7 Low-Alcohol Drinks That Are Perfect for Thanksgiving
Some of our favorite low-ABV beers, hard seltzer, and punch to help pace yourself over the holidays.
Thanksgiving dinner is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep that advice in mind with your drinking, and you’ll be on a steady path for the whole holiday weekend. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try your brother’s limited-release 8.5% ABV New England IPA that he smuggled across six state borders just for you, of course. But check out the lower-alcohol, low-calorie craft beers and seltzers here—as well as F&W Food Editor Josh Miller’s sparkling cranberry-ginger punch recipe—for a chance to focus your overindulgence on the meal itself.
Two Roads H2roads Cranberry Lime Hard Seltzer ($10/Six 12-Oz. Cans)
Over beer entirely? The latest craft brewery trend is upmarket hard seltzer. Two Roads H2Roads’ bright, zingy Cranberry Lime is 4.5% ABV and has just 110 calories.
Oskar Blues One-Y Ipa ($9/Six 12-Oz. Cans)
IPAs, typically high in alcohol, have recently been reimagined in lower-strength form. Colorado’s Oskar Blues’ version hits the “hazy” trend with plenty of citrus fruit hop pop and only 4% alcohol.
Hoof Hearted Rosé Gosé ($10/Four 12-Oz. Cans)
For beer-averse family, break out this Rosé Gosé from Ohio. It’s a pink-hued, pucker-inducing sour with refreshing acidity, more akin to a wild natural wine in flavor, and with just 4.2% alcohol.
Sufferfest Head Start ($11/Six 12-Oz. Cans)
When cold weather calls for a darker session beer, California’s “purpose-brewed” brand Sufferfest ships its Head Start stout at just 4.5% alcohol, with the added kick of coffee and coconut water.
Night Shift Nite Lite ($15/12 12-Oz. Cans)
Once the realm of big brands, light lagers now have craft brethren full of biscuity undertones and lemony zip. The 4.3% ABV, 120-calorie Nite Lite from Night Shift is a great example.
Harpoon Rec. League ($9/Four 16-Oz. Cans)
Rec. League is billed as a “cool-down companion,” fitting into the growing functional beer trend. Massachusetts’ Harpoon hits it out of the park with this full-flavored pale ale that offers just 3.8% ABV.
The Bruery Terreux Brite Ideas: Hibiscus Lime ($11/Five 12-Oz. Cans)
Seeking a jolt of citrus without the bitter notes of an IPA? Try a tart, low-ABV sour like Brite Ideas—it’s both insanely crushable and enticingly complex.
Sparkling Cranberry-Ginger Punch with Toasted Spices
This low-alcohol punch leans on tart cranberry juice and spicy ginger ale for a big punch of flavor, allowing the booze to take a back seat. Frozen cranberries stand in for a traditional punch ring, keeping this fizzy drink nice and cold. Have an extra bottle of cold sparkling wine on hand for guests to top off their cups.