13 Best Beers For Thanksgiving Gobbling & Gathering

Wines, punches, and fizzing champagnes all make their due appearances, but delicious craft beers, too, have earned their rightful place at the festive holiday dinner table. Whether you need a crisp n’ clean light lager or a creamy stout to go dark n’ bold, we’ve got a little bit of everything. So grab your glasses and get ready to crack open some tasty brews with that turkey leg! Here are some of the best beers for Thanksgiving dinner.

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Two Brothers Brewing Domaine Dupage | French Style Country Ale

With an attractive amber color and malty notes of vanilla, oak, rye, and bread, the Domaine DuPage Beer is an easy drinking farmhouse ale makes a perfect pairing with all the working parts of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner: a butter roasted turkey breast, roasted vegetables, and yes, even those sweet potatoes too…

Brewer Notes: One of the most award-winning craft beers (period), Domaine DuPage is a French Country Ale that offers a toasty caramel sweetness with just enough hops to cleanse the palate. A true original, both in style and taste, this decorated ale continues to shine as the flagship beer of Two Brothers.

Percent ABV: 6.2% | Beer Advocate Rating: 86

Great Lakes Eliot Ness | Amber Lager

This rich Eliot Ness Amber lager is the perfect beer to pair with cheeses and fruity jams before the meal. Pair with baked brie with jammy toppings or even medium cheese like cheddar or gouda. Pair with smoky cured meats from a simple charcuterie platter at appetizer time.

Brewer Notes: Almost untouchably smooth. Armed with lightly toasted malts and noble hops.

Percent ABV: 6.1% | Beer Advocate Rating: 91

Hofbräu | Oktoberfest Beer

Pair this full-bodied Hofbrau Festbier alongside the roasted poultry in your main course whether it be roasted chicken or the star of the show: a Thanksgiving turkey. This classic German beer is super drinkable and will pair well with different courses throughout the night.

Brewer Notes: The Hofbräu tent at the Oktoberfest is known for its lively atmosphere. Here is where the world comes to celebrate. Down Under in Lederhosen. Of course, the most popular folk festival in the world wouldn’t be complete without a very special beer: Hofbräu Oktoberfest beer is a full-bodied, bottom-fermented specialty beer.

Percent ABV: 6.3% | Beer Advocate Rating: 80

Schlafly Pumpkin Ale | Spiced Ale

If it’s warm roasty toasty spice you’re after, look no further. This pumpkin beer is one of my favorites to sip throughout the fall season. I’ll serve it right up through the Thanksgiving holiday. Warming yet mellow pumpkin spice swirls around in every sip giving you the sensation of a slice of pumpkin pie! Pair with salty, warm roasted nuts before the meal. Enjoy with a savory apple sausage stuffing. Pair with after-meal Thanksgiving dessert such as pecan pie, this really easy pecan crusted pumpkin pie, mini apple tarts, or these easy pumpkin pinwheels.

Brewer Notes: Hailed as one of the best beers of its kind, it’s the reason why fall is your favorite season. Our Pumpkin Ale is well-balanced from start to finish, with notes of caramel and ginger throughout. Fermented in pounds of fresh pumpkin squash and a brewer’s wort and sugar mix before being filtered through a spiced infusion of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, it turns out exactly how we intend it to taste: like a slice of pie in a bottle.

Percent ABV: 8% | Beer Advocate Rating: 93

Brooklyn Post Road | Pumpkin Ale

This festive pumpkin ale will pair well with all your comfort foods. Isn’t that what Thanksgiving is all about, after all? Pass around those mashed potatoes and that cranberry sauce while you pour this seasonal yam and pumpkin beer with malty notes, cinnamon, and nutmeg. A crisp effervescent finish gets the palate ready for that next bite of turkey and gravy!

Brewer Notes: Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale brings you a delicious rendition of this traditional American classic – with pounds of real pumpkin.

Percent ABV: 5.0% | Beer Advocate Rating: 79

Rogue Hazelnut | English Brown Ale

Rogue Hazelnut is dark brown ale that goes down smooth and easy with creamy delicious flavors. Well balanced with nutty undertones, you could easily pair this brown ale with roasted root vegetables. Serve it with roasted squashes, alpine cheeses, and baked desserts.

Otherwise this new brown ale by Maplewood is a worthy contender!

Brewer Notes: From the hazelnut capital of the United States, this nutty twist on a European brown ale was originally crafted by Rogue Brewmaster John Maier’s good friend and avid home-brewer, Chris Studach. Hazelnut Brown Nectar offers a hazelnut aroma with rich nutty flavor and a smooth malty finish.

Percent ABV: 5.6% | Beer Advocate Rating: 91

Ommegang 3 philosophers | belgian quadruple ale

A touch of cherry fruit enhances the finish on this Belgian-style quadruple ale with a boozy body and hints of dark fruit, cocoa, and baking spice. This ale would pair well with with your favorite creamy cheeses and dried fruits at appetizer time or your favorite baked dessert like apple pie, cherry pie, pumpkin pie, and any after-diner pastries.

If not available, try this New Belgium variety pack for the holidays or this Belgian Trippel Ale.

Roasted side dishes make a great pairing for this ale as well. A warm and melty baked gouda cheese paired with fruits and nuts would also make a wonderful complement.

Brewer Notes: Rich and complex, this tour de force is a glorious blend of elegant Belgian-style quadruple ale and authentic Belgian kriek, its malty depth and gentle sweetness enhanced by sparkling carbonation and a serendipitous touch of cherry.

