Friday, November 13, 2009

Thanksgiving beers

Thanksgiving is a fantastic beer-drinking holiday. I know I'm looking forward to having the day off for the first time in years.

It also represents a chance to stretch your beer-pairing skills. This Seattle beer blog has some good suggestions, focusing on Belgian styles. But personally, I want to go another route. It's just too damn cold to mess with saisons.

I'm thinking two dark beers: one big, assertive beer, and another I can drink a few of.

For the big beer, the obvious choice has been aging in my fridge for months: Deschutes Black Butte XXI, a massive 11 percent ABV super-porter that was brewed with coffee and chocolate nibs and aged in whisky barrels. I'm eager to try it.

For the smaller brew, I'm considering a few choices. Durango Dark Lager (5.8 percent ABV, 20 IBUs), Full Sail's Session Black and Deschutes Obsidian Stout (6.4 percent ABV, 50 IBUs) would all work well.

There is a so much selection out there that it's difficult to narrow the choices. Nevertheless, it's a good problem to have.

What do you think? Surely I've overlooked some good turkey-pairing beers.

5 comments:

  1. The dark lager's don't do it for me when it's cold out and I'm in the mood for a dark beer. I like both Durango Dark Lager and Full Sail Session Black, but they're too light bodied for me most of the time.

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  2. At our family get together in Ohio, my cousing always brings a few pony kegs of his local brewers offerings. I never put a lot of thought into the "pairing" for example, but I always enjoy it.

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  3. Does anyone know where to buy Sessions Black in Durango. I drink it at the bar in Seasons but can't find it at a store.

    Thanks

    Mark

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  4. I snagged a 12 pack of the Session Black Lager myself and now see it's on your list. I think it's a good, low alcohol pick for a big family group. Later tonight, back at the HQ, I'll probably sample something a little heavier - Gordon Biersh Winter Bock or Anderson Valley Winter Solstice but nothing as high as 11% abv. Great post, great topic, great blog. Happy Thanksgiving.

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  5. Mark: I believe Star Liquors at Florida Rd. and CR 250 sells 12-packs in boxes. If memory serves, they're in a stack near the beer fridges.

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