The Tulsa Food Blog

Thanksgiving dinner is hearty and filling. The flavors are simple and familiar, it has a way of comforting the soul (or maybe that’s the tryptophan). Coming up with a beer for Thanksgiving is an interesting task – one has to be careful not to overwhelm the meal. The beer must have enough body to stand up to the meat, potatoes, and gravy, but not too many hops to ruin the flavors – it needs the flavor of grain, the flavor of barley! Sam Smith Taddy Porter is just that beer. The World Famous Taddy Porter is a product from our friends in Tadcaster, England. Sam Smith is one of the best producers of fine English Ales, and their porter – which is considered by many to be the best example of the style – is a prime example.

Porter traces is roots to early 18th century London. According to legend, a farmer brought all of his malted barley to sell at the hay market in Covent Garden. However, the night before the market there was a devastating fire and his entire crop was burned. A local brewer took pity on the farmer and paid just enough for the burnt barley to help him recover his costs. When the brewer made beer with the charred grain, it came out a rich, chocolate brown color. Since no one had seen such a dark beer before, he sold it cheaply, and the people who bought it were the porters in the market. The porters demanded more of it and soon others caught on. The beer took off like wildfire and it soon paved the way for beers like Guinness. Ultimately, the beer was named for its original consumers. Today, porter is made with barley that has been roasted similarly to a coffee bean.

Back to the Taddy Porter…its beauty is in its subtlety. Too often, porters are completely dominated by the roast flavor. In their worst incarnation (which is still pretty good usually), they are one dimensional, tasting like a carbonated, iced Americano. But with the Taddy, the roast flavor is balanced with a soft hop flavor. Unlike some other porters, it doesn’t dominate your palate. It drinks easy and makes a great accompaniment for a meal. In the case of Thanksgiving, it functions like a member of the family. Turkey, gravy, rolls, porter, mashed potatoes – you hardly even notice it there, right? And as you consume this wonderful medley of harvest goodness, the experience should be much the same – which is exactly what you want.

If you aren’t inclined to drink a dark a beer, I recommend trying a couple of domestic beers modeled after British bitters: Lefthand Sawtooth Ale and Bridgeport ESB. A bitter is a type of pale ale, and both of these beers have a full, malty body. However, they aren’t dominated by the citrus notes typical of many domestic pale ales, something which won’t mesh all that well with your stuffing.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and tip back a Taddy Porter for me!

About Elliot Nelson:

Elliot Nelson is a Tulsa restaurateur responsible for bringing Tulsa four great establishments: McNellies, Dilly Deli, El Guapo and Yokozuna. Elliot has traveled the world to find the best food and cultures to create a unique experience for all of his guests. As a frequent contributor to the Tulsa Food Blog, Elliot will bring articles about food and culture from around the world, great beers and wines, and how to incorporate them into your lifestyle. All of Elliot’s Tulsa restaurants are located in the Blue Dome District in Downtown Tulsa, OK. He has also opened a McNellies location in Midtown Oklahoma City, OK and is planning to open a location in Norman, OK this year.

Stay tuned for more articles from Elliot Nelson…For more information or to visit one of Elliot’s restaurants visit the links below:

McNellies: http://www.mcnellies.com
Dilly Deli: http://www.dillydelitulsa.com
El Guapo: http://www.elguaposcantina.net
Yokozuna: http://www.yokozunatulsa.com