Happy Thanksgiving!  Growler Fills is thankful for great craft beer, friends, family, good fortune and a host of other things on this snowy Thanksgiving morning in Missoula, MT.  I hope your Thanksgiving day is filled with good times and, of course, great beer.

The holiday season is filled with opportunities to reach into the beer fridge and pick out a few bottles you’ve been saving for a special occasion.  I kicked things off last night while working on pecan tarts and smelling the pumpkin pies in the oven by opening up a bottle of Great Divide’s Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout.  It is an imperial stout aged on oak chips with a “generous infusion of espresso.”

This beer pours a solid black with a dark tan head. Just the appearance screams “rich.”  The aroma is strong with roasted malt, toffee and chocolate.  The taste is full, rich and complex with a ton of rich roasted malts and a thick, intense coffee like bite. Reminds me of a perfectly brewed mocha featuring a great rich espresso backbone and subtle chocolate undertones.  Excellent.  A perfect way to kick off the Thanksgiving holidays.

What’s your special brew for the holidays?