Percent ABV: 9.7% | Beer Advocate Rating: 92

Breckenridge Vanilla Porter

Decadent notes of chocolate and roasted nuts give way to silky hints of a malty vanilla finish. Pair with coffee or a chocolate dessert such as flourless chocolate cake or tiramisu. Pair with the charred notes you would get from roasted vegetables and meats. Dishes such as slow cooker pot roast, savory beef stew, or grilled steak often pair nicely as well.

Brewer Notes: Aromas of vanilla and toasted grain set the stage for mellow flavors of vanilla and dark roasted malts in this popular porter. Don’t let its deep mahogany color fool you, this brew is packed with flavor, yet as smooth as they come.

Percent ABV: 5.4% | Beer Advocate Rating: 83

Samuel Smith’s Stout | Russian Imperial Stout

Dark black in color, with hints of dried fruit, fig, chocolate and coffee, this Russian imperial stout never disappoints. The light molasses-like hints of sweetness mixed in with roasted malty flavors pair well with chocolate desserts.

Pair with an airy chocolate devil’s food cake or your favorite homemade oatmeal cookies. The flavors in this stout can easily hold up to charred bbq and smoky flavors as well. If you’re gonna do a grilled or smoked turkey or ham, this stout would pour nicely alongside these too.

Brewer Notes: This distinctive type of beer was originally brewed to withstand the abuses of shipping in foul weather to Imperial Russia. It was a favourite of Russian nobility whose taste for the finest food and drink was world famous. A rich flavourful brew; deep chocolate in colour with a roasted barley nose and flavour that is a complexity of malt, hops, alcohol and yeast. Fermented in ‘stone Yorkshire squares’.

Percent ABV: 7% | Beer Advocate Rating: 93

Victory Golden Monkey | Belgian style Tripel

This boozy Victory Golden Monkey ale is laced with notes of fruity spice, earthy hops, and yeast. Notes of coriander, clove, caramel, allspice, banana, and orange peel, make this craft beer a unique and delicious choice on the best beers for Thanksgiving list. Pair this strong tripel ale with bold spicy dishes, cajun seasoned-meats, sausage and potatoes, or pork dishes.

Brewer Notes: Nose is loaded with Belgian yeast character of banana and clove with an equally fruity body balanced with a light, earthy hop character. Savor notes of orange and spice followed by a dry finish.

Percent ABV: 9.5% | Beer Advocate Rating: 84

Lindeman’s Framboise | Belgian Fruit Lambic

This delicious deep pink fruit beer is a most celebrated favorite throughout the year! I’ll enjoy this beer in the summer when I crave a fresh berry-flavored beverage. I’ll pour it during the holidays when I want to share something delicious and special with my guests.

Truly, anytime is a good time for Lindeman’s Framboise. A very fruit-forward beer with straight fruit notes of juicy crushed raspberries and earthy sweetness balanced by light tartness. Serve with raspberry cheesecake, cherry pie, fresh goat cheese topped with honey and nuts, or even this simple strawberry tart. Serve with your favorite crisp green Thanksgiving salad topped with a zesty dressing.

If not available, try Leinenkugel’s Berry Weiss Lager Beer, equally delicious!

Brewer Notes: The appearance of this exceptional beer is matched only by its taste! To make our Framboise, we add raspberry juice to our lambic. That gives it a delicate fruity aroma and a beautiful dark pink colour.

Percent ABV: 2.5% | Beer Advocate Rating: 87

Trader Joe’s Josephsbrau | Hefeweizen

An authentic Hefeweizen style beer, Josephsbrau sports notes of clove, banana and malts. It’s an easy drinking beer that can be enjoyed on its own before the meal, or paired with a few holiday favorites. Pair with roasted sausage, sweet Italian sausage, bratwurst, chicken sausage, roasted Thanksgiving turkey, or seasoned poultry meat dishes.

If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you, try picking up good ol’ Blue Moon beer. It’s a delicious Belgian white beer that goes really well with fresh orange squeezed right into the glass.

Brewer Notes: Josephsbrau Hefeweizen is fermented with a special wheat beer yeast strain from Bavaria (hefeweizen literally means: “wheat yeast”). This unique yeast produces an array of flavors typical of an authentic Hefeweizen including: citrus, clove, banana, and even hints of bubble gum. This beer’s unfiltered golden color, combined with its lightly hopped, lightly malted character, makes it wonderfully refreshing to sip by itself. 

Percent ABV: 5.3% | Beer Advocate Rating: 85

Half Acre Daisy cutter | Pale Ale

Daisy Cutter pale ale is perfect for those who don’t mind a few hoppy notes that bite you back. Notes of berry fruit, stone fruit gently make their appearance before paving the way for a hoppy wave to hit the tongue.

With a crispy clean dry finish, this inviting sessionable beer is well enjoyed on its own or paired up with rustic earthy cheeses like smoky gouda, aged parmesan, camembert, or cheddar. Pair with a bright Thanksgiving salad topped with pomegranate, apples, pears, or vibrant citrus fruits like mandarin or grapefruit.

Brewer Notes: Daisy Cutter’s lush characteristics carved out a place within the Chicago brewing landscape. Today, Daisy Cutter is a call brand that we continue to keep raw and relevant. Blended pine, citrus, papaya and mango. Dank. Apparent biscuit, lingering, obscenely dry.

Percent ABV: 5.2% | Beer Advocate Rating: 92

Choose beers for your festive Thanksgiving gathering based on some of the dishes, sides, and desserts that you’ll be serving at the Thanksgiving table. Some of these beers make great dessert beers and some make great options to pair with appetizers.

Still other beers are the go-to for enjoying during the main course. Consider the body, mouthfeel, style of beer, and overall flavors in a craft brew when thinking about food pairing.

If it’s red wines you need, then pop over to our quick list of Best Red Wines for Thanksgiving!

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