And all of the sudden it’s that time of the year: the holidays. As Thanksgiving came and went we now wait for my birthday (it’s a holiday to me), Christmas and finally, New Year’s Eve. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s go back a few days to the oh-so-gluttonous holiday that is Thanksgiving. As I sat at the table I found myself thankful for the people around me, the food on my plate and beer number 47, Four Ale by Allagash Brewing Co.
And how couldn’t I be thankful for all of that? Kelli’s family was in town and we assembled quite the feast. It had all of the usual Thanksgiving staples, turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and my favorite, deviled eggs. But what stood out to me most was the way the Four Ale paired with my sweet potatoes.
For the record, I always read about how certain beers pair well with certain foods. But I rarely ever take the time to research my beers and cook a fitting meal to pair them with. (Quick sidenote, this is something I plan on doing after beer number 52 when this blog gets a new direction. But we’ll cover that more later.) And boy am I missing out! The best part is that I discovered this completely by accident. I was most excited to eat my sweet potatoes and then instinctively reached for my beer. What ensued was simply magical.
I suppose when you look at the tasting notes to expect from this beer (raisins, candied fruit and plum) it comes as no shock that the two are a match made in heaven. Throw in the spice that is detected on the smell and the taste and it is all coming full circle. The final observation I made was how evenly Four Ale coated my mouth. It made sure it was going to be appreciated throughout.
So yes, I am quite thankful for that beer. I had been eyeing it for quite some time and it turned out to be the perfect pair to my Thanksgiving dinner. So much so that I gave it a “Thumb’s Up” and, like the other Allagash beers I’ve had, it is an instant addition to “52′s Faves.”
But I can’t stop there with my “I am thankful for…” list. The top of that list is clearly my wife, Kelli. I couldn’t be more thankful for all that she has brought into my life. Following her is my family. I have awesome parents, awesome step-parents and an awesome mother-in-law. Throw in my (sometimes) awesome sisters and my brother and sister-in-law and you can see why I enjoy family time so much.
Continuing on the family side of things is my great web of friends that I consider family. From all of my best friends that stood by my side at my wedding and the other friends that will take too long to list. I am also thankful for my job. As tiresome as it can be, I can’t complain because I get paid to watch sports for a living and I have even more great friends at work.
Sometimes it’s hard to realize the many things you have to be thankful for during difficult times. But do yourself a favor and sit down and make a list. It will definitely put things in perspective while also putting a smile on your face.
Finally, I am thankful for the craft beer world. Without them we wouldn’t have all this wonderful beer I get to drink and write about. And I’m pretty sure we can all raise our glasses to that!
