinot Noir and Block 511 Chardonnay are great for Thanksgiving, but what about something for the beer lovers at your table? Fear not, we have you covered with a few beer suggestions for each course.

                While welcoming family and awaiting the impending feast a little aperitif is in order. One suggestion is Rodenbach Grand Cru. There is a unique complexity to a Flanders Red Ale where sweet and sour play off of each other with a delicate refreshing balance. The sweetness leads with hints of raspberries, blackberries, and cherries. The cherries lead into tartness similar to a balsamic vinegar, yet light with a sweet backbone. The finish is equally sweet and tart. This is the perfect beer to open your palate and get your brain and stomach into the mood for food.

                In the instance of Thanksgiving dinner a good beer will refresh the palate between side dishes while both adding flavors to the experience and not outshining any particular aspect of the meal. A few suggestions are Blue Point Toasted Lager, Cigar City Maduro Brown, and Fuller’s ESB. Each beer will add a slightly different aspect to the meal. If you are looking for something to not overpower any of the traditional side dishes I would go with the Toasted Lager. The toasty quality will augment the turkey nicely and the light crisp nature of the beer will provide refreshment between bites. Cigar City Maduro would be a good idea if you are in the mood for a beer to bring a little more to the party. The malt backbone of Maduro provides a nice full, rich tone to the meal. Hints of oatmeal, raisin, tobacco, and robust roasted malt will add to any thanksgiving spread. Fuller’s ESB (short for Extra Special Bitter) is your beer if you’re looking for balance. The beer itself is nicely balanced with well-rounded sweet bready qualities and a hint of floral and pine hop qualities. This would pair well with turkey and ham while not overpowering more delicate sides like mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, or corn. This is what I’ll be drinking on turkey day and I may even add some to the dressing (or stuffing if you prefer).

                For dessert I would pair based on the choice of desserts. Unibroue Ephemere Cassis is a light, playfully sweet and lightly tart way to end the evening. This would pair well with sweeter fruit-forward desserts. Innis and Gunn Rum Cask Oak Aged Beer is a prime choice for more robust desserts like chocolate mousse as well as pumpkin or pecan pie. The sweetness of the rum and underlying malt complement each other nicely while the spice finish gives the beer its own character. If the beer itself is the dessert my personal choice would be St. Bernardus Abt 12. This beautifully balanced Belgian Quadrupel has notes of raisin, figs, sweet bread, and a touch of spice. This is a great way to end dinner and bond with the family.

Beer blogger Stephen Schmitt can be found pairing up beer and food at our Gandy Blvd, Tampa store.