What Beer Should You Bring to Thanksgiving Dinner?

Most Thanksgiving menus are set long before November, with the same family favorites on the table year after year. The drinks, however, leave some room to play. Pairing the right beer with your Thanksgiving favorites can take your meal to a whole new level. From savory turkey and sides to pumpkin and pecan pie, there’s a craft beer to complement every dish. Whether you’re asking or answering the “What can I bring?” question, here’s how to decide what beer to bring to Thanksgiving this year.

Why Does Craft Beer Pair So Well With Thanksgiving Food?

Thanksgiving dinner packs a lot of different flavors onto one plate. You’ve got savory turkey, buttery potatoes, tangy cranberry sauce, caramelized vegetables, and rich desserts – and there’s a craft beer that works with all of it.

From light and crisp to rich and malty, craft beer provides a range of flavors to complement your holiday spread. We’ve also found that the brew’s carbonation helps cleanse your palate between bites.

In our experience, the best beer to bring to Thanksgiving is one that complements the food instead of competing with it. Luckily, you don’t need to be a beer expert to find the perfect match.

What Beer Goes Best With Thanksgiving Turkey?

Turkey is front and center at most Thanksgiving dinners, so let’s start there. Whether you roast, smoke, or deep-fry your bird, there are several craft beer styles to complement it.

Amber Ale: A Classic Thanksgiving Turkey Pairing
Amber ales balance toasted malt flavors and mild sweetness with a subtle hop bitterness. Their caramel- and biscuit-like notes pair perfectly with the savory flavors of roasted turkey. We especially like amber ales with traditional turkey, gravy, and herb stuffing.

Märzen Lager: A Smooth Match for Roasted Turkey
If you enjoy Oktoberfest-style beer, you might want to bring a Märzen to Thanksgiving dinner. This smooth, malt-forward lager features toasted bread flavors and a clean finish. Märzen pairs especially well with roasted turkey, buttery dinner rolls, and savory stuffing.

Brown Ale: A Great Choice for Smoked Turkey
Brown ale is a great choice when you’re smoking your Thanksgiving turkey. Its nutty, toasted malt character complements the smoky flavors without adding too much bitterness. We’ve found that brown ales also complement roasted root vegetables, mushroom gravy, and other earthy holiday dishes.

What Beer Pairs Best With Thanksgiving Side Dishes?

Let’s be honest: some of us could skip the turkey and go straight to the sides. From creamy mashed potatoes to green bean casserole, there’s a craft beer to pair with it.

Pilsner With Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Rich mashed potatoes and savory gravy can feel heavy without something refreshing to balance them out. A crisp pilsner does just that. Its effervescence and clean finish cut through butter flavors, and it has just enough hop bitterness to keep every bite interesting.

Wheat Beer With Sweet Potatoes and Cranberry Sauce
Wheat beers bring a refreshing contrast to Thanksgiving’s sweeter side dishes. American wheat ales feature light grain flavors and subtle fruit notes, while Belgian-style witbiers lean more into citrus and spice. We recommend bringing a wheat beer to Thanksgiving to try alongside sweet potato casserole or cranberry sauce.

Brown Ale With Stuffing and Roasted Vegetables
Traditional stuffing is made with toasted bread, herbs, onions, and celery. Brown ales echo and complement all those savory flavors. They also pair nicely with roasted Brussels sprouts, glazed carrots, and mushroom-based dishes.

What Beer Goes Best With Thanksgiving Desserts?

Don’t put away the beer when dessert arrives. Some of the best holiday pairings happen after the main course.

Porter With Pecan Pie or Chocolate Desserts
Porters typically feature chocolate, caramel, and roasted malt flavors that complement rich desserts. Try one with pecan pie, chocolate cake, or brownies and see how the beer’s roasted character balances sweetness while adding another layer of flavor.

Stout With Chocolate and Coffee-Flavored Treats
If your Thanksgiving dessert table includes chocolate, it should also include a stout. Stouts offer roasted coffee, cocoa, and dark malt notes that pair especially well with chocolate and coffee-inspired desserts. We recommend choosing a moderately sweet stout to complement your dessert rather than overwhelm it.

Amber Ale or Spiced Ale With Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie features warm spices, a creamy filling, and a buttery crust. With a caramel-like malt character, an amber ale complements all of those flavors. A gently spiced seasonal ale can also work, especially when its cinnamon, nutmeg, or clove notes complement the pie instead of overpowering it. You could also bring a smooth wheat beer for guests who prefer something lighter with their Thanksgiving dessert.

Should You Bring an IPA to Thanksgiving Dinner?

Absolutely! But choose your IPA carefully. Some intensely bitter IPAs overpower the turkey or clash with sweeter dishes. A balanced pale ale or fruit-forward IPA, however, can make a delicious addition to your Thanksgiving table.

Hazy IPAs typically feature citrus and tropical fruit aromas with a softer bitterness than most traditional West Coast IPAs. Their juicy character complements deep-fried turkey, spicy stuffing, glazed ham, and bold appetizers.

If you do bring an IPA to Thanksgiving dinner, we also recommend bringing a malt-forward beer, such as a lager or an amber ale. That way, hop lovers get something exciting to drink, and other guests can enjoy a more traditional pairing.

How Many Beer Styles Should You Bring to Thanksgiving Dinner?

You don’t need to arrive with a dozen different beer styles. In fact, we’ve found that a small, deliberate selection works better. We recommend bringing three or four styles that cover different flavor preferences.

– One crisp lager or pilsner: A refreshing, easy-drinking option that works with appetizers and rich side dishes.
– One amber ale or Märzen: A versatile choice for turkey, stuffing, and roasted vegetables.
– One pale ale or IPA: Something flavorful for guests who enjoy hops and bolder craft beer styles.
– One porter or stout: A rich option to savor alongside dessert.

This lineup gives everyone something to enjoy without turning Thanksgiving dinner into a complex tasting event.

Should You Bring a Growler of Craft Beer to Thanksgiving?

Bringing a growler of fresh craft beer is a great way to mix up the usual holiday beverage selection. With a growler, you can share draft beer styles that you may not be able to find on the shelves. Before Thanksgiving, stop by your local Growler Guys to fill a growler or two for your holiday feast. Our certified Beer Stewards can even help you with pairing recommendations.

Our Phssssh™ CO²TO GO! system helps us fill growlers with fresh craft beer while minimizing oxygen exposure during filling, and these simple tips help you keep it fresh.

– Plan your pickup: Fill your growler as close to Thanksgiving as possible for the freshest beer.
– Keep it cold: Refrigerate your growler until you’re ready to serve.
– Transport it carefully: Keep the growler upright and avoid shaking it.
– Serve at the right moment: Open your growler when everyone is ready to enjoy it, and follow the tap house’s guidance for keeping it fresh after opening it.

What Beer Should You Bring If You Don’t Know the Thanksgiving Menu?

Maybe you’re heading to a friend’s house and have no idea what’s cooking. In that case, we recommend choosing a versatile, approachable beer style. A balanced amber ale or Märzen lager, for example, has enough flavor to complement roasted meats and savory sides without dominating the meal. You also can’t go wrong with a crisp pilsner.

Make Thanksgiving More Flavorful With The Growler Guys

Thanksgiving gives us plenty of reasons to celebrate: family traditions, good friends, and sharing something delicious. Whether you want to bring a crisp pilsner to share for the appetizers, an amber ale for the turkey, or a rich porter for dessert, you’ll find the right one at The Growler Guys. Our certified Beer Stewards are ready to guide you through our rotating tap list so you can bring something delicious to the table this Thanksgiving. Stop by your nearest location for a pint, flight, or growler fill today.