Craft Beer & Halloween Candy Pairings 2016

Hello, foolish mortals!

Are you having a Halloween party at your house and need a fun activity to entertain your guests? Well, I highly recommend doing a beer & candy pairing! I've done this for my friends and we all get a kick out of it. It's fun to try different beers and see how candy can work with beer! 

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Here are a few of my guidelines:
-I start by picking 5 candies.
-Then, I pick the beers to compliment each candy.
-Have your group sit in a circle on the couch or table (It's easier this way, but you can just stand also)
-Sip, taste, sip. Have people try the beer first, then candy, then beer.
-When you're done, make a toast & continue partying!

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Lana Del Beer's Beer + Candy Pairings 2016

Disclaimer: you don't have to use the exact beer I used in these pairings.
​You can find a similar style at your local bottle shop! (shop local, please!)

UPLAND REVIVE + POP ROCKS

Start your tasting off with a BANG! Or should I say....pop? 
​Pop Rocks will bring back a little bit of nostalgia and catch your guests' attention! Pop Rocks are sweet and tangy....so you want a beer with a little tang too! When you pair the Pop Rocks with a fruited sour ale, it allows the juicy fruit of the beer to shine. This certain beer was brewed with pineapples and chamomile, so the pineapple flavor was the star of the pairing. It's also fun to hear all the *popping* going on in the room!

OMMEGANG VALOR DOHAERIS + RICE KRISPY TREAT

To fully do this pairing, you need to make your own rice krispy treats. No worries, it's easy! I chose a Belgian-style Tripel for this pairing because a Tripel has enough cutting power from the hops on top of a grainy, bready malt bill. The bitterness of the hops will cut thru the sweet marshmallow coating while the malts will compliment the cereal. The fruity esters from the belgian yeast will also compliment the marshmallows while adding another depth of flavor. Snap, crackle, pop!

STONE ENJOY BY 10.31.16 + SKITTLES

You can use any Skittles blend for this pairing since they are all fruity to some extent. I used the Cauldron Skittles to fit the theme. You can pair them with any West Coast style/fruity IPA, but this Tangerine IPA from Stone worked wonders! The fruity profile of the beer was totally complimented by the fruity candy while the bitter hops cut thru the chewy insides of the Skittles. Frighteningly fresh!

BOULEVARD AZTEC CHOCOLATE STOUT + DOVE DARK CHOCOLATE

Dark, creamy chocolate calls for a rich dark beer to pair with it. This certain beer came from my cellar....an 11% abv stout brewed with chocolate and chiles! Any Imperial Stout would work, but I have to say that this combo with the peppers was out of this world! The dark malts and chocolate from the beer complimented the candy perfectly. The beer was still on the dry side which helped cut thru the tongue-coating creaminess of the candy. When paired with the chocolate, the peppers in the beer got to come out and play! A very sensory tingling experience.

2014 BOURBON COUNTY BARLEYWINE + TWIX

My grand finale! Another beer from the cellar....a 2014 Goose Island Bourbon County Barleywine. A 12% abv barleywine that had been aged in used Kentucky bourbon barrels. With a couple of years age, it had mellowed out into a rich beer with notes of vanilla, toffee, nuts, and brown sugar with a slight bourbon finish. Amazing! All those flavors complimented the biscuit and caramel aspects of the candy while adding more layers of flavor. Twix has never tasted so good! 
*When choosing a barleywine for this pairing...I would recommend using an English-style one....but American-styles would work too!

There you have it, folks.

These parties have been such a success that I may start hosting other holiday pairings. 

Thanksgiving, maybe?

We shall see!

Cheers, boils & ghouls!

​Lana