The Beers Of Thanksgiving NFL Game Day Slideshow

Houston Texans at Detroit Lions

Detroit: Motor City Brewing Works

Motor City Brewing Works, an institution in Detroit since 1994, pays homage to its roots with salvaged equipment and scraps from the city's industrial era. But really, how's the beer? Its brews are unfiltered, unpasteurized, and definitely natural. With a lineup of seasonal and "flagship beers" (plus wine, "elixirs" (mash-ups of wine and grape brandy), and sodas), the brewery and tap room are definitely worth the visit.

Beer to Try: The Nut Brown Ale

For a brown ale, the Motor City offering is full of roasted malts, plus American aromatic hops, for a nutty character and a malty nose. 

Houston Texans at Detroit Lions

Houston: Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold Brewing Company is the oldest craft brewery in the grand state of Texas. Two friends, Brock Wagner and Kevin Bartol, were hombrewers who decided to pursue their dream of a local brewery. Since then, the brewery produces 17 seasonal and year-round beers that are available across the state.

Beer to Try: Saint Arnold Brown Ale

This brown ale has hints of chocolate, with a sweet finish and light hops. The combination of five malts gives it a roastiness and malty sweetness.

 

Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys

Washington, D.C.: Capitol City Brewing Company

What makes Capitol City Brewing so special? When it opened in 1992, it was the first brew pub to open in D.C. since the Prohibition era. Now, it attracts loads of locals to its brewery and "brew-houses," where you can literally watch the brewing process unfold. The brewery is known for its roundup of English, German, and Belgian-style ales, but it's still an all-American beer company.

Beer to Try: Pale Rider Ale

The American-style pale ale is brewed with English and German malts, combined with American Simcoe and Amarillo hops for a truly hoppy beer. 

New England Patriots at New York Jets

Boston: Harpoon Brewery

Harpoon was one of the first craft breweries to hit the Boston beer scene, back in 1986. Since then, it's become synonymous with Harpoon ale, Oktoberfest (it's now a huge annual event now), and sustainability. Harpoon has also become a big part of the community, by helping with local food bank drives and homebrew competitions for its employees.

Beer to Try: Rich and Dan's Rye IPA

Add Centennial, Chinook, and Falconer's Flight hops to Pale, Rye, Caramel 60, Flaked Rye, and Vienna malts for one seriously multidimensional beer (Fun fact: the founders of Harpoon named it after themselves, based on their friendship of 30 years. Love the bromance.) It has a citrus, fruity aroma, while the malt blends balance the rye hops. 

New England Patriots at New York Jets

New York: Captain Lawrence Brewing Company

A staple for New Yorkers, Captain Lawrence Brewery got its inspiration from founder Scott Vaccaro's trips to West Coast breweries, like Sierra Nevada and Colorado Brewery. Now, Captain Lawrence has made a name for itself with its lineup of ales — Belgian, Trippel, IPA — and more.

Beer to Try: Imperial IPA

This beer, with bold hops and classic citrus and pine flavor, has just enough malt to balance the bitterness. This brew is for the dudes (and gals) who aren't afraid of a big beer. 

Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys

Dallas: Deep Ellum Brewing Company

"Enough of bad beer!" the brewery proudly proclaims. The four founders of the Houston brewery take on what they call "same old dull, watered-down stuff" with a lineup of craft beer to make you drool. The relative baby of the breweries (it's turning one year old this month), it's taken over the Texas beer scene with force.

Beer to Try: Rye Pils(ner)

Deep Ellum takes back the American-style pilsner, with noble Germanic (dry) hops, mashed with rye malt.