You’d be hard-pressed to find a beer better suited for the Thanksgiving Day table than a Belgian-style saison. A saison’s nuanced complexity lends itself well to a wide variety flavors and textures while its effervescence helps cleanse the palate from all the decadent dishes associated with a holiday feast.
Below are some of our current and long-standing favorites:
- Brasserie Dupont Vieille Provision
Iconic in its own right, Dupont Saison set the standard for Saison as we know it today: coppery blonde with subtle cracked peppercorn driven by their house yeast strain, hints of grass and earth from noble hop varietals, capped by a mousse-like foam from their ritualistic bottle conditioning process. (4pk & 750ml) - Brasserie Blaugies Darbyste
From a small, family-run farmhouse brewery in Southern Belgium, Blaugies turns out some really incredible rustic saisons using a yeast strain borrowed from Dupont. Darbyste utilizes a high proportion of wheat for a unique texture and fermented with fig juice for just a touch of fruity tartness. (375ml) - White Rooster Lieu et Heure (Time and Place)
This upstart farmhouse brewery from Sparta, IL has been turning out some of the most memorable beers I’ve had this year. Lieu et Heure sets itself apart from the above saisons in that the resulting beer is blended from multiple batches of saison aged 16-24 months in French wine barrels. Lieu et Heure possesses a pleasant, refreshing tartness with just enough wild funk to keep you guessing. (750ml)
Bonus Turkey Day Beers!
- Prairie Street x Crust & Crumbles ‘Bread Beer’
Rockford’s own Prairie Street Brewing and Crust & Crumbles Bakery teamed up to bring you a dark mild ale brewed with loaves of C&C’s rustic country white sourdough. Quite literally liquid bread, you can have your stuffing and drink it too! (500ml) - Metropolitan Arc Welder Dunkel Rye
A rich, malt-driven Bavarian-style dark lager with a proportion of rye lending a spicy, toasty, nutty depth. One of my all time favorite Metropolitan beers! (6pk) - Spiteful IPA
A straight forward American IPA built around Citra & Amarillo hops. Drinkable, balanced, and the perfect hoppy compliment to any feast! (6pk can) - Odell 180 Shilling
A strong Scottish-style ale hailing from the front range of the Rocky Mountains. This amped up version of Odell’s flagship 90 Shilling took a quick dip in an oak barrel and displays notes of toffee, plum, vanilla, and dried cherry with just a lick of boozy warmth. A heady beer equally deserving of a main course pairing or a side kick with dessert. (12oz bottle) - The Bruery Vermont Sticky Maple
An Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels with Vermont maple syrup added. Clocking in at 11.3% abv, if this beer doesn’t scream dessert (or Uncle Bruce belligerently flipping over the Monopoly board in frustration during family game time) I don’t know what would. (16oz can) - Snowdrift Red Cider
This brilliant red cider gets its natural color from a specific red-fleshed varietal of apple a few generations removed from their native ancestors in the hills of Kazakhstan. Bright acidity with flavors of cranberries, watermelon, rhubarb and strawberries makes for a welcome pairing with Thanksgiving dinner or dessert. “Very nice!” (500ml)