Beers That Go Bump In The Night

A Beer-o-Lantern (though he really should be
drinking that beer out of a glass instead of a bottle)

I know that Hallowe’en is still two weeks away. Far be it from any of us to disparage someone for leaning a bit forward on the subject of All Hallows’ Eve – after all, the department stores have been selling Hallowe’en merchandise for two months all ready, and many of them are already moving on to Christmas. So my ineffectual two-week shark jumping on the topic is hardly Earth-shattering. Besides, from a functional aspect, my writing of this blog post two weeks ahead of time will benefit those of you who are planning on throwing a Hallowe’en bash by allowing you ample time to go out and acquire the beers I am about to suggest. So there.

 

So as I just referred to, the subject of this post is Hallowe’en beers. Technically, there is no such style as “Hallowe’en,” so we are left to interpret and speculate. In my opinion, there are three different ways to approach selecting beer on a Hallowe’en theme:

 

1)      select Pumpkin Ales (obviously)

2)      select dark-colored menacing-looking beer

3)      select beers that already have a Hallowe’en-themed image and certain je ne sais quoi about them

Pumpkin Ales:

 

Obviously, as pumpkins and Jack-o-Lanterns are symbols of All Hallows’ Evening, a beer made out of pumpkins has a direct tie into any event you plan around the occasion. If you’re unfamiliar with Pumpkin Ales (see my previous blog post on them), they are quite simply ales that are brewed with real pumpkins in the mash, or pumpkin pie spices in the boil, or both. The resulting flavors and aromas are that of pumpkins and/or pumpkin pie, and are a real treat to the palate.  You’ll also find that many Pumpkin Ales have Hallowe’en themes, and so they fit into the third approach toward Hallowe’en beer selection.

 

It's good to be the King

One such Pumpkin Ale that would be a perfect addition to any Hallowe’en-themed beer flight is Southern Tier Brewing Company’s Pumking. Pumking is an Imperial Pumpkin Ale, meaning that the brewers have increased the malt levels to give the beer more weight (we call it gravity), and then added more hops in order to balance it out. In the case of the Pumking, the taste is of sweet pumpkin pie with creamy vanilla and biscuit notes behind. It is, perhaps, the best Pumpkin Ale I’ve ever tried.

 

Another great choice for Pumpkin Ale would be Avery Brewing Company’s Rumpkin. Rumpkin is a Pumpkin Ale that is aged inside fresh rum barrels, giving it oak and candied molasses notes to compliment the pumpkin and pumpkin spice flavors. She packs a wallop at over 18% ABV, which might make this beer perfect for any Hallowe’en beer business as it is not for the faint of palate and might scare people a little bit.

 

A third Pumpkin Ale that I definitely recommend is New Holland Brewing Company’s Ichabod Ale. Ichabod has a medium level of pumpkin flavors, but the one thing that makes this pumpkin unique is the cinnamon notes. It tastes like they doubled up the cinnamon and left the rest of the pumpkin pie spices alone, which gives the beer a delicious flavor profile. Plus, it has the whole Sleepy Hollow thing going for it, so it ties in nicely to Hallowe’en.

 

Dark-Colored Menacing-Looking Beer:

 

This approach to selecting Hallowe’en brews is probably the least restrictive. Pretty much any dark stout or porter will do the trick, and will definitely be a treat. Stay away from Guinness though because there is absolutely nothing Hallowe’en-ish about the jewel of the emerald isle.

 

Quote the Raven: Nevermore

One such stout that would be perfect is New Holland Brewing Company’s The Poet. The Poet is an oatmeal stout that boasts semi-sweet chocolate, oatmeal, and coffee notes in both the aroma and taste, and has a creamy consistency to it. The color is jet black and, when poured into a glass, would look quite scary. Plus, the label depicts Edgar Allen Poe’s Raven, adding to the spookiness of the entire thing.

 

Another stout that can be difficult to find, but is definitely worth the effort, is Dogfish Head Craft Brewery’s Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew. This is the Imperial Stout that Dogfish first started making in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Miles Davis album. The beer is a hybrid of three threads of imperial stout and one thread of honey beer with something called gesho root. It is bold, dark and delicious.

 

There’s another stout out there that simply must be included in this list and that is North Coast Brewing Company’s Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout. Simply put, if you like beer, coffee, and alcohol warmth, you will love this beer. Rasputin is very malty and fully loaded with roasted coffee notes. Plus, it pours dark and full of malice, with a tan colored head. This beer demands respect with its appearance alone… kind of like Chuck Norris.

 

Hallowe’en-Themed Image and a certain Je Ne Sais Quoi:

 

The third and final approach to lining-up your Hallowe’en beers is by choosing brews that already have a spooky, sinister, malevolent, wicked, or otherwise predetermination towards Hallowe’en. Many of the brews listed in the above sections have this going on, and so you already have a good list of beers to go looking for if this is the avenue you’ve chosen, but there are certainly others to consider as well.

 

Seriously, you're not worthy

One of the most recognizable beers in the national cavalcade of craftiness is Stone Brewing Company’s Arrogant Bastard. As with all of the Stone beers, this bottle features a gargoyle, already lending itself towards your goals. The beer pours dark, not as dark as a stout, and packs a serious punch in terms of weight and flavor profile. If you are able to find it, look for the Stone Double Bastard, which is essentially an imperial version of their Arrogant Bastard.  Though as a word of caution, be careful with the Double Bastard – one can be enough to put down even the most stalwart beer aficionado.

 

Another great choice would be Wychwood Brewery’s Hobgoblin Ale. Hobgoblin is a very drinkable beer with great flavors and aromas. It is not heavy, not super-alcoholic, and not overly hoppy. It is just a very enjoyable beer. And it has a creepy looking hobgoblin on the label to complete the Hallowe’en connection.

 

One more perfect selection for an All Hallows’ Eve inspired beer offering is Rogue Brewing Company’s Dead Guy Ale. Dead Guy is a complex Helles Maibock with sweet caramel notes and a perfect hop balance. It is very drinkable and enjoyable, and Grateful Dead fans will enjoy the label art as well.

 

Please enjoy Hallowe'en responsibly

So now you have a pretty good list of brews to go looking for during the two weeks leading up to Hallowe’en. Whether you’re throwing a party and want to offer Hallowe’en inspired beers, or are just looking for something spooky to drink while you entertain waves of trick-or-treaters looking for candy, these beers won’t steer you wrong. This is certainly not a comprehensive list by any means, and you don’t even have to subscribe to my methods for defining what makes a beer Hallowe’en-ish. Use this list, or use your imagination… have fun with it. Happy Hallowe’en.

 

Here's to craft-brewed happiness... Cheers!