Eight Thanksgiving Beers?

The Today Show’s web site posted an article on Saturday by Jim Galligan, suggesting four beers you might want to try with your Thanksgiving meal to “spice it up”.

The beers suggested were:

• Cantillon Rose De Gambrinus
• Dogfish head Theobroma
• Southern Tier Pumking
• He’Brew Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A.

Of those, I’ve had both the Dogfish Head and Southern Tier beers.  I don’t recall having seen the others.

I’m a big fan of Pumking.  It definitely features many of the flavors of a pumpkin pie.  You get a biscuit-like crusty flavor, pumpkin and spice, and even a creamy whipped-cream-like element.   I’ll second that recommendation.  I don’t particularly care for Theobroma, though.

Here are four more beers I would recommend trying at Thanksgiving, and why:

• Ayinger Oktoberfest: This smooth, easy-to-drink Oktoberfest ale is something you would be happy to drink yourself, but even your guests who don’t like (or don’t know they like) craft beers and imports should find palatable.  It starts sweet and malty, with a touch of roasted grain flavor.  Hops is present but takes a back seat.
• Huyghe Delirium Nocturnum:  This Belgian Strong Dark Ale looks like a cola when poured, with a ton of effervescence.  The flavor is something like a dry red wine with a Belgian dark ale poured into.  This dryness makes it a good accompaniment to food. 
• Innis & Gunn Rum Cask Aged Ale:  Innis & Gunn ales are well known for being aged in oak barrels, whiskey barrels, etc.  The Rum Cask version is a personal favorite.  The aroma has hints of vanilla and caramel.  Rum is present in its complex flavor, but not overwhelming.  It would be a great before-dinner beer or a nice one to sip after dinner.
• Anderson Valley Brother David’s Double:  This beer pours a deep reddish brown, nearly black.  It’s flavor puts Belgian spices up front, backed by a rich caramel sweetness and virtually no hops bitterness.  The 9% ABV adds a little warmth as it goes down.

There are my Thanksgiving beer recommendations.  If you have some of your own, please post them in the comments.

By the way, all through the month of December I’ll be featuring a Christmas or Winter beer review each day, so be sure to check back and see them all.  Maybe you’ll find the perfect Christmas beer for you!