Beer Pairings for Thanksgiving: From Turkey to Pie to Gravy, Bring These Brews
It’s that time of year again: the table is packed with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and—if you’re doing it right—your favorite Massachusetts-made beers.
It can be overwhelming to decide what pairs with what, but thankfully, Jeremy Cross, Quality Manager and head of the sensory program at Hendler Family Brewing, is here to guide us. Jeremy’s been in the beer industry since 1996—he’s seen (and tasted) it all. His holiday mission: make sure your beer and your dinner shine together. So grab your tiny tasting glasses, put on your Indiana Jones hat, and let’s dig in.
The Golden Rule of Pairing
“The main thing you want to avoid,” Jeremy says, “is having one component overpower the other.”
The goal is harmony. Sometimes that means complementing—think caramel malt meeting roasted turkey skin. Other times it means contrasting, like a crisp lager cutting through mashed potatoes drowning in gravy.
More guideline than rule: you want to taste both things. “If done really well,” Jeremy says, “you can’t tell where the bite of food ends and the sip of beer begins.”
Light Meat or Dark Meat?
Skip the IPA here—the bitterness will bulldoze the turkey.
For white meat: go with a German Pilsner or Helles Lager to keep things bright and refreshing.
For dark meat: Amber Lager, Amber Ale, or Brown Ale. The malt sweetness lines up beautifully with the roasted skin.
If you’re having just one beer with dinner: an amber or brown ale plays well with the whole plate.
Pictured above: Epigram Brew Co Liam’s Lager / Jack’s Abby Copper Legend Oktoberfest Lager / Stone Cow Brewery Classic Brown Ale
Lightning Round: Sides Edition
We could talk pairings with Jeremy all day, so we hit him with a rapid-fire round and he didn’t disappoint.
Green Bean Casserole: Czech Pilsner or Witbier to cut through the creamy base.
Stuffing: Okay, hold on.
Sausage-based stuffing? Go with a Märzen. “They’re made to be enjoyed with sausage,” Jeremy says of the German lager.
Oyster stuffing? Czech Pilsner. And maybe drink the whole thing first for courage.
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy: Belgian Dubbel—richness meets clove and dried fruit.
Cranberry Sauce: Hefeweizen or Berliner Weisse to match the tart-sweet pop.
Butternut Squash or Sweet Potatoes: Anything malty—Amber Lager or Brown Ale—to echo those caramelized sugars.
The Sweet Spot: Dessert
Now’s the time to slow down—unbutton that top button, take a bite of pie, a sip of something rich and flavorful, something with higher abv, and let it linger.
Pair Apple Pie with a Belgian Tripel—fruity, dry, and effervescent enough to lift the filling.
Eat Cherry Pie with a bourbon barrel–aged imperial stout. “The chocolate and caramel notes are magic with tart cherries,” Jeremy says.
Try the Pumpkin Pie with a Belgian Quad or Barleywine—something with enough body and muscle to match the spice and texture.
Final Word on pairing
“There are some ‘rules,’” Jeremy says, “but they’re just starting points.”
Our advice? Bring a mixed bag of Massachusetts-made beers, pour small tastes, and see what surprises you. After all, Thanksgiving is about more than the food—it’s about coming together with the people we love and sharing experiences that spark connection, something local craft beer has always done best.
This holiday, visit your local Massachusetts brewery, grab a few styles, and let us know what paired well—and which beers brought something unexpected to the table. Tag us: @mabrewersguild
Not sure where to begin? Here’s a few ideas:
**The beers featured below are, as Jeremy might say, a starting point—just a taste of what’s being brewed across Massachusetts. We know we can’t capture them all, so drop your favorites in the comments and tag the breweries that deserve a shout-out. And remember: the best Thanksgiving pairing might be waiting at your hometown taproom.**
Pairing with WHITE MEAT
Epigram Brewing • Liam’s Lager • Helles Lager • 4.8% ABV
Bright & balanced with Munich, Pilsner, and Vienna malts; Hallertau Blanc & Mandarina Bavaria hops; soft honey sweetness and a clean, bready finish. Bonus: 10% of profits support autism acceptance.
Oakholm Brewing Co. • Wagon Wheel Helles • Helles Lager • 5% ABV
Golden, lightly sweet pale lager balanced by Saaz and Crystal hops. Finishes with a refreshing light bitterness.
