In the two years since we last made our suggestions of the beers to pair with your kid’s Halloween candy, a lot has changed. Hazy IPAs and pastry stouts rule the shelves and craft Pilsners are more popular than ever.
There are also some new candies on the shelves of your local store. So after the littles ones have run around the house a hundred times before falling asleep in their costumes and before they get up with that inevitable sugar stomach ache, what should you nick from their pile and pull from the fridge to pair? A few suggestions:
New England–style IPA + Mike and Ike Tropical Typhoon
That juicy DDH IPA you’ve just tipped from the can into a glass is likely already bursting with the citrusy and tropical flavors and aromas of Citra and Mosaic hops, so why not add a little more chewy and fruity to the mix? This “tropical fruit–flavored candy” comes in five different flavors including mango, Caribbean punch, and kiwi banana.
- WeldWerks Double Dry-hopped Juicy Bits (Greeley, Colorado)
- TrimTab The Original 006 (Birmingham, Alabama)
Barleywine + Heath Bar
A proper barleywine of adequate strength will help soothe the nerves after a night of the constantly ringing doorbells and the worry that you’ll hear the splatter of eggs on your siding after you annoyed those kids by running out of candy early. From your stash, find the toffee-forward Heath bar, which should meld nicely with the existing nutty, caramel, and sweet flavors of the beer.
- Firestone Walker Brewing Company Sucaba (Paso Robles, California)
- Pelican Brewing Company Mother of All Storms (Tillamook, Oregon)
Pilsner + Swedish Fish
A little fruit goes a long way with this style. The generic red-fruit flavors of the aquatic-dwelling shaped confectionary can boost some of the crackery malt and complement spicy noble hops flavors, and the candy even takes on a bit of fizz, thanks to the carbonation.
- Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company Trauger Pils (Croydon, Pennsylvania)
- Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers Sunny Ridge Pilsner (Framingham, Massachusetts)
Wine Barrel–Aged Saison + Dark Chocolate
If you’ve been saving a bottle of red wine–barrel saision and you live in one of those fancy neighborhoods where your neighbors try to one up each other by handing out the really expensive stuff or are just recycling those international chocolates left over from last Christmas, give the pair a try. The Belgians know a thing or two about chocolate and saison, and the right red wine will only help to boost the flavors of the cocoa.
- Side Project Brewing Jammy (Maplewood, Missouri)
- Two Roads Brewing Worker's Stomp (Stratford, Connecticut)
Coffee Beer + Jelly Belly Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Mix
A good glass of java-infused ale deserves the right complement. Jelly Belly, the makers of all kinds of flavors of jelly beans, has partnered with Krispy Kreme, the doughnut chain, to produce a a variety pack with flavors that include Original Glazed, Strawberry Iced, Chocolate Iced with Sprinkles, Glazed Blueberry Cake, and Cinnamon Apple Filled.
- Lawson's Finest Liquids Coffee Fayston Maple Imperial Stout (Waitsfield, Vermont)
- Alaskan Brewing Heritage Coffee Brown (Juneau, Alaska)
Pastry Stout + Oral Health
There’s always that one buzzkill in the neighborhood who hands out dental-care packets. Maybe that local tooth-health enthusiast is on to something. Pastry stouts, brewed with donuts, candy, pounds of chocolate, and sugar are plenty sweet on their own. So after the kids are down and you’ve polished off a glass of carbonated confectionary alcohol, maybe give those chompers a good scrubbing.
- Westbrook Brewing Company Mexican Cake (Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina)
- Powder Keg SUPERVOID: Breakfast (Niwot, Colorado)