Jeff Flowers on October 22, 2014 3 Comments Are you gearing up for your best friend’s annual Halloween bash, or did you draw the short straw for trick-or-treat duty all night? Whatever you’re planning for this year’s All Hallow’s Eve, there’s one element you need to make your evening complete—good beer. Fortunately, brewers worldwide take full advantage of fall produce, bringing out some of their premium products around Halloween. Better still, many of these brews have festive names to go with their devilishly good tastes. Whether it’s a delicious pumpkin beer or just another hair-raising glass of hoppy goodness, here are some thirteen great options for booze that boos. 1. Dogfish Head Punkin Ale Dogfish Head Punkin Ale is an extremely popular brown ale with full-body flavor. The Delaware-based brewery creates this blend with pumpkin flesh, spices, and brown sugar, giving it an almost cider-like feel for those chilly autumn nights. It’s a seasonal brew that’s great with hearty fall foods and the Halloween candy you sneak out of your kids’ baskets. ABV: 7.0% IBU: 28 Body: Full-Bodied Availability: Fall Seasonal 2. Rogue Dead Guy Ale Whether it’s a zombie, ghost, or other creature from beyond, you’re likely to see a few dead guys walking around this Halloween. Dead Guy Ale is the perfect Halloween beer for those who like to scare. Not only does the bottle glow in the dark, the logo was originally created for All Soul’s Day. It’s popular for its strong malty aroma, hints of fruit, beautiful auburn appearance, and lasting spicy hops finish. Judges at The World Beer Championship praised this brew for its hybrid taste – bock-style malt mixed with ale-style hop. ABV: 6.66% IBU: 40 Body: Full Availablity: Year-Round 3. Brooklyn Brewery Post Road Pumpkin Ale This classic ale takes full advantage of the flavor, smell, and nutrition of pumpkin. Inspired by traditions of early colonialists, plenty of Dickinson pumpkin are used to to give this beer its autumn hue and warm pumpkin aroma. From its festive label to its refreshingly crisp finish, Post Road Pumpkin Ale from Brooklyn Brewery is a fantastic pick for fall and Halloween alike. ABV: 5.0% IBU: 24 Body: Medium Availability: Fall Seasonal 4. New Holland Ichabod Pumpkin Ale Any true Halloween fanatic has heard the tale of the Headless Horseman, and this is another natural pumpkin ale that makes for its own unique character. New Holland Brewing combines malted barley, pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg to make a delicious and refreshing autumn beer. Most people enjoy a hearty malt taste, and Ichabod pumpkin ale goes particularly well with sweets. So, sneak a few sweets from your kids and pour yourself a glass. ABV: 5.2% IBU: 26 Body: Medium Availability: Fall Seasonal 5. Lost Abbey Witch’s Wit What’s Halloween without a few witches? This Belgian white is for those who enjoy the ominous side of October 31st. There’s quite a story behind its controversial label art, which features a convicted witch being burned at the stake in front of a guilty, hollow crowd. The taste matches the mystery too. Brewed in honor of the sort of beer that would be passed around while a witch burns at the cross, many find Witch’s Wit surprisingly easy to drink – light-bodied and refreshing. While wheat dominates the palate, there are clearly some hints of citrus and spice, making this one of the easiest to drink of any Halloween beer. ABV: 4.8% IBU: 10 Body: Light Availability: Summer Seasonal 6. Unibroue Maudite Another beer with a spooky tale, Maudite was named after a group of Canadian lumberjacks who allegedly made a pact with the devil. As the legend goes, eight lumberjacks wanted to go home for the holidays, so they sold their soul to the devil, in return for them flying home in their canoe. However, during their passage home, one of them invoked the word of God and found a way out of the deal they made with the Devil, instantly causing the flying canoe to fall out of the sky. This is a strong, amber-red ale packed with the robust flavor