Golden Monkey, by Victory Brewing Co. $11.98 per six-pack
A beer to pair with Thanksgiving dinner should have balance and some complexity to enhance the many flavors presented in such an elaborate meal. Pennsylvania’s Victory is up to the task with this unfiltered Belgian-style tripel ale. The bottle opens with a champagne-like pop, owing to abundant carbonation, and the pour is golden with a loose, off-white head. Bits of sediment abound. Golden Monkey’s aroma is filled with citrus, apple, banana, nutmeg and Belgian yeast — a nice match for the big feast. The flavor is equally complex, with sweet and sour notes to spread the joy around the tongue. The carbonation calms down after the beer sits for a few minutes; the Monkey goes down easily and isn’t too filling, leaving room for pie. And the alcohol by volume of 9.5 percent helps the holiday family dynamics go down smoothly, as well.
Victory Brewing Co., Boston;
Marcus Chamberland;
