Did you know it's almost Thanksgiving?

In case you thought the whole US skipped Thanksgiving and went to the much more lucrative day signifying the official holiday gift-buying scramble, also known as Black Friday, a way to "stimulate the economy," we didn't. We'll be open on Thursday, but only from 10am-1pm, but Redemption Center will be closed.

And before you reach for a cheap bottle of red and white for the table (I know we're all on a budget), consider this: You could down-grade your wine purchase and pick from the usual "Macro-wine makers," things with animal, mineral or vegetables on the labels and get what you pay for, OR you could consider reaching for a more expensive bottle of beer. Think about it. Average bottle cost for "inexpensive, but tasty" wine is $10-12 for a 750mL bottle. For less than $10/750mL, you could get an "expensive and delicious" bottle of beer. You could be drinking entry level wine for the same price as super-premium, luxury beer.

So if I've piqued your attention, here's some suggestions for the typical Thanksgiving table, vegetarians and omnivores included.
+ Belgian Saison ales are a go-to. They have light, airy carbonation and are naturally spicy from the yeast. A perfect match for the stuffings, the roasted potatoes, and anything else made with the usual herbs and spices. Try Brasserie Dupont's Saison (Belg.) or North Coast "Le Merle" saison (CA).
+ Lambic fruit beers are great on tables that use a lot of fruit glazes (cranberries, cherries, etc) and won't overpower the bird/tofurky. Try St. Louis Framboise (raspberry, a touch more sweet) or Kriek (cherry, a touch more sour). This is a great beer for the people who say they don't like any beers. Also, they're killer with cheesecakes.
+ Want something not from Belgium? You want light, crisp, but with character. North Coast Scrimshaw Pils (CA), Southhampton Altbier (MA), Castelain Biere de Garde (France).

Not a fan of light beers? There's still hope. Skip the after-dinner coffee and check out a hearty stout or porter with dessert. Hapoon's Leviathan Baltic Porter (MA/VT), and Pennichuck's Pozharnik Espresso Stout (NH) are two great beer stand-in's for the bitter black brew called coffee. Just don't add the cream and sugar.

Cheers and Happy drinking!
Jeff