With so many craft beer options across Pennsylvania, holiday drinkers have no shortage of choices. But with all that variety, we wanted to flip the script and find out what beers the owners and brewers themselves are reaching for.

Each year, we ask brewery owners and brewers from across the state a simple question: “What are you drinking this Thanksgiving?”

Here’s what they told us for Thanksgiving 2025.

Matt Katase – Owner of Brew Gentlemen

Fall into winter is my favorite drinking season. It’s become a tradition to start my Thanksgiving morning with our doppelbock, Monongalator, and then crack The Trees, our spruce IPA, with dinner.

At some point in between, I’m reaching for something crisp like Carrie Kolsch or Troegs’ new PA Lager.

Adam Chamberland – Owner & Head Brewer of Cartel Brewing & Blending

I’ll be going mostly dark and rich as usual. Most likely, Troegs Mad Elf, Cartel’s newly released Apple Brandy Barrel ENIGMA Barleywine, a vintage Voodoo Black Magick, or 2 and some Von C Vienna Lager to lighten things up a bit. Maybe a nice sour from The Referend.

Andrew Witchey – Owner & Head Brewer of Dancing Gnome

From DG, it’s gotta be Hibernal. It’s our seasonal American IPA, and it’s so great with any meal, but especially cozy this time of year. Non-DG beer would have to be Old Thunder’s Midnight Blue. I don’t regularly gravitate towards dark styles, but there’s something about that porter that’s just perfect for gathering.

Matt McMahon – Owner/Brewer of Eleventh Hour Brewing

I loved the Na Zdrowie Polish Lager from Two Frays, but that’s in short supply. My other easy drinking choice would be the new Troegs Pennsylvania Lager. I would also say our newest BYS that blends Wild Turkey & Kings County barrels is a banger and releases on Black Friday.

Kyler Gretz – Owner & Head Brewer of Gretz Brewing

During the meal, I plan on enjoying some Troegs Pennsylvania Lager and Bonn Place Nemo. Both beers are versatile when enjoyed with food, and I can have a few without getting too tipsy. For dessert, I have been saving a few cans of Vault Sweet Potato Ale, which pairs perfectly with pumpkin pie and whatever other treats may be in store.

Andrew Foss – Head Brewer of Human Robot Beer

My favorite beers to drink on Thanksgiving are stronger, darker, mixed-fermentation beers. It’s fun to pop a bottle of Allagash interlude and split 4 ways, then do the same with some Rodenbach grand cru. In the spirit of the season, it’s a great shared experience with the people who you love, a special beer for a special time. My partner’s family also has an evening tradition of blending up a pitcher of Brandy Alexanders on holidays, which is a nice treat. I’ll be sipping on a Hallertau pils in between, to be sure.

Mike LaRosa – Owner & Head Brewer of New Trail Brewing

Of my own beer, I’m most excited to drink Crisp Amber. I find its malty backbone paired with the festivities makes for a good time. Something hearty enough to give flavor (on a flavor-packed day), but easy enough to have a few.

Rangi – New Zealand Pilsner from Human Robot. I have a friend bringing some of this up here for us. Andrew and I have been collating for years on pils, and I am always excited to see what they kick out down there. He and I have some exciting projects kicking around for the spring…

Ryan Foltz – Co-Owner & Head Brewer of Pour Man’s Brewing

For Thanksgiving, I’m drinking my favorite beer. Perspective Pilsner! It’s a great session beer, and just like the name suggests, it helps put into perspective what is most important during these holidays! I will also mix in some Yuengling lagers for sure. It’s such a classic beer for this time of year.

Josh Kauffman – Head Brewer of Rooster Street Brewing

This season is a great one for special beers. And there is none more special for me than Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. I set my seasonal clock by that beer! I like it so much that I brewed a lower-ABV take on it that we call Amber Memories on tap here at Rooster Street.

Troegs Mad Elf! When you need to survive the beautiful chaos of family and friends over the holidays, you need Mad Elf.

Mike Beresky – Co-Owner of Second Sin Brewing Company

I’m starting the day with a Pizza Boy Permasmile. A tart, acidic sour with peaches and apricots. All of that acidity and funk cuts perfectly through a charcuterie board, refreshing your palate between salty meats, rich cheeses, and briny bites.

For the main course, it’s tradition: Sierra Nevada Celebration. The fresh-hop pine and citrus balance the heavier turkey, gravy, and stuffing, adding just enough bitterness to keep things from feeling too heavy.

And for dessert, I’m closing things out with the newest Second Sin barrel-aged release — Coconuts Rising Over Caramel Horizons, a 14% Munichwine aged 26 months in bourbon barrels. The layers of caramel, toasted coconut, bourbon warmth, and deep malt sweetness make it a perfect match for pies, cakes, or anything sugary on the table.

John Trogner – Co-Owner & Head Brewer of Troegs Independent Brewing Company

Thanksgiving is epic at the Trogner house, with a wealth of great food and a house full of extended family. The day starts with a traditional Mad Elf toast as I put the butter-slathered turkeys in the oven; guests usually arrive around noon. The perpetuals start flowing… along the way, I mix in beers picked up on my travels from my favorite stops. This year I have some Warwick Farm and Old Thunder … I’m not sure which styles but geez these breweries make a wide range of great beers I just reach for the lower abv ones and like getting surprised at which one it is… the night progresses to a bonfire out back to roast chestnuts and of course for me the day isn’t complete without Troegenators by the fire… It doesn’t suck!

I think I have some Warwick – Warwick Wit, Galway Stout (Irish), Kellerbier, Have a Day Hazy IPA, Czech Pils, and I’ll also probably randomly grab from that pile a few times that day!

Ryan Seiz – Co-Owner & Head Brewer of Warwick Farm Brewing

I’ll be having a heavy dose of Troegs. I have Mad Elf, Perpetual, and the new PA Lager. I’m a sucker for a Mad Elf and will most likely have a couple of those. At home, of course.

Ian Staab – Owner & Head Brewer of Yellow Bridge Brewing

Big Dude DIPA with dinner, Reinbeer Games Brown Ale w/ vanilla, cinnamon, and brown sugar with my pumpkin pie! Probably a few Fat Heads Head Hunters, but that’s not really a PA brewery. Definitely Troegs Perpetual. On repeat.

Hannah Ison – Head Brewer of Zeroday Brewing

For Thanksgiving this year, I’m gonna get my hands on a four-pack of Van Lieus’ Tiger Tears. This west coast pale ale is a collab with Troegs and Warwick Farms. Van Lieus hosted the collab, roasted a whole pig, and invited a bunch of us out for the day. It was such a fun day sharing in camaraderie that I so desperately needed at the time. Vibes were high, and this is one of my favorite styles of beer, so I can’t wait to enjoy the finished product!

I’m also indulging in one of my favorite barrel-aged projects from Zeroday that officially releases in cans on Black Friday. BBA Question! is a 7.5% stout, which is unique bc you don’t see many BBA stouts under 10%. Layers of chocolate malt are the backbone of this beautiful beer that was aged in Hidden Still bourbon barrels for 9 months. It is complex and surprisingly crushable for the style. I can have two of them!