The Thanksgiving Day meal is one of the central pleasures of the holiday occasion. Every element is perfectly orchestrated to complement and incorporate the entire seasonal theme. But many people tend to overlook the importance of a Thanksgiving dinner beverage. A variety of liquors, beers, and wines improve the flavor profiles of roast turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and more.

Whether you are hosting, attending, or going out to a restaurant for Thanksgiving this year, be sure to enhance the holiday pleasure with these deliciously-fitting Thanksgiving dinner drink pairings!

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How to Pair a Perfect Drink With Thanksgiving Dinner

Wine

It doesn’t matter if you prefer red or white, you have many options for a perfect Thanksgiving dinner pairing. If you are a red wine drinker, opt for a Pinot Noir, Syrah, or even a Zinfandel. The low tannin, impugning the war is a delicate palate-pleaser that won’t overshadow the rest of your meal. Syrah and Zinfandel offer deep, complex flavors that are cozy for the fall season and complement the richness of a Thanksgiving dinner.

White wines recommended for Thanksgiving menus include Sauvignon Blancs, Rieslings, and Gewürztraminer. These whites perfectly complement the traditional herbs and seasonings used in a Thanksgiving dinner spread. They also pair well with potatoes. If you prefer sparkling wine, pour yourself a glass of anything labeled Brut; a sparkling rosé is a great pairing for smoked turkey.

Beer

If you are someone that loves a frosty cold beer to wash down your Thanksgiving dinner, direct your selection towards a Belgian style brew, preferably a Saison, which also happens to be an excellent palate cleanser. This rich and complex spiced ale pairs well with the seasonal flavors of Thanksgiving entrées and side dishes. If a yeasty Saison is not your first choice, any dark beer pairs well with a Thanksgiving dinner spread. If you are smoking your turkey, pour yourself a Scotch-style ale for an enhanced flavor profile.

Cocktails and Liquor

If wine and beer won’t cut it, you must be a cocktail drinker. Or perhaps you just like your whiskey neat. Either way, you have a load of options in store for you this holiday season. Gin and whiskey are two of the top-recommended liquors, either alone or in cocktails, for Thanksgiving dinner. The botanicals and herb base in gin brings out the flavor profiles in turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes.

Both bourbon and scotch are rich and slightly sweet, which are attributes complementary to many traditional Thanksgiving menu options like stuffing and candied yams. Opt for a Glenlivet of any kind, or a Tennessee whiskey that offers notes of dried fruit and caramel, like Gentleman Jack. You can never go wrong with a traditional Old Fashioned! Just avoid whiskeys that are overly smoky.

Not hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year? You are so lucky! Looking for a place that will serve you a memorable and traditional holiday meal you will absolutely love? Visit English Ivy’s Pub and Eatery in Downtown Indianapolis for Thanksgiving dinner this year! We are open this Thanksgiving from 5PM to 12AM, kitchen closing at 10PM. No reservations required!

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Beer Goes Flat Overtime

Like wine, beer ages with time, but this is not a good thing. Although aged wine is a delicacy and something to be revered, aged beer is not. Now, aged beer is not unsafe to drink, but it will taste less appealing than a freshly bottled beer. As time goes on, beer becomes flat because the proteins within it begin to break down; and once beer goes flat, the flavor profile is significantly affected. The multiple flavor notes that once existed begin to dwindle down until a singular flavor is all that can be detected. Many people refer to this single flavor taste as skunky because it is a bit musty and off-putting.

Once a beer is bottled and capped, it generally takes around 3 to 6 months to peak in flavor. From there, the beer will begin to break down and go flat. Beers with a greater number of hops are intentionally aged, and therefore have a longer shelf life compared to lagers, pilsners, ales, and other relatively-lighter beers.

Alcohol Content in Old Beer

For some, it is the alcohol that appeals to them rather than the actual taste of a beer. Well, if that’s the case, old beer should be just fine. As beer ages, it is prone to losing flavor and depth, but it will not lose any alcohol content, nor will the alcohol content increase. The alcohol content in a beer is determined and designed during the fermentation process. As beer ages, the fermentation process continues, therefore sustaining the alcohol potency, but not changing it.

Bottom Line: If you come across an ambiguous or antique beer, steer clear just to be safe. It’s not going to taste good anyway!

Do you want to know how you never have to worry about flat beer or inadequate alcohol content in your frosty beverages? Just visit English Ivy’s Pub and Eatery in Downtown Indianapolis for all the best beers and bar specials in town! Join us Tuesdays for $2 domestics, Wednesdays for $3 Corona bottles, or Thursdays for $10 beer buckets!

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Monthly Archives: November 2021

Delicious Drink Pairings For Thanksgiving Dinner

How to Pair a Perfect Drink With Thanksgiving Dinner

Wine

Beer

Cocktails and Liquor

Does Flat Beer Have Less Alcohol?

Beer Goes Flat Overtime

Alcohol Content in Old Beer