Thanksgiving Ale
Mayflower Brewing Company

Thanksgiving AleThanksgiving Ale
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From:
Mayflower Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
Ranked #111
ABV:
6.7%
Score:
87
Ranked #16,436
Avg:
3.88 | pDev: 11.08%
Reviews:
110
Ratings:
264
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 09, 2023
Added:
Oct 20, 2008
Wants:
  23
Gots:
  36
The first and only perennial offering in our Cooper’s Series of limited batch beers. Mayflower Thanksgiving Ale is an inspired blend of two brewing styles: American Strong Ale and English Old Ale. Aged on American white oak, this full-bodied brew warms the soul with hints of caramel, vanilla and spicy nuts. The perfect beverage for our favorite holiday.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by GratefulBeerGuy:
Photo of GratefulBeerGuy
Reviewed by GratefulBeerGuy from New Hampshire

3.91/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pint can. PKG: 10/19/17. Opened on 11/15/17
6.7 % alc. By vol. **2022 version review at bottom from Untapped>>>>

This ale is a very lively, bubbly and clear but radiant shade of amber with ruby highlights. A Thick and robust looking off-white, creamy foam cap has excellent retention. Foamy coverage remains scattered but constant, decent lace.

The aroma is pretty intense, dense and full of sweet chocoalte toffee, brown sugar over roasty wheat and barley. Big roasty, but maple syrupy sweet malts, tangy and earthy grains.....light coffee roast, vanilla and cream with a burnt....leafy bonfire thing. Very complex barley malt aroma for sure. The hops seem to give off a dark berries, fruity tinge and leafy, dry earth balance.

The taste...the flavor profile: Barley malt aspects: roasty and toasty wheat grain, maple syrup/brown sugar malt, dark, wild fruity tasting hops, dry and leafy forrest floor effect, slightly bitter and tangy after taste from the hops and after effect of huge malty charecters. At 6.7 % abv. There is never a real heat presence, which brings the overall flavor sonewhere closer to a big brown ale.

The mouhfeel is certainly full, long and slick malty effects the palate with big saturation. The hops almost give off enough tangy, earthy tones to off-set a rather cloying finish from the big malt profile. Some age might help, as the malt may mature to a more complex entity. The alcohol should probably be closer to 8 or 9 % for thst to become a reality. As is, it should be consumed fresh.

This seriously malty brew will, in fact, be perfect with classic fall and winter meals of hearty beef soups and Crocpot creations with beef and pork.

I will admit to being on a very extended ride of nothing but big and juicy New England style ipa's and Dipa's.....so a rather malty brew seems a bit martian and out of style right now to my palate. However, I'm seriously enjoying this Ale....complexity and balance could certainly be enhanced....but dang ic its not just about perfect for colder weather and holidaaaze season. Cheers 2017.>>>>>

2022....
Thanksgiving Ale 2022 Mayflower Brewing Company Strong Ale - American

Nice hybrid of America Strong and English Old ale. Very oak-woody forward malt complexity. Toffee, black pepper and spicy vanilla is a very nice change of pace from the fat hoppy IPAs. Full and smooth Mouthfeel seems just about perfect. Spice kick to fin

Purchased at Monadnock Food Co-op
Nov 15, 2017
More User Ratings:
Photo of jzeilinger
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A - Seep copper color with ice clarity and low carbonation and light lacing.

S - Toasted caramel malt with a slight it of graininess.

T - Follows the nose with toasted caramel, some graininess, and light bitterness on the back side even though finishing on the sweeter side.

M - Medium body with delicate carbonation pricklies.

O - An easy drinking beer.
Dec 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4.06 by RozzieBoy from Rhode Island

Nov 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.18 by Taenim from Maine

Nov 03, 2023
Photo of Cathartes
Reviewed by Cathartes from Massachusetts

3.14/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Allowed to acclimate to room temperature for 10 minutes, poured into a snifter.

Pours a hazy orangy copper with a somewhat quickly dissipating 3 finger head

Bitter, slightly hoppy presence spreading around the back and sides of the tongue and gently biting the mouth. A floral perfume taste made itself known to me once half way through.