of malt, cloves, and coriander. The sharp hops finish is just as fierce. ABV: 8.0% IBU: 22 Body: Medium Availability: Year-Round 7. Southern Tier Pumking Ale When I think of which beer is best for Halloween, Southern Tier’s Pumking Ale is usually the first one that comes to mind. There are a lot of pumpkin beers out there for you to try, even a few on this list, but not all of them live up to its name as king. And Pumking continues to hold this throne. Because it’s smoother and sweeter than most other pumpkin ales, many people find that it tastes more like pumpkin pie. This is a good full-body choice for those who are stuck giving out candy. ABV: 8.6% IBU: 25 Body: Full Availability: Fall-Seasonal 8. Flying Dog The Fear Imperial Pumpkin Ale For those who want more pumpkin and more malt, The Fear from Flying Dog Brewery doesn’t disappoint. Brewed from locally-grown pumpkins, The Fear is popular for it’s thick, full-bodied taste of pumpkin pie that comes from a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, graham cracker, and Halloween’s signature treat – chocolate. Fear fanatics will be particularly intrigued by the ghoulish face screaming from the label. ABV: 9.0% IBU: 45 Body: Full Availability: Limited Release 9. Samuel Adams Octoberfest In 1810, Germany kicked off the first Oktoberfest celebration, and Samuel Adams continues that tradition. Most people who enjoy both beer and Halloween have sampled the sweet taste of this hearty brew. Like many Oktoberfest beers, it features a dark amber color and toasted malty flavor. It has a hint of caramel and is smooth enough to be enjoyed at rowdy costume parties or small gatherings. ABV: 5.3% IBU: 16 Body: Full Availability: Fall-Seasonal 10. Brasserie Dubuisson Cuvee des Trolls Trolls can be just as frightening as witches or ghosts, but some legends talk about their double personalities. This strong, blonde Belgian ale embodies that idea with a good balance of sweet and bitter. Brasseire Dubuisson has been brewing since the mid 18th century, and they continue to make this unfiltered ale with natural sugar and orange peel. It smells like fruit and honey and offers a rich, creamy finish. ABV: 7.0% IBU: 18 Body: Medium Availability: Year-Round 11. Abita Brewing Company Pecan Harvest Ale This Louisiana ale is a newcomer to the Halloween scene but proudly takes on all the flavor of roasted pecans mixed with earthy notes of toasted toffee. Orange is the theme from bottle to brew. It’s a good one to have in hand when approaching that bountiful table of sweets. ABV: 5.1% IBU: 20 Body: Medium Availability: Fall-Seasonal (based on harvest) 12. Great Divide Yeti Stout The Yeti Stout embodies the true power and bold character of another frightening Halloween monster – the legendary abominable snowman. If you’re after dark body and killer hops, this is the beer for you. It looks nearly black and weighs in at an impressive 75 IBUs. It has a hearty malt flavor followed by a rich twist of toffee. ABV: 9.5% IBU: 75 Body: Full Availability: Year-Round 13. Fallen Angel Black Death Chili Those looking for the ultimate Halloween thrill will find it in the beer that’s infused with one of the hottest chili peppers in the world. This dark stout is made from oatmeal and Naga chilies, estimated to be around 850,000 scovilles. Its dark brown color gives off a strong, roasted taste. Many samplers recognize hints of coffee as well, but its name is the main reason to give it a try this Halloween. Are you scared? ABV: 5.2% Body: Medium Availability: Year-Round Whether you’re after a particular fall flavor or a festive-looking bottle, you have plenty of choices when it comes to Halloween beer. This is one of the best days of the year to enjoy some of the industry’s signature brews. Learn More: Know Your Beer Styles: Pumpkin Beer 5 Beginner-Friendly Homebrew Styles Why You Should Own a Growler (or Two) 5 Deliciously Simple Dishes That Showcase Beer
Paul daerr says October 18, 2015 at 12:41 am Thanks for suggestions wife is having a Party … Great list !! Reply
