Freshly Squeezed
Quit Your Wine-ing: This Thanksgiving, It’s All About Beer
We all know about wine sommeliers. But what about a beer concierge? Meet Matt Canning, the man guaranteed to make you the coolest one at this year’s Friendsgiving.
From casual drinking to a career, Matt transformed his passion for craft beer into a job as the country’s first “beer concierge.”
Seriously. You can find Matt sipping the day away at the Hotel Vermont in Burlington, Vermont, where he guides guests to the area’s most exciting craft brews. “Beer is a lot more diverse than people give it credit for,”
he says.
Embrace the craft beer trend for a new take on Thanksgiving!
“Thanks to the‘craft beer revolution,’it’s much closer to wine in terms of the way people are drinking it at the dinner table.”
So, why not embrace your inner hipster & give into the craft beer craze this Thanksgiving? Don’t worry about confusing your IPAs with your Pilsners. Check out Matt’s ultimate beer-pairing & win at Thanksgiving:
Beer is a lot more diverse than people give it credit for.
If You’re Having….
A pre-game or snacks
Crack An…
English Brown Ale. Beer & cheese is a match made in hoppy heaven. A classic brown ale perfectly pairs with the saltiness of pre-meal snacks like cheese & crackers or chips.
Matt’s Pick: Hill Farmstead’s George Brown Ale
If You’re Having….
Traditional turkey
Crack A…
Double IPA. Meat pairs best with a bitter, hoppy beer that’ll stand up to the richness of protein without overwhelming it.
Matt’s Pick: The Alchemist’s Heady Topper
If You’re Having…
Tofurky
Crack An…
IPA. A wheat-based single IPA will provide the same balance to your protein as a double IPA, but with a softer finish that balances well with tofu.
Matt’s Pick: Zero Gravity’s Conehead IPA
If You’re Having….
A plate o’ sides
Crack A…
Saison. A saison’s fruity notes play well with vegetables. It’s not too bitter, too sweet or too high in alcohol, so it won’t overpower your veg fest.
Matt’s Picks: Jester King Brewery’s World’s Worst Twin or Allegash’s Fluxus
Embrace your inner hipster & give into the craft beer craze!
If You’re Having….
Dessert (duh)
Crack A…
Barrel-aged stout. A barrel-aged stout with notes of coffee, toffee & butter will pair nicely with heartier pies like pumpkin & pecan.
Matt’s Pick: Goose Island Beer Company’s Bourbon County Brand Stout
If You’re Having….
Leftovers
Crack A…
Gose. An ancient German-style light beer that’s high in carbonation, gose is Matt’s pick for the best “morning beer”
of all time—perfect for your turkey/stuffing/ cranberry/mashed potato breakfast bowl (admit it!).
Matt’s Pick: Lost Nation’s Gose