Quite smooth mouthfeel, going down easily.
Apr 14, 2023
Photo of zotzot
Reviewed by zotzot from Vermont

4.21/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Very nice holiday beer!
Pours a dark coppery amber.
Moderate filmy head which dissipates fairly quickly.
Smells of warm spices.
Nice malt forward taste with spice notes.
Nov 24, 2022
 
Rated: 4.04 by Abstractspirit from Rhode Island

Nov 23, 2022
Photo of Whyteboar
Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured dark amber, almost reddish brown, and sported a light brown 1 finger head that left copious lacing. Nice looking beer.
The aroma was good, warm notes of rye bread and dark fruit, maybe some molasses. A faint spicyness found it’s way once the beer warmed a little.
The taste followed, definitely bready and molasses and dark fruit with a touch of spices on the swallow. The oak aging added a depth and rounded out any sharp edges,
The feel was excellent, ideally situated between thin and medium body. Just so easy to drink.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, wish I could get it every year!
Jan 15, 2022
Photo of ovaltine
Reviewed by ovaltine from Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a gorgeous mahogany brown color with a bit of burgundy on the edges and a light tan head. Beautiful beer. The rye is really forward on the nose, and there’s a bit of toffee and oak as well. Really nice.

The rye is spicy and prominent on the taste, but there’s definitely room for the toffee and vanilla from the oak as well. The mouthfeel is medium, fitting for the style and the heft of the beer.

I think this is a great Thanksgiving beer. I don’t know that it’s an “old ale,” but it’s definitely a delicious rye ale. Sign me up for more of this.
Jan 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.73 by Gkruszewski from New York

Nov 20, 2021
Photo of Bluecrow
Reviewed by Bluecrow from New York

4.02/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
-clear mahogany can pour with a thin foam ring and a sweet, malty nose.
The flavor includes malty, toffee-sweetness and a hint of candi-sugar. There is a boozy-whiskey tasting aspect but the ABV is relatively low (6.7%)
The finish is pleasantly dry. The flavors persist.
This is quite good.
Dec 30, 2020
 
Rated: 4.07 by Sellen from Connecticut

Dec 04, 2020
 
Rated: 3.89 by Pinz412 from Pennsylvania

Nov 28, 2020
Photo of FBarber
Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois

3.92/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a ruddy brown color, Clear when held up to the light. Thin off-white head dissipates pretty quickly leaving no residual head. No lacing.

Aroma is very malty - with notes of barley, grain, and a slight spicy rye note. A hint of dark fruit and molasses is there as the beer warms.

Taste follows the nose with rich malts - barley, rye bread, grain and rustic fresh bread. There is a slight earthy, nutty bitterness to it especially on the back end. Hints of dark fruit, molasses, and maple syrup. Overarching all of that is this sharp oak character - reminiscent in presence of an oaked chardonnay. Definitely a warming beer and the spiciness from the rye combined with that sharp oakiness reinforces that.

Feel is light to medium bodied. Smooth even carbonation. Drier on the finish.

Overall a lovely old ale and a really enjoyable autumnal sipper.
Nov 26, 2020
 
Rated: 4.5 by wcampbell69 from Massachusetts

Nov 24, 2020
 
Rated: 4.29 by Manfrombelmonty from Massachusetts

Nov 23, 2020
Photo of Greywulfken
Reviewed by Greywulfken from New York

4.41/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Far better than expected - I was set on a decent but meh beer, and instead really pleased with the quality and character of this beer... I never know what to expect with an old ale - Founders (Old Curmudgeon) and many Bruery anniversary releases - all of which I loved - defined the style for me (throw in some Thomas Hardy's as well (and Old Stock from North Coast)) - but they aren't necessarily representative of what the style has to offer, if that makes sense... They are the "big boy high abv" incarnations - beers like Fuller's Vintage ale are more aligned with this brew, and this is actually the lowest-abv beer of this style I've ever had (6.7%) - this drinks like an "English doppelbock" - which is not a thing, but it's what this is like - has the chewy sweet fruits, like dates - and a shellacky, stickiness... Bitterness is of sweet resin and caramel, and leaves a fruit leathery pine coat on the tongue and palate... Feel is medium-weight, fairly dense, low carbonation despite a respectable starting head... Finishes with a little bit of oaky dryness... This is a "strong" pub beer for a cold night or a holiday sipper by the fireside - incredibly manageable abv - the richness will make you think you're drinking something stronger...
Nov 15, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by EatonHops from Massachusetts

Nov 10, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Nov 08, 2020
 
Rated: 4.15 by Bogdawg from Massachusetts

Oct 27, 2020
Thanksgiving Ale from Mayflower Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 264 ratings