Top 10 Halloween Beers That Are No Tricks And All Treats
Halloween seems to have no in-between with people. You either hate or love the idea of dressing up, being something totally different than what you are for one day and having strangers give you free candy. Usually, it is considered a holiday for kids, but if you are a beer lover you know it is a HUGE flavor holiday for adults too! And if you are just dipping your toe into the craft beer world (like I was a few months ago) here is a guide to 10 beers to help you through the holiday weekend and Halloween.
Photo Credit: Brooklyn Brewery
Post Road Pumpkin Ale- Brooklyn Brewery
You can’t have a list of Halloween beers and not include one that has a pumpkin taste to it! This beer uses real pumpkin and has a hint of nutmeg to it. The history of this beer is that it is supposed to resemble what our founding fathers did to make beer many centuries ago, since pumpkins were a very popular ingredient and easy to find for making beer. I don’t know if that’s true, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a pumpkin beer that has a crisp finish like this one.
Photo Credit: Drizly
What’s Halloween without a little alien action? The UFO here actually stands for Unfiltered Offering, but for this night we’ll say it stands for little green men! The star here again is the pumpkin, but this beer has a lot more spice to it, almost resembling a pumpkin pie with all the pumpkin puree it uses. But Halloween is all about sweets.
Photo Credit: Yuengling
When you think of a beer and candy collaboration, Yuengling is not the first brewery that comes to mind. But this chocolate porter does a great job of reminding you of the classic Hershey bar without forgetting it’s a beer. The beer itself smells like a plain Hershey bar right before you open it, and the beer has a chocolate finish that isn’t at all overpowering. It’s 4.7% ABV so it won’t take over your night and is surprisingly smooth. If you like chocolate but want to drink other things throughout the night, this one's for you.
Photo Credit: DuClaw Brewing
If we are talking about funky beers, you know one of our favorite breweries, DuClaw, was going to be on the list. If your favorite candy is a Reese’s Cup, this is the beer you need to pick up ASAP. One fun fact about this one, it’s available year-round! There is even a touch of coffee in there to help you stay up for those late-night trick-or-treaters
Photo Credit: boozedancing.com
So technically, this is a summer beer, but if you were one of those kids that LOVED Sweettarts, this beer’s for you! This beer is naturally sweetened with peaches but is made in a Berliner Weisse style, so it’s tart and sweet at the same time. It will make you pucker just a little bit and is a nice surprise for someone who craves those sour like candies without being a bit too outrageous. (I’m looking at you warhead lovers!)
Photo Credit- Linvilla Orchard Facebook
Linvilla Orchards Hard Apple Cider - Ship Bottom Brewery
This cider is made with apples grown right in Delco, so it’s one you definitely should support. It’s technically not a beer, but you may need something to lighten the alcohol intake for a bit…or so you would think! This cider is a 5.5% ABV, tastes fresh but isn’t overly sweet, and is still a cider, so it’s easy to drink up and pound down! You can’t celebrate fall without enjoying some apple flavors, and this one will hit the spot!
Photo Credit: Beerpulse.com
How about something that’s spooky and has a touch of horror? This may be a little hard to find, but this beer has a shocking label of a witch about to be burned at the stake. Furthermore, it is brewed to resemble the kind of beer that would be passed around the gathering crowd that would watch a convicted witch die. The beer itself is surprisingly easy to drink. It is mainly a wheat beer, with hints of clove and orange to give it that seasonal flavor you would look for. But the star is the label, and it can easily lead to telling a really good ghost story.
Photo Credit: Buffalo Beer
Maybe you are tired of all of this candy and pumpkin and apple excitement, but want something beyond the usual suspects of beers you can enjoy. Well, Sloop Brewing has you covered! Their “No Pumpkin” beer is just that…a beer without any pumpkin in it. But it does have a heavy fruit smell and this New England IPA is almost summery, reminding you of all the berries and fruit that are still in season in the beginning of the fall. Give it a try for something different.
Punkless Dunkel - Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company
If you watched the episode of Delco Dive where I tried this beauty, you know this isn’t just my favorite beer of the season, it may be one of my most favorite beers of all time! This beer has a warm feeling to it and reminds me of a perfectly seasoned slice of pumpkin bread. This is one you would want to savor, take your time with it, and may be something you reserve for the last beer of the night. I promise you, this one is that good!
Sheik Meah- Olde City Sports Network/Delco Dive/OCSN Live