By Timothy Long

The Biggest Bar Night of the Year (and the Most Dangerous Turkey Prep Day)

There are certain holidays that demand a little advance planning. Christmas requires shopping, Valentine’s Day requires remembering what day it is, and Thanksgiving requires getting a turkey prepped and into the oven at 4 AM. But the night before Thanksgiving? That requires a designated driver, a little common sense, and possibly a phone call to your mother explaining why you’re going to be late tomorrow.

Thanksgiving Eve is the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season, the annual reunion of old friends. It’s the night when college buddies return home and high school classmates who haven’t spoken since graduation suddenly become best friends again.

I love writing about Thanksgiving Eve, it’s a fun subject that fits this column like a glove. And it also brings back fun, blurry memories from my early years.

Thanksgiving Eve has earned its reputation as a major drinking night for one simple reason: people are home. College students have returned from school, former residents have come back to visit family, and working folks are looking forward to a rare four-day weekend. The next morning, you don’t have to punch a clock, attend a meeting, or pretend to care about another PowerPoint presentation. You can sleep in, provided you aren’t responsible for cooking a 20-pound turkey at 4 AM. I still remember waking up to the smell of it cooking. Mom never slept in.

Thanksgiving Eve is often called “Drunksgiving” or “Blackout Wednesday.” Crowds can be substantial. New Year’s Eve, St. Patrick’s Day, and other occasions can give it a run for its money, but it’s often considered the busiest bar night of the year.

And Thanksgiving Eve has something those other nights don’t: nostalgia. You might spend the evening with the same people you drank cheap beer with 20 years ago, except now they have a mortgage and kids. One of them is discussing his cholesterol with you while another one is still telling the same story about that party in 1988. The names may change, but the stories never do.

If there was ever a night designed for craft beer, this is it. Thanksgiving Eve isn’t necessarily the time to chase the biggest, “hoppiest” beer on the tap list. Remember, you have a holiday meal to survive tomorrow, and Mom will absolutely notice if you fall asleep face-first in the mashed potatoes. That’s the voice of experience talking my friends.

Start with a crisp pilsner or a refreshing lager. These beers are approachable and easy to drink. A German-style pilsner brings a pleasant bitterness and a clean finish, while a Mexican lager offers a lighter, easygoing option.

Recommendations: D.C. Brau’s ‘Brau Pils’ German Pilsner or Aslin Brewery’s Esperante Mexican Lager.

If you prefer a little more character, try an amber ale. Its malty sweetness, caramel notes, and moderate bitterness make it a natural companion for the flavors of the coming feast.

Recommendation: Starr Hill Brewery’s Under the Radar Amber Ale. Gold Medal Winner at the Virginia Craft Beer Cup.

If you’re an IPA enthusiast, just remember that a beer’s bitterness and alcohol content are two different things. Some IPAs are surprisingly strong, and several pints can add up faster than the number of relatives expected at your dinner table. Checking the ABV is essential.

Recommendation: Fair Winds Brewing Company’s Bodhi’s Last Ride IPA.

Also, be a good citizen and support your local brewery. Pick up a few locally-made beers or meet your friends at the neighborhood taproom and enjoy what your region’s brewers have to offer. Craft beer is about flavor, creativity, community, and supporting the people who make your local drinking scene interesting.

Thanksgiving Eve is also an excellent excuse to enjoy a good bourbon, like I ever need an excuse. The weather is cooling, the leaves have fallen, and there’s something comforting about a glass of good bourbon while catching up with old friends.

There’s also a practical advantage to sipping bourbon slowly: it gives you time to talk. You can discuss old memories, debate the best local restaurants, or explain how your favorite team is definitely going to turn things around next season. A good bourbon can improve the conversation, especially the more drawn-out ones.

But remember, it’s not a drinking competition. Thanksgiving Eve isn’t the night to prove you can outdrink your old college roommate. He may still be willing to try. But if you’re hosting, that the enormous turkey will not cook itself, the potatoes will not mash themselves, and the family will not stop asking when dinner will be ready simply because you have a hangover. We often think we will be fine when we plan the night before and then realize our errors while we suffer the next day. That turkey has a schedule, and it will hold you to it.

Thanksgiving Eve is about reconnecting with friends, enjoying a little time off, and celebrating the people and places that shaped us. The bar or taproom is simply the meeting place. The real attraction is the company. So go ahead and enjoy a locally brewed beer and raise a glass of bourbon. Laugh at those stories you’ve heard a hundred times. Be grateful for the people who are still in your life. And toast those who are no longer with you. They would be there sharing great stories if they could be. They deserve a good toast.

Oh, and don’t forget to set your alarm for 4 AM. Those who host don’t get to rest. Especially if they enjoyed “Drunksgiving”!

Wishing a happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

About the Author: Timothy Long is an educator, writer, consultant, and experienced restaurant operator. Email: tlong@belmarinnovations.com. Instagram and Twitter: @wvutimmy. Blog: What is that fly doing in my soup? http://whatflyinmysoup.com

Tim’s Whiskey and Cigar Recommendations

Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked Bourbon

Woodford hit a homerun with this one. It’s made by taking their Double Oaked bourbon through an additional maturation in deeply toasted and lightly charred oak barrels. On the nose, you get waves of dark caramel, maple syrup, toasted marshmallow, vanilla, and brown sugar. Take a sip, and you get a wonderfully rich combination of fudge, toffee, butterscotch, cinnamon, and baking spices, followed by notes of toasted oak and dark fruit. The mouthfeel is thick and velvety. It has the typical wonderful finish that Woodford is known for, long, warm, and sweet, with notes of oak, chocolate, and spice lingering on the palate. I thought it might be too oaky, but it’s not at all. It’s 90 proof and very drinkable. At $200 a bottle, it’s the perfect Thanksgiving bourbon for your glass, but only for yours. Let your obnoxious brother-in-law drink the rot gut whiskey he brought.

Romeo & Julieta 1875 Cigar

This cigar is a great everyday cigar, which will go well with the expensive Woodford Double Double Oaked Bourbon you are drinking. Expect a balanced profile with notes of cedar, toasted nuts, earth, and a natural sweetness. Hints of cream, coffee, and gentle spice come through as you smoke it. This cigar is generally smooth and medium-bodied. The finish is pleasant and lingering, with notes of wood, pepper, and a touch of sweetness. And at $5 to $10 a stick, it’s an affordable delight. Enjoy.

This cigar, and many other fine cigars, are available at John Crouch Tobacconist at 215 King St. in Old Town Alexandria. Mention this article and get 10% off the purchase of this month’s recommended cigar.