Thanksgiving Beer Drinking

For Thanksgiving this year the wife and I stayed home to give thanks and enjoy a vegan meal. Nothing like Tofurkey to put you in a food coma, coupled with some local craft brews.

After reading an article about matching beers to Thanksgiving meals in Philly Beer Scene I decided on three beers. While preparing dinner I started with Ommegang Rare Vos. During dinner the Dogfish Head 90 min IPA went well with the tofurkey, sweet potatoes, and mashed potatoes. The meal was finished off with Yards Thomas Jefferson's Tavern Ale. I was expecting the Tavern Ale to have a pine flavor, but that is Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce Ale, instead it was kinda of sweet and stronger. Pretty good for topping off the night.

On the Friday after Thanksgiving I headed out of the house to get some fresh air and walk around to work up an appetite to finish off the leftovers. A slight detour took me to Monk's Cafe, justified to see how things are going after the temporarily shut down over the summer. To keep from going overboard I limited myself to two beers. Since this was a few days ago I can only remember one of the beers. Taras Boulba is an IPA/hoppy beer. Before giving this beer a try I didn't realize the distinct Saaz hop taste, and I think I'll have to let the taste grow on me.

Saturday was another excuse to get out of the house (for needed a haircut and bank stop) and an opportunity to visit Brauhaus Schmitz. This is Philadelphia's newest (and only) German beer house at 7th and South Sts. I remember a few years ago this building being used as a two floor furniture store with lots of open space. The owners have done a good job reusing the space. The inside is beautiful with all the wood and exposed brick. After entering the front doors I had to pass through this blanket that was hanging down, that I'm guessing was there to keep the cold air from blowing into the bar/restaurant area. I took a seat at the bar and the bartender (dressed in a Dirndl) was ready with the beer menu- an extensive list of German beers, making it diffcult to choose. I ended up with Kostritzer Schwarzbier, a dark larger that went down easy. I could have stayed and drank it all day. This was not the last time that I will be pulling up a seat at the bar.

The final bar stop on my Thanksgiving weekend was McMenamin's Tavern in Mt. Airy. After a Sunday afternoon hike at the Schuylkill Environmental Center with my wife and friends, we wanted to stop for drinks and food. In addition to having the Sly Fox Chester County Bitter, I was able to watch the last 7 minutes of the Eagles game, as they beat the Redskins.

All in all a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.