Shovel Town Brewery • Helles Lager • Helles • 5.6% ABV
Crackery, crisp, and clean with the slightest touch of balancing hop bitterness over a light, refreshing body.
Thirsty Robot Brewing • Rollstone Pilsner • German Pilsner • 5.5% ABV
Clear, pale golden pilsner with balanced maltiness, delicate hop flavor, and notes of biscuit and toasted cracker. Light, crisp, and highly refreshing.
Cape Cod Beer • Pilsener • Bohemian Pilsener • 5.6% ABV
Clean, crisp, crushable Bohemian-style pilsener brewed with German malts and Czech hops. Light in color but full of noble hop flavor.
Wachusett Brewing Co. • Bohemian Pilsner • Bohemian Pilsner • 5% ABV
Lightly sweet malt character with toasted, biscuit-like, bready malt notes supported by classic European hop balance.
DARK MEAT
Cambridge Brewing Co. • Cambridge Amber • Amber Ale • 4.7% ABV
Medium-bodied, well-balanced amber-red ale with caramel malt sweetness, hints of chocolate, a dry, slightly roasty finish, and subtle fruity/spicy hop notes.
Tree House Brewing Co. • Amber (Red Ale) • Amber/Red Ale • 6.8% ABV
Fruity yet balanced amber ale with notes of orange, tangerine, and stone fruit followed by sweet caramel malt depth.
Berkshire Brewing Co. • Hoosac Tunnel Amber Ale • Amber Ale • 6.3% ABV
Deep copper ale with a rich malt backbone (pale, caramel & crystal malts), balanced with a blend of American and British hops. Medium body with an aromatic hop finish.
Four Star Farms Brewing • Flannel Weather • American Brown Ale • 5.5% ABV
Robust brown ale showcasing notes of bread, toast, and baker’s chocolate, supported by a firm hop presence.
Stone Cow Brewing Co. • How Now Brown Cow • American Brown Ale • 5.2% ABV
A smooth, easy-drinking classic American brown ale — Stone Cow’s first-ever brown ale — with rich malt character.
SIDES & STUFFING
Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers • Copper Legend • Märzen • 5.7% ABV
A beloved seasonal Märzen featuring caramel and sweet toasted malts with a crisp, lager-clean finish.
Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co. • Märzen • Märzen / Oktoberfest Lager • 5.5% ABV
Creamy, copper-colored lager with sweet malt backbone, toasty/bready notes, and a slightly herbal hop character. Gold Medal – 2022 Great American Beer Festival.
Notch Brewing • Session Pils • Czech Pale Lager (Světlé Výčepní) • 4% ABV
Crisp, herbal, hoppy Czech-style session pale lager celebrating traditional low-gravity Czech drinking culture.
Aeronaut Brewing Co. • Hefeweizen • Hefeweizen • 5.2% ABV
Classic Bavarian wheat beer with banana and clove notes, a hazy golden body, noble hop balance, and refreshing lightness.
Castle Island Brewing Co. • White Ale • American White Ale • 5.4% ABV
Brewed with Valencia orange and coriander, this bright, citrusy, award-winning white ale is aromatic and refreshing.
BELGIAN STYLES & DESSERT BEERS
Lost Shoe Brewing & Roasting Co. • Size 6 • Belgian Dubbel • 7.5% ABV
Amber to reddish-brown dubbel with caramel and raisin notes, rich malt depth, and Belgian yeast character. Winner: 2025 World Beer Cup Gold + GI Beer Competition Bronze.
Abandoned Building Brewery • Belladonna • Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout • 11% ABV
A winter specialty aged in various bourbon barrels. Pitch black, rich layers of caramel, dark chocolate, vanilla, oak, and bourbon. Vintage flavors vary year to year.
The Tap Brewing Co. • Golden Slipper • Belgian Tripel • 9% ABV
A classic Belgian Tripel created in 2004 — light, sweet, fruity, yeast-driven, and dangerously drinkable for its strength.
Greater Good Imperial Brewing Co. • Good Night Moon • Chocolate Milk Porter • 11% ABV
Strong, bold chocolate milk porter featuring chocolate malt, South American coffee malts, and cocoa. Smooth, creamy mouthfeel with caramel and chocolate notes.
