Halloween themed beer

Beer is a great Halloween treat

One of America’s favorite holidays is fast approaching. Halloween is a time to get treats and play tricks. It’s a night of ghost, ghouls and goodies. What better way to celebrate then to throw a party and have some great beer. What’s even better is to serve some Halloween themed beer. Listed below are some suggestions to spook your party goers. Of course, all beers listed are available in Oklahoma.

Avery Mephistopheles’ – Imperial Stout - 16% ABV
Talks about bombs…with 16% ABV this could easily be the scariest beer on this list. The label art also helps that statement. Mephistopheles was a crafty shape shifter, the second angel to fall from grace. This beer is amazingly complex, coal black, velvety and liquorish, this demon has a bouquet of vine-ripened grapes, anise and chocolate covered cherries with flavors of rum-soaked caramelized dark fruits and a double espresso finish. If that doesn’t scream Halloween party, what does? Don’t drink this one alone in a dark alley.

Duvel - Belgian-style Strong Golden Ale - 8.5% ABV
You won’t need the Devil to make you want to drink this one. This Belgium beer started out as Scottish ale. It was later restyled keeping the yeast, high strength and ale fermentation, but used pale malts instead of the darker variety. When first tasted a brewer declared, “The devil of a beer!” So, the Flemish term stuck. This incredible golden brew has a nose of orange and light citrus notes. The flavor contains green apples, pears and brandy. It finishes with a soft dryness. Sell your soul for a sip? Luckily you don’t have to.

Unibroue Maudite – Belgian-style Strong Ale - 8% ABV
From the label depicting the Devil spreading his wings to the beer’s name meaning “the damned” in French, this bad boy means business. This beer is copper-colored with hints of orange-citrus on the nose. Fruit, spice (coriander and pepper) and grain can be found in the taste. If you dare take a voyage on the river Styx, bring this brew along.

Rogue Dead Guy Ale – MaiBock - 6.6% ABV
This may be the original Halloween beer. It’s deep honey in color with a complex aroma of hops, bready malt, spicy yeast and fruit. The fruit comes through as apricot. The flavor is biscuity malt, apricot sweetness and it finishes with a generously hoppy bitterness. Originally brewed to celebrate the Mayan Day of the Dead on November 1st, the bottles and bombers feature glow-in-the-dark labels. Hello! A beer to celebrate a day for the dead. ‘Nuff said.

Pete’s Wicked Ale – Brown Ale – 5.3% ABV
Something wicked this way will come with this ale. The beer pours a darkened brown with ruby tints. Aroma of caramel and malt, with notes of toasted nuts and hops. Hits the mouth with a medium body, there’s malt present but it’s very mellow, rhe hops come splashing in the middle. The finish is sweet from the malt and from the hops. This is a good starter for a party; it will put the ghouls in a manic mood.

Great Divide Hades – Belgium Golden Ale – 7.3% ABV
What in the hell is going on? Exactly. What would Halloween be without a trip to the ol’ lake of fire? This isn’t fire-gut beer. This is a nice example of Belgium ale. This ale pours a bright golden color. The aroma has notes of banana, clove, yeast and spice. The flavor contains examples of malt, yeast, banana, spice and (yes) bubble gum. The spice is peppery, not hot. Cerberus, which adorns the logo, was the mythical three-headed dog creature that guarded the gates of Hades so people couldn’t escape. Trust me; you’ll want to stick around while enjoying this one.

Santa Fe Chicken Killer – Barley Wine – 10% ABV
Halloween is a great time for watching slasher movies. This isn’t one, even though it would make a great tile for a film. This is a big beer with a light cloudy amber color. The nose has aromas of mild grapefruit, apricot and toffee. The taste is a complex combination of toasted malt, raisins and dry alcoholic texture. There is a lingering toasted malt and mild bitter hoppy finish. Barley Wines are very unique and are worth the try if you haven’t already. Fear the chicken!

Shipyard - Pumpkinhead Ale – 4.5% ABV
Nothing says Halloween more than pumpkins. So, what better way than to celebrate Halloween? You guessed it, a pumpkin beer. The beer pours amber to a light orange gold. The aroma contains hints of pumpkin pie and sugar. The taste has a surprisingly balanced mixture of nutmeg, spicy hops and pumpkin meat/bread, and finishes with a nice layer of sweet malt. This may “scare” people who are afraid to step out of their comfort zones and try new flavors. Go ahead, scare them. It’s Halloween.

North Coast Old Rasputin – Imperial Stout – 9% ABV
Not too many things are scarier than the legend of Russia’s Rasputin. He was part mystic, con-man, rogue, pervert and supposed healer. It was said he could talk to the dead and control people with his eyes. When the Russian court tried to kill him it took large amounts of poison, three gunshot wounds, a blunt blow to the skull, strangulation and drowning…all in one night to succeed. This is a dark, dark brown to black heavy bodied beer. Scents of roasted malt, dark chocolate, and a very faint hint of molasses are warmed by the alcohol. The taste is much of the same with a bitter almost creamy finish. Beware, don’t stare into Rasputin’s eyes on the label, you don’t want to succumb to his powers. Or do you?

Grab some friends, your finest costumes and some fun Halloween themed beer. Turn a party into an event. Beware of things that go bump in the night. It could be someone heading for the fridge to grab another fun beer.

Cheers!