Thanksgiving brings people together. Whether it’s a gathering of family or friends, people come together to share abundance and celebrate the changing seasons. Have you considered brewing beer during the holidays and making it your tradition? Holiday weekends last a long time, and homebrewing is the perfect way to keep people gathered together busy and make them feel like they’re part of some big deal. But of course, as with any brew, safety must be paramount.
You can brew a beer in advance that will fit the table. Guests can sip on that beer while the new one is brewed. You can brew from the same recipe, making changes to suit your guests, or choose a completely different recipe. While I like the simplicity of brewing, it will be fun to use holiday table ingredients as well. If you’re roasting pumpkin, for example, why not roast more and add it to the beer? You could, for example, brew a beer-like gingerbread cookie that would go with most desserts. You could even add mulled wine spice or some fruitcake. Remember, this beer is brewed for memories, not to win contests.
You could even have a friendly trip to the home brew store or to pick up yeast at a nearby brewery. Ninkasi always shares yeast with local home brewers if they bring a can. Call ahead, see if your local brewery does this, and find out the routine. Going out of the house together is something everyone enjoys. It may not be feasible for everyone to brew beer on Thanksgiving, but those who can make it their tradition will notice that every year more and more guests come just for the brew, not the treat.