For those looking to buck tradition, consider featuring some local brews at your Thanksgiving celebration. According to the Meijer beer buyers, the effervescence in beer cleanses the palate, which based on all of the textures and flavors offered in a Thanksgiving meal, drinking beer allows you to fully experience the flavors of each dish. During dinner, consider sticking with a pale ale or a session IPA.
- Pale Ales: New Glarus Moon Man from Wisconsin; Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin from Illinois/California; and Rhinegeist Crash from Ohio
- Session IPAs: Founders All Day IPA and Perrin No Problems, both from Michigan
When it comes to dessert, the Meijer beer buyers suggest adding something a little more complex depending on the dessert, or try a cider, especially when enjoying apple pie.
- Pumpkin Pie: Atwater Vanilla Java Porter; Bell’s Christmas Ale; and Vander Mill Totally Roasted, all of which are Michigan brews, and Great Lakes Christmas ale from Ohio
- Chocolate Cake: Founders Backwoods Bastard; New Holland Dragon’s Milk or The Poet; and Rochester Mills Milkshake Stout, all of which are Michigan Kentucky Ale’s Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout, from Kentucky and Sun King Wee Mac from Indiana
- Apple Pie: Blake’s Wake Fire Cider from Michigan; and Redd’s Blueberry Ale from Wisconsin