🦃 Let’s Talk Turkey … and Barrel-Aged Stouts! This month we’re delivering the definitive strategy guide for your holiday table. Finding one beer that stands up to the complex flavors of an entire Thanksgiving meal is a challenging task, but we found the winning call: Boulevard Brewing Co.’s Proper Pour.

This beer earns its spot in our Thanksgiving Playbook because it handles every traditional dish on your holiday table. We’ve compiled the tasting notes, pairing strategy, and our internal rivalry results to prove why this Stout is the only draft you need on Turkey Day.

Tasting Notes

From the first sip, this is a hearty, warming, and complex beer that highlights Boulevard’s barrel-aging and blending expertise. The intricate layering of flavors from the double aging process creates a unique interplay between the roasty stout, sweet bourbon, and fruit wine barrel influences.

Visually, it is a beautiful beer with its satin black color and thin, off-white head. The aroma has hints of bourbon & whiskey and dark fruit notes like black cherry. The flavor is a wonderful balance of sweet and fruity with the warmer taste of vanilla, whiskey, and dark chocolate—it is a smooth, velvety feel.

Style: Bourbon-Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout

ABV: 12.7% – Proper Pour has so many layers of flavor, from dark fruit to caramel, and that 12.7% gives it a satisfying depth.

Due to its strength and complexity, this is a sipping beer, more like wine or a spirit. Our official call: Chill slightly below cellar temperature (around 50-55°F) and serve in a snifter or tulip glass to concentrate those rich aromas.

The Perfect Pairing

If your house is like ours, we think Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to find a beer with rich and complex flavors that will complement the deep, savory notes of the holiday.

This barrel-aged stout with hints of caramel and molasses is a perfect strategic match alongside sweet potatoes and stuffing. Its robust body won’t get lost next to the flavors of roasted turkey or a sweet, rich gravy. And don’t forget the dessert! I am definitely looking forward to a pint & pie scenario! 🥧

The Final Four: Our Beer Battle to the Top

The Proper Pour faced some serious competition in our tasting flight but ultimately won the battle.

• Firestone Brewery Parabolita Salted Caramel Barrel Aged Stout – A balanced blend of roasted malt, caramel, and chocolate with a hint of bourbon.
• Destihl Brewery Haze of the Dead – Sweet and fruity with a crisp, juicy aftertaste.
• Boulevard Brewing Co Wood Baron Barrel Fresh Ale – Key flavors include chocolate, vanilla with a hint of licorice.
• Brooklyn Brewing Black Ops Barrel Aged Stout – Creamy, rich notes of chocolate, coffee, and vanilla.

Andy’s Dissenting Sip: It was a close second for us! Andy initially favored Lakewood Brewery’s Irish Cream Temptress. This imperial milk stout combines the creamy flavors of Irish cream with the rich, dark chocolate and roasted malt notes of its base “Temptress” stout. It’s decadent, smooth, and silky with a hint of whiskey warmth, making it the perfect “pre-game” selection.

Final Call: Raise a Proper Pint!

So, this Thanksgiving, ditch the simple table wine and go bold. Raise a pint of your favorite beer to good food, good company, and a truly festive meal. 🍻

The Question for Our Readers: Are you brave enough to put a Double Barrel-Aged stout on your Thanksgiving table, or are you sticking to a lighter sip? Drop your holiday draft pick in the comments below!