Celebrate the Buckeye State’s craft beer prowess this Thanksgiving with a lineup of local brews that honor the holiday’s rich, savory traditions. Ohio’s 400+ breweries deliver everything from crisp lagers to barrel-aged heavyweights, perfectly tuned to cut through turkey’s richness, echo cranberry tang, and cozy up to pumpkin pie. This guide focuses on accessible, highly rated options from Northeast and Central Ohio powerhouses—many available statewide via stores like Total Wine or direct from taprooms. We’ve kept it seasonal where possible, drawing from 2025 releases for freshness.
Before Dinner (Appetizers & Mingling)
Kick off with light, effervescent sippers to whet the appetite without filling up. These handle cheese boards, deviled eggs, or shrimp cocktail with zesty finesse.
- Style: Farmhouse Ale or Session IPA (crisp, herbal, low ABV for easy mingling)
- Rhinegeist Brewery – Truth IPA (Cincinnati) – Tropical citrus hops with a dry finish; brightens briny apps like oysters.
- Fat Head’s Brewery – Head Hunter IPA (Middleburg Heights) – Piney and balanced; a GABF gold medalist that stands up to smoked salmon.
- Great Lakes Brewing Co. – Dortmunder Gold (Cleveland) – Golden lager with noble hops; malty yet refreshing for nut mixes.
- Alternative easy grab: Urban Artifact’s Key Arts (fruit-forward Berliner Weisse from Cincinnati) for a tart twist on crudités.
First Course (Soup or Salad – e.g., butternut squash soup, roasted beet salad, cranberry-walnut salad)
Opt for gentle acidity and subtle fruit to mirror autumn’s harvest vibes, cleansing the palate for heavier courses.
- Style: Wheat Beer or Light Sour (fruity, effervescent, low bitterness)
- Braxton Brewing Co. – Vinny (Covington) – Italian-style wheat with citrus notes; echoes beet salad’s earthiness.
- MadTree Brewing – Psychadelic Crossroads (Cincinnati) – Hazy pale ale with peach undertones; pairs with squash soup’s creaminess.
- Land-Grant Brewing – Stiff-Arm IPA (Columbus) – Sessionable and hoppy; cuts through walnut crunch without overwhelming.
Main Course – The Turkey & All the Classic Sides
(roast turkey, gravy, herb stuffing, candied yams, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce)
Ohio’s malty ambers and porters shine here, balancing the bird’s savoriness while harmonizing with gravy’s umami and stuffing’s herbs. Go for balanced ABVs (5-7%) to keep things flowing.
- Great Lakes Brewing Co. – Oktoberfest (Cleveland) – Crisp Märzen lager with toasty malt; a USA TODAY 10Best fall pick that refreshes amid rich sides.
- Jackie O’s Brewery – Mystic Mama IPA (Athens) – Herbal and citrus-forward; cuts gravy fat and amps sage in stuffing.
- Thirsty Dog Brewing – Old Leghumper Porter (Akron) – Roasty chocolate notes; loves turkey’s brine and green beans’ crispness.
- Warped Wing Brewing – Gamma Bomb IPA (Dayton) – Bold yet balanced hops; bridges yams’ sweetness and cranberry tartness.
The Sweet Potato / Yam Dish & Cranberry Sauce
These sides demand beers with caramel depth or gentle tartness to match the sticky-sweet and puckery contrast.
- Style: Amber Ale or Fruited Sour
- Mt. Carmel Brewing – Amber Lager (Cincinnati) – Toffee malt backbone; hugs candied yams’ spice.
- Hoof Hearted Brewing – Cinderella IPA (Coshocton) – Juicy with melon hints; the acidity nods to cranberry’s zing.
- Phoenix Brewing Co. – Oktoberfest (Mansfield) – Malty and sweet; another USA TODAY fall standout for yam pairing.
Dessert Course
(pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple crisp, etc.)
Lean into spiced warmth for pie’s nostalgia—Ohio’s pumpkin ales are medal-worthy standouts this year.
- Pumpkin Pie
- Third Eye Brewing Co. – Gourd Darn It! (Hamilton) – Cinnamon-nutmeg spiced ale with real pumpkin; top-ranked for 2025, tastes like pie in a glass.
- Hoppin’ Frog Brewery – Frog’s Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale (Akron) – 8.4% ABV with ginger-allspice kick; GABF gold legacy for cozy slices.
- Land-Grant Brewing – Patch Pumpkin Ale (Columbus) – Balanced spices, not cloying; Reddit-favorite for pie harmony.
- Pecan Pie
- Great Lakes Brewing Co. – Edmund Fitzgerald Porter (Cleveland) – Coffee-chocolate roast; the nutty depth elevates sticky pecans.
- Wolf’s Ridge Brewing – Dundee Dirty Blonde (Columbus) – Buttery malt; subtle sweetness without overpowering.
- Apple Crisp / Apple Pie
- MadTree Brewing – Pumpcan (Cincinnati) – Pumpkin brown ale collab; apple-pie spice vibes with a toasty finish.
- Saucy Brew Works – Gluten Free Apple Ale (Bowling Green) – Crisp fruit notes; light for late-night crisps.
After Dinner (By the Fire / Football / Board Games)
Wind down with bold, warming sippers—Ohio’s 2025 barrel-aged stouts deliver velvety depth for digesting and debating that Lions game.
- Style: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (rich, oaky, high ABV for savoring)
- Great Lakes Brewing Co. – Barrel Aged Blackout Stout (Cleveland) – Bourbon-barrel vanilla and roast; 2025 return with mocha variant for extra indulgence.
- Braxton Brewing Co. – Dark Charge Imperial Stout (Covington) – 2025 variants like bourbon-aged or coffee-infused; decade-celebrating depth.
- Black Abbey Brewing – Barrel-Aged Stout (Dayton) – Whiskey-barrel coffee-chocolate; 10-month age for fireside smoothness.
- Third Eye Brewing Co. – Dow’s 65th Birthday Blend (Hamilton) – FOBAB gold imperial stout; oak, plum, and rum whispers for a triumphant close.
Quick TL;DR Thanksgiving Ohio Beer Flight
- Pre-dinner → Rhinegeist Truth IPA
- Appetizers/Soup → Braxton Vinny
- Turkey & Sides → Great Lakes Oktoberfest
- Sweet potatoes/Cranberry → Mt. Carmel Amber Lager
- Pumpkin Pie → Third Eye Gourd Darn It!
- Pecan Pie → Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald
- Nightcap → Braxton Dark Charge
From Cleveland’s lakefront legends to Cincy’s urban innovators, Ohio beers make this feast feel like home. Grab ’em fresh—many taprooms host Thanksgiving week events. Cheers to gratitude, gravy, and great locals! 🦃🍻
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