Shauna Steigerwald , snipped-for-privacy@enquirer.com 3:36 p.m. EDT October
26, 2016Who says kids should get all the Halloween fun?
And who says they should get all the candy?
And who says you can't have your candy and drink a beer, too.
Not us. So save a handful from the handout bowl for yourself, and make it decidedly more adult by pairing it with a local brew.
Matthew Stock, manager of training and beer specialist at The Brass Tap craft beer bar in Clifton Heights, has obviously given this some serious thought. He's come up with local beer pairings for four common candies that you might be stealing from your kids this Halloween.
Snickers: "The old stand-by candy bar offers nougat, peanuts, caramel and chocolate; these flavors will be satisfyingly paired well by a rich porter. Roasted caramel malts invoke complimentary chocolate, while mildly acrid bitterness cuts through the sugary candy. Ei8ht Ball Brewery, located in Bellevue, Kentucky, makes a Robust Porter called Doppio that is more than worthy of this pairing."
Reeses Peanut Butter Cup: "While folks approaches towards eating this classic will vary, all should enjoy the wonderful appurtenance of a clean and creamy, nutty and toasty dark ale. Cincinnatis own Listermann Brewing Company makes a year-round offering called Nutcase that would excellently complement a peanut butter and chocolate candy. Its a local favorite brewed with real peanut butter."
Candy Corn: "While seemingly equally loved and reviled, this fall classic deserves to be paired with another classic, the Vienna lager. Smooth and subtle, this style of beer will help to tame the granular sweetness and accent the subtle caramel notes of the candy. A shining and simple recommendation is Christian Moerlein's locally brewed Exposition."
SweeTARTS: "A favorite for those whose palate preferences lean towards the acidic, this lively and often intense candy will provide an excellent contrast to the dry, earthy rusticity of a mixed-fermentation Saison. The flavors will meld well and create a unique 'dining' experience. The sharp nature of the candy would be well served with a beer from one of the city's most popular breweries: Rhinegeist Plow."
Not a beer drinker? Well, here's a trick if you want to treat yourself: Try a candy cocktail.
Parkers Blue Ash Tavern is featuring three cocktails created just for the haunting holiday this weekend (and through Monday), and two of them are garnished with candy. (Don't fear, though: The third one is garnished with a plastic spider ring, so you'll still feel like you've been trick-or-treating.) Of course, they have holiday-appropriate names like the Freaky Fashion (Woodford Reserve bourbon, brown sugar-vanilla simple syrup and plastic spider ring garnish) and the Smashing Pumpkin Hot Toddy (Jeffersons bourbon, pumpkin spiced simple syrup and a squeeze of lemon, garnished with candy corn).
The Ghoul Mule and the Smashing Pumpkin Hot Toddy are The Ghoul Mule and the Smashing Pumpkin Hot Toddy are Halloween-themed drink specials at Parkers Blue Ash Tavern. (Photo: Provided) If you want to try a candy cocktail at home, Parkers Blue Ash Tavern shares this recipe for "The Ghoul Mule."
The Ghoul Mule
1.5 oz Mandarin vodka1 oz blood orange liqueur
1 oz. blood orange sparkling waterGinger beer
Gummy worms
Pour first three ingredients over ice in a copper mug. Fill with ginger beer and stir. Garnish with gummy worms.
The Brass Tap: 251 Calhoun St., Clifton Heights. 513-242-2337;
Parkers Blue Ash Tavern: 4200 Cooper Road in Blue Ash. 513-891-8300; parkersblueash.com.
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