Thanksgiving is almost here, and no one is allowed to show up to this year’s feast empty handed. We’ve all thought long and hard about what side dish pairs best with turkey, but have you thought about what pairs well with those pairings? We’re talking, of course, about the drink choices. Here’s what we’ll have around our Thanksgiving table.

Turkey
End the red wine/white wine debate once and for all with Barleywine. Weyerbacher’s Blithering Idiot is an English Style barleywine with the sweetness of dark fruits that will enhance the turkey-cranberry combo. It’ll also do a much better job of preparing you for that inevitable (and glorious) couch nap that you’ve earned for carving the turkey than wine will.

Stuffing
In the great Thanksgiving side dish debate, stuffing always reigns supreme. How can you argue with a savory sponge cake loaded with sausage, oysters, and aromatic herbs? We like to pair this with an Imperial Stout that errs on the sweet side to balance out all of that savory with a hint of hops. Oskar Blues’ Ten Fidy fits this description nicely, as does Victory’s Storm King.

Green Bean Casserole
Add another canned good to this recipe with a tall boy of Narragansett Lager. This easy drinking beer is as basic as the dish itself, and the high carbonation of this American lager makes this rib-sticking Turkey Day dish a little less heavy.

Mashed Potatoes
When it comes to mashed potatoes, spuds, salt, and sticks upon sticks of butter come together to create a richness much greater than the parts. Balance it out with the elevated IBUs of an IPA. If you’re treating the day as a sprint and not a marathon, Founders All Day IPA provides enough hop bitterness to cut through all that butter, but without the high ABV punch. If you’ve decided to really commit to drinking (and you happen to be off on Black Friday), Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Ale is a fizzy, festive, fresh hop IPA that looks and tastes great next to a pile of mashed potatoes. Whether you’re a sprinter or a marathoner, try to avoid boozier IPAs that tend to be syrupy.

Pumpkin Pie
At this point in the dinner, you’re most likely stuffed to the gills, but you’re willing to make holiday sacrifices in the name of dessert. Enjoy your pie efficiently by spiking your coffee with a jigger of Irish Whiskey, or take it on the rocks while you take in the other Thanksgiving traditions of football and family awkwardness.

Cheers!

Photos via Flickr: Top, Turkey, Ten Fidy by Paul Talbot, Green Bean Casserole, Celebration Ale, Pumpkin Pie