OK, we don't actually eat Muskox for Thanksgiving in Canada. The world can't be that perfect apparently. We tend towards turkey with nods to joints of lamb and ham. We watch sports on TV, rake leaves if need be and, if I am indicative, have a nap after lunch after a morning in the pew.
All of which gives a lad a thirst. There is plenty of evidence that I already like the Narragansett Fest Lager as they had to send me a second sample. I was a bad blogger, sucking back the first samples and not even uttering a tweet. But it served me well. This being my fourth can I can confirm I like it. Malty rich sweet and smooth goodness that aligns very well with a turkey leg and mashed squash. It pours a glowing ball of orange amber with a cream head maintained by lively carbonation. Some nutmeg and white pepper spice. It earns its solid BAer respect and, like their porter and lager, is one of the great value NE N.Am brews.
The big bottle of Ontario's own Muskoka Harvet Ale is a variation on the same theme but an advancement, too. Malty with spice, easy drinking but lots of flavour. A notch drier than the Narragansett, its spice is a little more to the forefront. More than a match for brussel sprouts and bacon. Mr. B notes some raw cocoa which I might describe as allspice meets clove and cinnamon but the point is of a very compressed earthy spiceiness that sets this beer on to another level. So, no Muskox but a very welcome Muskoka. The BAers give it similar respect... but, of course, its not the same BAers.
Finally, there is that Dark Star Brewery Espresso Stout which, at around 4.2%, leave a little hole that is neatly filled with a shot of ruby port to do along with dessert. We like port stout. Dessert is a sweet potato cheese cake with pecan East India sherry sauce. I must have been good or at least appropriately thankful. And there will be leftovers for a Monday off filled with three down football. Go Als.






Comments
Craig - October 11, 2010 12:14 PM
Happy Thanksgiving!
Alan - October 11, 2010 6:48 PM
The odd thing about Canadian Thanksgiving, is I am sure it was really not today but yesterday, Sunday - what with the harvest church services and all that. Unlike Easter Monday, however, its not that clear and while we always have the turkey on Sunday the law says it is today.