Halloween Candy Beer & Wine Pairings

Amidst spooky decorations, costume planning, and pumpkin patches galore, Halloween is undoubtedly notable for one thing: candy. In fact, in 2018, around 90 percent of Americans will buy candy, spending a predicted total of $2.6 billion¹.

Though your own trick-or-treating days may be over, it’s likely that you’ll be indulging in some candy on this upcoming holiday–whether you’re secretly invading your children’s collections, gathering any leftovers from the bowl that the neighborhood kids didn’t take, grabbing from the office break room stash, or buying bags off the shelf entirely for yourself.

But what is a real adult treat without a drink to pair with it? Lucky for you, we have gathered some of the perfect wine and craft beer pairings for this year’s stash of classic Halloween candies:

Peanut Butter Cups

Cream Ale:

By its name, cream ales are commonly mistaken to be just that: creamy. Cream, however, only refers to the smooth mouthfeel of this cold-fermented ale. Its low hop bitterness, moderate maltiness and sweetness, and light corny flavor is the perfect combo to have with the richness and density of peanut butter.

Chardonnay:

An oaky, buttery chardonnay will complement the smooth combination of chocolate and peanut butter, cutting through the richness of the chocolate with its higher acid content. 

Starburst

Rosé:

Not only do the pastel hues of a rosé match perfectly with the pinky tones of Starburst flavors, but its primary tasting notes of red fruit, flowers, citrus and melon provide a beautiful pairing with the candy. Its high acidity will also balance out the chewiness and taffy-like texture of the Starburst, all maintaining a light and refreshing experience. 

Our suggestion: Guy Mousset Cotes du Rhône Rosé

Skittles

Merlot: 

Skittles pack a punch of fruitiness, which is perfectly balanced out by a Merlot’s aromas of black cherry, berries, plum, chocolate and some herbs. Its softer characteristics and lower tannins make it well-suited to the various Skittles flavors that you’ll get with each mouthful.

Dark Chocolate Hershey’s Kisses/Kit Kat

Raspberry Ale:

You can’t go wrong with the pairing of dark chocolate and raspberries. The richness and slightly more bitter chocolate is perfectly balanced out with the crispness and tartness of a Belgian-style ale with raspberries or a raspberry wheat ale.

Cabernet Sauvignon:

A darker chocolate deserves a heavier wine. Cabernet Sauvignons are dry with a healthy level of tannins, featuring notes of dark red fruits, a hint of smoke and a touch of vanilla that comes from the wine aging in the oak. These flavors match perfectly for a decadent treat. 

Butterfinger

Sauvignon Blanc: 

Properly named, a Butterfinger’s peanut butter and chocolate flavors are complimented with its unique buttery flavor. This richness is perfectly balanced out with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, with its high levels of acidity and low amounts of sugar. Without overwhelming the taste of the candy, it will provide a nice contrast and enhance the buttery flavor of the Butterfinger.

Candy Corn

Riesling:

Nibble on this sugar-packed candy while sipping a similarly sweet wine, like a late harvest riesling. Its bright, mature fruit flavors and bold sweetness are evened out with its high acid content and crispness, which helps to cleanse your palate when paired with some Candy Corn. 

Light Lager:

A smooth, light lager is very low in malt flavor with a light and dry body, which will help to balance out the sugar intensity in Candy Corn. It provides a very drinkable combination, helping to bring out the candy’s caramel flavors.

Snickers

Strong Belgian Dark Ale

Dark strong ales are typically marked by a richness and strength, accompanied with a smoothness and complexity of flavors. Its complex balance of sweet malts, fruit and spice perfectly complement each hearty Snickers bite full of peanuts, caramel, nougat and milk chocolate.

Champagne:

To balance out the richness of a Snickers bar, bubbly champagne will do just the trick. Its slight fruitiness will enhance the caramel and nougat, while the acidity will help cut through the dense flavors. 

Our suggestion: Pommery Champagne

Gummy Bears

Pinot Grigio:

Pinot Grigio offers a crisp, bright finish with light fruit flavors like lime, lemon, pear, white nectarine and apple. It’s the perfect pairing with Gummy Bears, which are similarly bright and refreshing and also have very little fat. The combination of these two provide a refreshing, nearly guilt-free treat! 

Our suggestion: VOGA Pinot Grigio 

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¹Halloween Spending Statistics, Facts and Trends, The Balance