When Thanksgiving rolls around, the focus is on family, food, and creating memories around the dinner table. But if you’re a lover of craft beverages, finding the right drink to complement your holiday feast is just as important. While wine and beer are common choices, many craft cider lovers are discovering that hard cider offers an ideal balance of acidity, fruitiness, and depth that can elevate any Thanksgiving meal. From classic turkey pairings to spiced ciders with dessert, cider fits seamlessly into the holiday season.
Let’s explore why cider is a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table, some of the best cider for Thanksgiving food pairings, and a few creative ways to enjoy this versatile drink. Plus, learn why a sustainable cider growler from the Ciderworks could be the best companion for your holiday season!
Why Cider is the Best Drink for Thanksgiving
For many, Thanksgiving is all about indulging in rich, flavorful dishes, from creamy mashed potatoes to herb-filled stuffing and sweet-tart cranberry sauce. With so many bold flavors, choosing the right drink can be a challenge. This is where hard cider shines. Unlike wine, which can be too strong or tannic for some dishes, cider’s balanced acidity and lower alcohol content make it perfect for pairing with a variety of foods. It offers the crispness of white wine with the complexity of red, while still being light enough to enjoy over the course of a long meal.
A fruit-blended cider with cranberry or apple notes is the perfect companion for roast turkey, cutting through the meat’s richness while complementing the herb flavors. Additionally, spiced cider for Thanksgiving brings a touch of warmth and nostalgia, echoing the flavors of cinnamon and cloves often found in pumpkin or apple pies. Whether you prefer a dry, effervescent cider or a sweet, fruity one, there’s no shortage of options for cider and Thanksgiving pairings.
The Best Cider Pairings for Classic Thanksgiving Dishes
With so many wonderful Thanksgiving cider traditions, knowing which flavors pair well with specific dishes can elevate your meal. Here are some key cider pairings to enhance your holiday feast:
1. Cider with Turkey
The centerpiece of any Thanksgiving table, turkey can be tricky to pair with drinks due to its subtle flavor. A fruit-blended cider, especially one with cranberry or apple, is ideal for cutting through the turkey's savory richness. A tart cider with a touch of sweetness, provides just the right balance of flavor, making it one of the best ciders for Thanksgiving.
2. Cider and Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are creamy and comforting, often made with generous amounts of butter. For this rich dish, opt for a high-acid, tannic cider. A dry, orchard-driven cider helps cut through the creaminess and adds brightness to each bite.
3. Cider and Stuffing
Stuffing, packed with herbs like sage and rosemary, calls for a cider that’s aromatic and structured. A cider and stuffing pairing shines when matched with a dry perry (pear cider), which brings a floral aroma and mild tannins. The light fruitiness of perry complements the savory stuffing without overwhelming its flavors.
4. Cider and Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce’s tart sweetness pairs beautifully with a hopped cider, which adds an herbal complexity that plays off the cranberry’s acidity. Cider with a grassy, citrusy note that brings the dish to life.
Thanksgiving Dessert Cider Pairings
No Thanksgiving meal is complete without dessert, and cider makes for an unexpected but delightful pairing with many classic sweets. A spiced cider for Thanksgiving is an excellent match for pumpkin pie, where the cider’s cinnamon and clove notes echo the spices in the pie. For apple pie, an ice cider—rich, sweet, and higher in alcohol—brings out the baked apple flavors while adding a touch of festive elegance.
Sustainability Meets Flavor: Grab a Growler from Ciderworks
For those looking to bring the Thanksgiving feast home, a sustainable cider growler from Ciderworks is the perfect solution. Ciderworks’ growlers are reusable, eco-friendly, and designed to keep your hard cider fresh long after it leaves the tap. Whether you’re bringing cider to a holiday gathering or enjoying it at home, the growler ensures your cider stays as crisp and flavorful as it was at the cidery.
Plus, with Ciderworks’ wide range of options, you can fill your growler with a new flavor each time you visit, making it the perfect companion for every Thanksgiving cider pairing.
We Invite You To the Ciderworks: Discover Our Craft
Whether you've been referred by one of our many satisfied patrons or searched online for “hard cider near me,” we're thrilled to welcome you to the Ciderworks@Story Tavern. Prepare to embark on a flavor adventure with our extensive selection of handcrafted ciders. Each one is a testament to our commitment to quality and innovation, featuring a range of our award winning flavors, including classic apple to exotic blends like cherry/blueberry, pineapple, ginger/lemongrass, and strawberry/orange. Our ciders are proudly made in-house, using fruit sourced from local orchards, including some from the owners' own backyard.
But the Ciderworks experience isn't just about the drinks. Our Taproom offers a menu featuring 100% gluten-free, mouth-watering food options, each crafted by hand using the highest quality, farm-to-table ingredients. These dishes are not only delicious but also thoughtfully designed to complement our ciders, creating a harmonious dining experience.
So, what are you waiting for? Visit us at Ciderworks@Story Tavern, conveniently located next to Story Tavern at 150 S San Fernando Blvd. in downtown Burbank. Dive into the world of craft cider and discover a new favorite today. We’re more than just a cider house; we’re a community, a place where every visit is an experience to remember.