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Thanks, Virginia Go local at your holiday table this year living@c-ville.com
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Strange Currencies, a porter from Reason Beer, is full and satisfying enough that it could be served on its own instead of dessert, but who is going to pass on that slice of pie?
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f you are looking for the perfect beverage to accompany your Thanksgiving meal, area producers have many options, ranging from beer to wine to cider. Here are some recommendations to help you drink well while also drinking local. Amber and brown ales are obvious options for pairing with turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and gravy. The seasonally offered Apple Crumb Apple Ale from Three Notch’d Brewing adds an extra dimension by incorporating apples and cinnamon into the brew. These notes combined with malty, bready, and caramel flavors will remind you of freshly baked apple pie. A sour or funky farmhouse ale, or even a full-on sour beer, can bring a bit of acid to the table. The sourness cuts through the fattiness of roasted meats, while side dishes with fruit flavors or sweetness bring out similar fruit notes in the beer. Starr Hill’s Carole Cran-Raspberry Gose, only available through December, delivers autumn berry flavors and a nice balance of sweet and sour fruit. The vanilla, caramel, and chocolate notes found in porter are a great match for dessert. Strange Currencies, from Reason Beer, was originally brewed as a birthday present from the head brewer to his wife. It’s currently available in four-packs of 16-ounce cans direct from the brewery. It’s full and satisfying enough that it could be served on its own instead of dessert, but who is going to pass on that slice of pie? Two wines deserve a second recommendation in these pages because they are perfect for Thanksgiving: The 2017 petit manseng from Michael Shaps Wineworks and 2017 pinot noir from Ankida Ridge Vineyards.
Shaps’ petit manseng is a dry, For many, cider evokes viwhite wine with weight and sions of dry falling leaves, texture that brings flavors of pumpkin patches, and hayhoney, tropical fruit, and nutrides on the farm. Our local meg spice at the finish. As a industry continues to push white wine, it can pair with forward with creativity and lighter fare, and with roast passion, and cider-lovers are chicken or turkey. Pinot noir is benefiting from interesting the classic red wine to pair with small-batch, craft products. Thanksgiving turkey, and the The Cranberry Orange pinot noir from Ankida Ridge Blossom Cider from Potter’s Craft Cider is a limited and Vineyards is the best example seasonal release. With subtle of the varietal in Virginia, full hints of sweet and sour flavors of flavors of cherry, cranberry, and a pleasant acidity, it will plum, and cola. Its long, fruitfilled finish will have your cut through heavier, fattier mouth watering and anticipatdishes and can serve a similar ing the next bite or sip. role as the sour beers menThe 2017 Small Batch Series tioned above. Intentionally Viognier from King Family produced at only 5.5 percent Vineyards should also be on alcohol by volume, it’s bright your radar. Winemaker Matand easy drinking that won’t thieu Finot ferments these weigh you down before your white grapes on their skins, celebration is over. more like a red wine would be Another intriguing option produced, thus adding aromatis the just-released 2019 Briics on the nose, and creating a colage Sparkling Cider from Patois Cider. Featuring wild, fullness on the palate, and texture in the mouth that will unsprayed local apples and a stand up well to the dishes of minimal intervention ferthe season. Similar to the petit mentation process, this cider manseng mentioned above, this develops fine bubbles in the white wine holds up well bottle that are sure to please. throughout the meal. The palate shows textural When it comes to Virginia weight expresses a depth of caramelized fruit flavors withred wine, we can’t forget cabernet franc, which has the per- Drinking well-crafted, locally sourced wines, beers, and ciders will be easy out being too sweet. Delicious at this year’s Thanksgiving table. fect weight and flavors for on its own, it will also complement a wide range of dishstewed, roasted, grilled, and smoked meats. The 2019 Madison County in an excellent vintage year. It’s full of ripe es. This versatility means you can drink red and black fruits with undertones of green this through the entire day of feasting, or cabernet franc from Early Mountain Vineherbs and a full finish highlighted by soft, at least until the turkey and football games yards is a wonderful example of what this grape can be when grown on a good site and lull you to sleep. fine tannins. STAFF PHOTO
By Paul H. Ting
