Thanksgiving is a holiday where you should only be stressing about what politically charged comment your uncle might say in front of your other guests, not deciding what to pair with the food. Your uncle might not be at the party since we’re in lockdown, but you still shouldn’t get worked up. We’ve got all the perfect meads to pair with your favorite dishes to make this Thanksgiving a little extra special.
There are plenty of wine and food pairing charts and guides out there, but isn’t it time for something a little new?
We’ve lined up our currently available meads against all of the American classic Thanksgiving dishes so you can pick exactly the right mead for your favorite dishes and give guests an evening they won’t forget.
Give your guests a Thanksgiving they won’t forget by pairing your dishes with the perfect mead.
Appetizers and Charcuterie
Deciding what to pair with appetizers and charcuterie can be a challenge since these items vary in flavor. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Appetizers are generally going to be light, smaller portions, and not intended to overwhelm the palate. You want to choose meads that brighten and compliment these types of foods.
Charcuterie plates have a combination of cured meats, dried fruits, and crackers. You need a mead that compliments the saltiness and earthy meaty flavors without overwhelming them.
Pairing Recommendations
The One with Strawberry – Bright and crisp, the intense fresh fruit aromas and flavors of this mead will particularly compliment charcuterie boards by cutting through the saltiness and fats while underscoring some of the subtle red fruit flavors of cured meats.
Mango Ginger – The fruitiness and floral nature of the mango and honey in this mead act as a pleasant backdrop to any appetizer while the soft ginger acts as a gentle palate cleanser. Mango Ginger clocks in at only 5% ABV, which is a great way to quench your guests' thirst, without weighing them down before the big meal.
Cheese Plates
The One with Strawberry and Mango Ginger are also the main go-tos for pairing with cheeses, but if you’re looking to step things up and bring your pairings to the next level, here are a few typical cheese categories and what meads would pair to make the flavors really shine.
Pairing Recommendations
Bleu cheeses – The One with Strawberry
Truffle cheeses – The One with Strawberry or Cultivated Native
Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, and other salty cheeses – Mango Ginger
Fondue – Cultivated Native
Aged Gouda or cheddar – The One with Vanilla and Oak
Gruyere – The One with Vanilla and Oak
Ricotta and mozzarella – Cultivated Native or Mango Ginger
Brie – The One with Strawberry
Feta – The One with Strawberry or Mango Ginger
Monterey Jack – The One with Vanilla and Oak
Goat Cheese – Cultivated Native, Mango Ginger, or The One with Strawberry
When in doubt, go with The One with Strawberry or Mango Ginger on your cheese plate. There’s a reason why light fruit accompanies cheese on a cheese plate.
Veggie Side Dishes
Wine pairing with vegetables is typically one of the harder pairings due to the combination of vegetal flavors or citrus and salty additions not always meshing well with wine. Thankfully, mead to the rescue!
Pairing Recommendation
Foundation – The light sweetness and rich honey pairs with virtually any vegetable dish without overpowering flavors. Meanwhile, the acidity compliments and brightens the dishes flavors with a little extra zing.
Margarita Mead - The strong lime character of this mead is a natural compliment to vegetable dishes and.
Turkey, Stuffing, and Mashed Potatoes
At long last, the prime time. Turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes are what we all look forward to. These dishes can be very heavy, so it is important that you choose a beverage that will wake the palate back up in between bites so your guests don’t go into a food coma before dessert.
Pairing Recommendation
Cultivated Native – The herbal notes from the sage nectar in the honey compliment the sage, thyme, and rosemary seasonings typically used in these dishes. Cultivated Native is also dry and brightly acidic, which helps cut through the richness.
Foundation – The go-to food friendly mead, the acidity of Foundation brightens the sometimes butter-laden dishes while adding a rich honey note. Foundation’s earthy character compliments the herbal notes and clears the palate to keep your guests from getting weighed down. After all, there’s still more to come.
Ham
While not as popular as turkey, ham is often found on the Thanksgiving menu. With various sauces, dressings, rubs, and glazes, its no wonder pairing can be a challenge! Honey and ham are a natural flavor pairing, so it only makes sense to pair your next ham with some mead.
Pairing Recommendation
Foundation – The rich honey notes of Foundation pair equally well with ham, particularly when the ham is prepared with a honey glaze. We’ll be honest…you can’t go wrong with Foundation when pairing with Thanksgiving dishes.
Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie
A general rule of thumb for pairing desserts is to choose a beverage that equals or exceeds the sweetness of the dish to ensure the acidity doesn’t taste sour by comparison. While we don’t make syrupy-sweet meads, we still have an option for you.
Pairing Recommendation
The Royal We - Similar to a Port or Madiera, The Royal We has the perfect sweetness to stay in balance with your dessert while providing the palate-cleansing acidity and alcohol to keep from being cloying. The caramel notes ad an additional depth of flavor to your desserts.
Glühmet (chilled or hot) – Our German mulled wine inspired Glühmet is spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, and clove, which adds an extra punch of flavor when paired with pumpkin pie. Enjoy chilled or gently warm in a crockpot and serve hot. For a little extra sweetness when served warm, add 1-2 teaspoons of honey per glass.
The food pairings don’t stop at dessert. Try pairing your pumpkin pie with warm Glühmet.
Wrapup
Just because we’re on lockdown doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some delicious beverages this holiday season. Go buy some mead enjoy some time with your family.
We have special hours this Thanksgiving week, including being open the day before Thanksgiving for you to stock up on bottles and growlers.
Holiday Hours
Wednesday, 11/25: 5-8pm
Thursday, 11/26: Thanksgiving - Closed
Friday, 11/27: 5-8pm
Saturday, 11/28: 5-8pm
Sunday, 11/29: 3-6pm