Pairings

5 great beer pairings for roast turkey

Even those who normally drink beer feel the need to put a bottle of red wine on the table at Christmas* but beer is actually just as good, if not a better accompaniment for turkey.

I’m not mad about Christmas ales (better on their own or with stilton, I think) but there are plenty of other options:

A rich full-bodied IPA. I used to say American-style IPA but we have so many great ones of our own in the UK now you don’t need to constantly make that comparison. Kernel IPA is a personal favourite

A saison - I remember Garret Oliver recommending this to me way back . I’d go for the new Wild Beer Co’s Epic Saison

An amber ale or bière ambrée has a fruitiness that plays well with a fruity stuffing

A strong Belgian ale like Duvel would make a good partner for the Boxing Day leftovers.

A brown ale - a good choice if you like to serve your turkey with a rich gravy. Nøgne Ø’s imperial brown ale is a corker or try Brooklyn’s Brown ale.

And what cider?

I’d go for a medium-dry cider - totally dry is a bit austere to compete with the trimmings, medium sweet too sweet - for my palate at least. The very natural-tasting Pilton cider which comes in full-size bottles would be perfect.

Here are some more suggestions from Serious Eats

*It's an indication of just how far beer still has to go to be accepted on the Christmas table that I was unable to find a shot of a turkey and a glass of ale in the two photo libraries I regularly use. Hopefully they'll rectify that by next year.

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