Who says Halloween is just for kids? For craft beer enthusiasts, Halloween is a prime opportunity to see how well your favorite brews complement the sweets of the season. Whether you’re stocking up on treats or raiding your kids’ candy stash, here’s a guide to frighteningly good craft beer and Halloween candy pairings.
10 Craft Beer and Candy Pairings to Try This Halloween
1. Milk Chocolate + Milk Stout
Milk chocolate’s sweet, creamy texture pairs beautifully with a milk stout’s rich, roasted malt flavors. Milk stout often has subtle notes of coffee, cocoa, or vanilla that work to enhance the milk chocolate’s flavor profile, creating a luscious, indulgent experience. Try pairing it with Hershey’s Bars or M&M’s for a creamy, malty treat.
2. Peanut Butter Cups + Porter
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are a Halloween staple, and the chocolate and peanut butter combo pairs perfectly with Porter’s roasted, nutty flavors. The slight bitterness from the porter’s dark malts cuts through the sweetness of the candy, making this a rich and satisfying pairing.
3. Sour Gummies + Gose
Sour and sugary, candies like Sour Patch Kids or Skittles need a beer that can handle their tangy punch. Enter the gose, a slightly salty and tart wheat beer. The sour notes mirror the candy’s tart flavors, while the salty edge helps balance out the overall sweetness. The beer’s hints of citrus or fruit make it an ideal match for a mouthful of sour gummies.
4. Candy Corn + Pumpkin Ale
Love it or hate it, candy corn is a Halloween staple. Fans of the highly divisive candy should try pairing it with a pumpkin ale. The caramelized sweetness of the candy corn blends well with the spicy notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove found in pumpkin ales. Together, they create a warm, nostalgic combination that screams Halloween perfection.
5. Snickers + Brown Ale
With its caramel, peanuts, and nougat, Snickers is packed with flavors that need a beer to match its complexity. A brown ale’s toasty, nutty flavors are the perfect match for this layered candy bar, bringing out the roasted peanuts with a touch of bitterness that helps cut through the richness of caramel and chocolate.
6. Twix + Amber Ale
The crisp cookie center, caramel, and chocolate coating in a Twix pair nicely with the balanced maltiness of an amber ale. This beer’s moderate sweetness highlights the candy’s cocoa notes, while the malt body pairs nicely with the crispness of the cookie. The amber ale’s overall hints of caramel beautifully complement the flavors of the Twix without overpowering the palate.
7. Butterfinger + IPA
Butterfinger’s signature chocolate-covered peanut butter crunch can be a bit intense on its own, but a bold IPA brings out the best in this candy. The bitterness of the hops cuts through the sweetness, while the citrusy notes provide a refreshing contrast to the Butterfinger’s rich and crumbly texture, making for a unique combination that works surprisingly well.
8. Kit Kat + Belgian Dubbel
Kit Kats are all about that crunch and light chocolate coating, which makes them a versatile candy for pairing. A Belgian Dubbel, with its notes of burnt caramel and chocolate, is a fantastic complement to the chocolate wafer layers of a Kit Kat. The Dubbel’s dark fruit flavors, like figs and raisins, enhance the candy’s cocoa notes while adding complexity to the wafer’s crispiness.
9. Milky Way + Barleywine
Milky Way’s smooth caramel and nougat filling calls for a beer that can stand up to its richness. A barleywine, with its high ABV and deep malt character, fits the bill. The caramel and toffee notes in a barleywine enhance the candy’s flavor, while its warmth and slight booziness offer a cozy complement to this Halloween favorite.
10. Twizzlers + Fruit Beer
Licorice lovers will appreciate the fruity sweetness of Twizzlers paired with a fruity beer like a raspberry or cherry lambic. The candy’s chewiness works well with the tart, jam-like flavors of the fruit beer, creating a dessert-like combination.
Pro Tips for Pairing
– Balance sweetness: If the candy is super sweet, go for a beer that has a bit of bitterness to offset it.
– Contrast flavors: Pair opposites — creamy candy with a sharp beer or tart candy with a sweet beer.
– Complement: Look for matching flavors — caramel notes in both your beer and candy will naturally work well together.
Treat Your Taste Buds at The Growler Guys
Whether you’re trick-or-treating, enjoying a spooky night in, or sneaking candy from your kids’ Halloween haul, these pairings are sure to elevate your Halloween celebration. Whatever candy you choose, you’re sure to find the perfect beer to go with it at The Growler Guys. Stop in for a pint, flight, or growler fill today, and cheers to a sweet and hoppy Halloween!
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