Written by Susan Thompson—
A toast—to the merry months of winter ahead, full of friends and family, laughter and love and of course, great food. And just as great meals beckon to be shared in great company, so do both friends and feast call for great libations. A wine or beer complement to tie the knot in a memorable meal may be as crucial as pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. Couple the crisp notes of a white wine with roasted poultry or adorn your cooler months with a memory of summer by pairing a stout-style beer with grilled beef. Most importantly ladies and gentleman, as the old saying goes, drink responsibly. Be safe, be merry and be certain to make memories you’ll be smiling about until next holiday season. Cheers!
Beer
Williamsburg Alewerks–Pumpkin Ale
Brewery Location: Virginia
Appearance: Golden amber with honey tones.
Aroma: Pumpkin pie, spices, brown sugar, gingerbread
Taste: Pumpkin pie, spices, caramel, malt
Overall: Here’s a beer that’s undoubtedly capable of pairing with an entire Thanksgiving feast, from the herbs in the stuffing, to the crisp skin of a roast turkey and the final bite of pumpkin pie. With a rich composition and a malty caramel backbone this ale would do well with earthy flavors, sharp cheeses or fall-spiced desserts.
Founder’s Brewing Company–Breakfast Stout Brewery
Location: Michigan
Appearance: Opaque deep brown with a hearty medium brown head.
Aroma: Chocolate, coffee, nut, malt
Taste: Creamy, espresso, chocolate
Overall: Smooth and velvety, this seasonal winter release is the epitome of a hearty imperial stout and could certainly be a meal on its own. Sturdy and appreciable Founder’s Breakfast Stout would pair well with red and game meats that are smoked or grilled, or a buttery cheese like Brie or Gouda. Even better, enjoy sipping between small rich bites of a medium-dark chocolate.
Left Hand Brewing Company–Milk Stout (Nitro)
Brewery Location: Colorado
Appearance: Deep brown—if not black—body with a foamy caramel head.
Aroma: Sweet, coffee, roast, malt, toast
Taste: Dark chocolate, cream, mocha
Overall: Small nitro bubbles give this Left Hand brew a thick, creamy-smooth texture that’s a must-try for any craft beer fancier, and with rich dark chocolate and coffee appeal this beer acts as dessert all by itself. A strong partner to red and game meats, Milk Stout Nitro is another dark beer that does well with buttery cheeses or dark chocolates.
Laughing Dog–Sneaky Pete Imperial IPA
Brewery Location: Idaho
Appearance: Clear Amber Brown with an off-white head.
Aroma: Grapefruit, toast, pine
Taste: Hops, citrus (grapefruit), toasted biscuit
Overall: Even in the cooler winter months, when darker and seasonal beers run rampant on store shelves, a crisp IPA can bring a breath of summer sun back to an often-gray landscape. With its bitter hop flavors and complementary citrus notes, this beer is worth pairing with barbecued foods, grilled meat or even strong character cheese, like extra sharp cheddar, blue or gorgonzola.
Port City–Porter
Brewery Location: Virginia
Appearance: Warm dark-brown with a creamy tan head.
Aroma: Espresso, roast, malt
Taste: Dark chocolate, cocoa, molasses, smokey
Overall: Another well reviewed and highly enjoyable beer, Port City Porter finds its a beer capable of pairing with not only grilled meats, but smoked meat as wel,l due to the subtle hint of smoke that is harbored in the final flavors of each swig, and coupled of course with the dark chocolate and molasses notes up front, this dark beer – like many other dark beers – complements a buttery-smooth quality cheese.
Wine
Williamsburg Winery–2009 Hening’s Statute Barrel Aged Claret
Vineyard Location: Virginia
Price: $18
Appearance: Dark ruby or garnet.
Bouquet: Dark berry, black cherry and dark raspberry
Flavor: Cedar, spice, toast, dark berry, tobacco
Overall: A beautifully layered red wine comprised of dark berry flavors up front, coupled with an earthy delicacy, drawing into the spiced and toasted wood notes of cedar and oak. All of which are well suited for pairing with red or game meat, rich sauce pasta dishes and cheeses, such as Spanish Manchego or extra sharp cheddar.
Ghost Pines-Red Blend Vineyard
Location: California
Price: $20-$25
Appearance: Rich, deep purple-red.
Bouquet: Earth, wood, spice, smokey, dark fruits and vanilla
Flavor: Dark berries, black cherry, vanilla, toast, pepper, cedar
Overall: With its earthy and tannin-rich body, this red blend would do well to be paired with steak or pork chops, capable of complementing a grilled meat with its own subtle smoke tones. It also boasts a spice and pepper character suitable for Thai and Indian cuisine. (Blend: Petit Sirah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot).
Protea-Chenin Blanc Vineyard
Location: South Africa
Price: $15
Appearance: Pale white gold.
Bouquet: Delicate floral notes, citrus and crisp fruit
Flavor: Crisp pear, lemon, honeysuckle
Overall: The refreshing fruit and floral experience of Protea’s Chenin Blanc is inviting to many palettes, and with a rich and cheerful finish, this white is able to pair well early in a meal alongside fresh salads adorned in crisp fruits and then transition smoothly into a main course of roasted poultry, seafood or shellfish.
Albemarle Ciderworks–Pomme Mary
Vineyard Location: Virginia
Price: $16
Appearance: Effervescent pale white gold.
Bouquet: Ripe apples, earthy, sweet, yeast
Flavor: Fruitful, pear, mango, apple, pineapple, semi-sweet
Overall: Locally-grown apples give Albemarle’s Pomme Mary a crisp character, graced by a delicately sweet, not-too-dry palette. Delightful on its own, this cider is also a well-suited accompaniment to mildly spicy recipes, from exotic Indian cuisine to traditional fried chicken.
Sap House Meadery–Sugar Maple Mead
Vineyard Location: New Hampshire
Price: $20
Appearance: Warm, medium gold.
Bouquet: Honey, maple
Flavor: Semi-sweet, honey, maple, butter, caramel
Overall: This honey wine is surprisingly semi-sweet considering the staple ingredients, and complements the changing colors of fall and cooler temperatures. Its versatile character is capable of standing alone for sipping, paired with soft and buttery cheeses and desserts, or as the backbone to a warm mulled cocktail during the winter season.
What kind of review would this be if the where-to-buy-it information wasn’t available? Here you’ll find a smattering of local retailers to offer a beautiful selection of quality wines and craft beers.
- Grape & Gourmet (Virginia Beach)
- Total Wine & More
- Bon Vivant (Suffolk & Smithfield)
- Trader Joe’s
- The Wine Seller (Williamsburg)
- World Market
- La Bodega (Hampton)
- Whole Foods