Wow the crowd with these appetizers, sides and desserts, and the brews to serve alongside them

By the Thirst Team

Maybe you’ve always served the same mashed potatoes and prosecco with Thanksgiving dinner. Make 2025 the year for something new. It has certainly been a year of change, so maybe change up your appetizers and sides for turkey day, and wow the crowd with your exquisite taste in Colorado beer. These beers are available in bottle stores, in case you don’t have time for a trip to these breweries.

Bristol Brewing Christmas Ale

Paired with Sweet Potato Crostini with Goat Cheese and Candied Pecans

Bristol Brewing in Colorado Springs is great at dark beers. The Laughing Lab Scottish Ale put the brewery on the map, and we love the Winter Warlock Oatmeal Stout, but we decided to save that for later in the winter. The limited-time Christmas Spiced Ale has a little bit of molasses sweetness alongside a warming blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and cloves. So, it pairs nicely with the sweet potato and melty goat cheese in this easy but fancy-lookin’ appetizer.

Odell Brewing Isolation Ale

Pairs with Cranberry Brie Bites

Here’s another easy appetizer that looks great, paired with a Colorado classic. Don’t call us basic; there’s a reason Isolation Ale is in nearly every tap room and grocery store this month. It may be a perfect winter warmer to please everyone at your holiday table — sweet caramel maltiness balanced with just the right hop finish. And a great complement to these buttery crescent dough pockets filled with tart goodness.

Copper Kettle Mexican Chocolate Stout

Pairs with Spicy Burnt Maple Brussels Sprouts

Chocolate and Brussels sprouts? Hear us out. The key word in the beer name is Mexican. Sure, there is some local, organic chocolate in this beer from Denver’s award-winning Copper Kettle, but it also is brewed with habanero, ancho and guajillo peppers for the perfect kick. And there is a complementary kick in the Brussels sprouts. Ole!

Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter

Pairs with Bourbon Pecan Pie

Finally, you could have this porter as dessert. But it’s Thanksgiving. Have this AND dessert. This is a decadent dessert with a touch of bourbon; and a somewhat milder beer, at just under 6 percent ABV. Of course, if you really want to go for broke and down an 18-percent ABV imperial porter, we’re not going to stop you. The cocoa porter is another seasonal offering, so get it while you can.

Kristen Kuchar contributed to this story.