The 5 Best Local Beers to Bring to Thanksgiving Dinner

A bite of banana in every beer.

For Thanksgiving, however, there are plenty of locally brewed beers that would be equally welcomed at the table -- and nothing says, "I trumped your dumb marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole this year, Cousin Fran," like an entire growler of beer.

Of course, if your family isn't the beer-drinking type, you can also get a growler of 8th Wonder Brewery's specially brewed root beer at the brand new Local Foods in Rice Village, next door to benjy's. And hopefully, in a few short months, 8th Wonder will have joined Buffalo Brewing as Houston's two newest craft brewers.

Until then, however, check out these five excellent options for your Thanksgiving beer needs.

This is a good "gateway" beer for family members who are unfamiliar with or wary of the craft beer movement. It's close enough to a kölsch in body and feel as to comfort your uncle who is used to drinking adjunct lagers, but with a rich undertone of malt and an inky color that screams "fall" far more than a bright yellow kölsch would. If you're the type of family to have tamales at Thanksgiving dinner, Santo is the beer for it.

4. Southern Star Buried Hatchet Stout

This strong, malty, rich American-style stout from the brewery in Conroe is absolutely a dessert beer, its toffee and chocolate notes pairing brilliantly with pumpkin and pecan pies alike. However, it's equally good for sipping by a fire -- if it's cold enough at Thanksgiving to build one or if you're lucky enough to have a fireplace in Houston -- or enjoying with a post-Thanksgiving dinner cigar on the patio. Available in cans at places like Spec's.