If you have kids or work in an office, there’s a good chance that you’re surrounded by leftover Halloween candy. What do you do about this problem?
Of course there are these standard options: You could eat it, share it, stash it for later, or throw it away. But maybe there’s another option: You might be able to pair that candy in a way to make it even better.
Delectable Beer-And-Candy Pairings
Here at Linda Craft & Team, REALTORS® we are always looking for a win-win. Our own Steve Kruger recommends the following beer types and brews below, and you can find the best candy to pair with them here or on this beer and brewing article.
Barrel-Aged
Pair your pure chocolate candies, like M&Ms and Hershey’s fun-sized bars, with these barrel-aged craft beers:
- Olde Hickory (NC) — The Event Horizon
- Brooklyn — Black Ops
- New Holland — Dragon’s Milk
The seasonal release of Olde Hickory’s Event Horizon is not available yet, but it is a great choice if you’re lucky enough to have one in your beer cellar.
Cream Ale
Peanut butter, chocolate, and cream ales — what could be better? Try Reese’s Cups or Reese’s Pieces with these recommendations:
- Fullsteam (NC) — El Toro Cream Ale
- Foothills (NC) — Carolina Blonde
- Catawba Brewing Co. (NC) — Farmer Ted’s Cream Ale
Saison
Pair fruity treats like Starburst with these equally delicious pale, fruity ales:
- Haw River — Rusted Plow Farmhouse Saison
- Brasserie DuPont — Saison DuPont
- The Bruery — Saison Rue
If you’ve never had a Saison, Saison DuPont is the benchmark.
Raspberry Ale
Take a bite of luxury with these raspberry ales paired with scrumptious dark chocolates:
- Mother Earth (NC) — Windowpane Series Raspberry
- Abita— Purple Haze
- Founders — Rubaeus
The Windowpane beer has been retired, but it is still available at Total Wine on Capital Boulevard in Raleigh. Don’t be afraid of the fact it’s a year old. This one ages well.
Bock
Try malted candies like Butterfingers with these beers:
- Red Oak (NC)— Seasonal Bocks
- Ayinger— Celebrator Doppelbock
- Troeg’s — Troegenator Double Bock
If you’ve never had a Doppelbock, Ayinger’s is the benchmark.
IPA
This Craft Beer & Brewing article recommends IPAs with Hot Tamales to balance the flavors, and we recommend the following craft brews:
- Wicked Weed (NC) — Freak of Nature
- Lynnwood Grill and Brewing Concern (NC) — Hop On Top
- Foothills (NC) — Jade
- Stone — Enjoy By Series or Ruination 2.0
- Lagunitas — Sucks
It is critical that your IPA is fresh; the closer to the brewing date the better. Check the bottle for a brewed on or best by date. Preferably, IPA should be no more than 3 months old.
At Lynnwood Grill, you can get a fresh growler of this IPA at the restaurant. Even better, go on Wednesday when growler fills are only $10.
Light Lager
Appreciate the subtle taste of the caramel in candy corn and similar sugary treats when paired with these light lagers:
- Red Oak (NC) — Hummin’bird
- Oskar Blues (NC) — Mama’s Little Pils
- Uinta — 801 Pilsner
Milk Stout
Again, pair rich chocolates like Hershey’s bars with these brews and savor the sensation:
- DuckRabbit (NC) — Milk Stout
- Left Hand — Nitro Milk Stout
- Stone — Coffee Milk Stout
If you like coffee, Stone’s Coffee Milk Stout should pair beautifully with milk chocolate.
Cider
Get a taste of fall with a cider to complement candied apples and caramel apple-flavored candies.
My recommendation is drive to Bull City Ciderworks in Durham and check out their wonderful assortment of ciders. Then take home a growler of your favorite. If you don’t want to drive out to Durham though, here are some other options:
- Naked Apple (NC) — Wicked Peel
- Angry Orchard — The Muse or any option from their Cider House Collection
- Crispin — Stagger Lee
Sour Beer
Choose a sweet-and-sour pairing with our personal recommendations:
- Wicked Weed (NC) — Any sour they brew, especially Serenity
- Haw River (NC) — Any sour they brew
- Vichte — Duchesse De Bourgogne (The Belgians are the true Kings of Funk)
Keep an eye out for our wine and candy pairings coming soon! How were our recommendations? Let us know in the comments.
The Triangle: Your Craft Brew and Celebration Paradise
Have you been thinking about relocating to the Triangle area? Do you enjoy craft beers like the ones we mentioned in our beer-and-candy pairings?
The Triangle is home to several areas that are renowned for their local brewing companies and craft beer cultures, including the city of Durham — home of the World Beer Festival.
Does this sound like a great area to call home? We invite you to browse Durham’s neighborhoods and homes for sale and find your new home at the heart of the city, and contact us at 919-235-0007 or linda@lindacraft.com to schedule a showing of your dream home.