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Sunday, November 16, 2014

A Thanksgiving Menu With Pairings

Thanksgiving is almost here. You can't beat the never ending supply of comfort food during the holidays. I'm thankful for that!

You can pair dishes individually, or you can select some options that go well with the entire meal. Francis Ford Coppola Winery, 3 Stars Brewing Company and Ommegang have amazing selections. Happy Thanksgiving!

The Menu:
Bacon Wrapped Dates
Ayrshire Farm Turkey with Tonewood Maple Syrup, Bacon and Sage Butter
Sausage and Herb Stuffing
Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter and Pancetta
Corn Pudding
Cranberry Apple Sauce
Paired with: Francis Ford Coppola Winery, 3 Stars Brewing Company and Ommegang

First Course:

The first course dishes pair well with Duvel Tripel Hop 2013.  It has a bit of a warming citrus finish.
Bacon Wrapped Dates
Pandemic Porter (American Imperial Porter) 9.6%abv. The big toasty and roasted malt notes of this beer will compliment many different flavor profiles. In this pairing, the sweetness of the dates is counterbalanced by the smoky and salty notes of the bacon, all of which is balanced out with the interplay of notes of chocolate and coffee and the warm alcohol "burn" from the porter. 

 Diamond Chardonnay:  Creamy, lush Chardonnay stands up well to the richness of bacon and sweetness of dates.
Pesto Pea Salad
Peppercorn Saison (Farmhouse Ale with a Peppercorn Medley [white, green & pink]) 6.5%abv The herbal notes of basil combined with the light earthy sweetness of peas is complimented by the up front yeast character of the season and followed by a dry finish which is slightly reminiscent of fruit and earthy herbal notes.

 Director's Cut Sauvignon Blanc:  Start off the meal with a fresh and palate cleansing memory of springtime. Sauvignon Blanc reflects the herbaceous freshness of peas and provides a crisp counterbalance to savory pesto.
Butternut Squash Soup

The Samsquanch (Sam-SqwAnch White IPA) 5.8%abv The bright citrus notes provided by the Southern Hemisphere hops (Galaxy, Topaz, & Pacific Jade) are a nice counterbalance to the rustic and earthy notes of the squash soup. The subtle lingering bitterness helps to cut the richness of the soup.

 Diamond Chardonnay:  Two smooth, gently mouth-coating, wintry sensations - one hot, one cold

Main Dish:

Ayrshire Farm Turkey with Tonewood Maple Syrup, Bacon and Sage Butter 

 The Southern Belle (Imperial Brown Ale brewed with toasted pecans) 8.7%abv The smooth caramel and toasted malt character of the beer is the perfect dance partner for the savory notes of the turkey and the semi salty notes in the gravy. It also plays nicely with herbs and sausage flavors of the stuffing, as it smoothly finishes into a suble sweet aftertaste.
Ommegang Rare Vos is a Belgian-style amber ale that has a caramel maltiness and a little sweetness that will go nice with the maple.
Director’s Cut Zinfandel:  The classic American grape variety meets the classic American Thanksgiving dish. Zinfandel is bold, rich spicy but not overly tannic, making it a good match for hearty poultry like turkey.

Sides:

Ommegang Witte pairs well with the sides because it is light on the tongue with balanced malt and wheat sweetness.
Sausage and Herb Stuffing
The Southern Belle (Imperial Brown Ale brewed with toasted pecans) 8.7%abv The smooth caramel and toasted malt character of the beer is the perfect dance partner for the savory notes of the turkey and the semi salty notes in the gravy. It also plays nicely with herbs and sausage flavors of the stuffing, as it smoothly finishes into a subtle sweet aftertaste.

 Diamond Claret- our classic and much-loved flagship wine pairs well with red meat and savory flavors
Mashed Potatoes

 Diamond Chardonnay- a feast of buttery goodness (similar pairing philosophy to the butternut squash soup)
Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter and Pancetta
Two To The Dome (Double IPA) 8%abv The big citrus and herbal notes provided by the hops in this amazing double IPA present perfect interplay with the earthy "green" flavors of the brussel sprouts. The slight alcohol burn on the finish is counterbalanced by the slightly pungent sprouts and work to provide a complex stepped flavor experience.

 Corn Pudding

 Diamond Pinot Grigio- another sweet memory of summertime, corn pudding shows best with a light and gentle white
Mom’s Sweet Potato Casserole

 Diamond Chardonnay- sweet potatoes are so versatile, they could actually pair with most white wines. We choose Pinot Grigio here to spread the others across better-suited dishes.
Green Bean Casserole

Director's Cut Sauvignon Blanc- Take the chance to cleanse your palate with a light green vegetable and a glass of something crisp.
Cranberry Apple Sauce
Sofia Rose- Sofia Rose' is delicate but its bubbles help it stand up to the sweet/tart thrill of cranberries. Bonus: its pink hue looks lovely next to cranberry red.

Dessert:

Barbara’s Hand-Made Cookie Pies: Apple Caramel Cookie Pie and Cinnamon Crumble Cookie Pie


Sofia Rose is a light and luscious wine that will complete the evening’s final bite.
Ommegang Adoration is a spiced winter ale with coriander, mace, cardamom, grains of paradise and sweet orange peel.  The spiciness is the perfect match to the desserts.

More Thanksgiving Menu Ideas:

Dinner Cocktails:


First Course:


Main Course:


Sides: 


Desserts:

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