Halloween isn’t just for kids anymore. Sure, the little ones get their fill of chocolate and sugar highs, but for the grown-up ghouls and beer nerds, October 31 is a golden opportunity to raid the candy bowl and the beer fridge. And let’s be honest, pairing Halloween candy with craft beer is one of the most underrated fall traditions out there.
Whether you’re hosting a haunted house hangout or just sitting on the porch handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, these pairings will elevate your night from “eh” to “epic.”
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups + Hamburg Brewing Espresso Martini Milk Stout
To create the perfect sweet-salty, chocolatey-peanut-buttery combo, you want a beer that can hang. Like Hamburg’s new Espresso Martini Nitro Milk Stout, my favorite of the Nitro Stout Six Mix pack. It’s creamy, roasted malt notes amplify everything you love about Reese’s.
Skittles + Resurgence Brewing Citmo IPA
Taste the rainbow? Now drink the rainbow with a classic like Citmo IPA. It’s citrus and fruity hops are a natural match for Skittles’ burst of flavor, especially the green and yellow ones. I spent a memorable morning imbibing this combination at Resurgence Brewing’s old taproom on Niagara Street. It takes some work to separate them, but trust me, it’s worth it.
Snickers + Community Beer Works The Whale
Snickers is basically a meal — caramel, nougat, nuts, chocolate — so it needs to be paired with something that has equal heft, like Community Beer Works The Whale. Its roasted malts and caramel sweetness wrap around that nutty, chocolatey Snickers flavor like a warm flannel on a cold Buffalo night.
Kit Kat + Ellicottville Brewing Fall Festival
“Break me off a piece” of this perfect match. The crisp wafers and chocolate coating of a Kit Kat meet their match in a malt-forward amber ale or Märzen. The toasted grain flavors echo the wafer’s crunch, while caramel sweetness complements the chocolate. It’s balance in every bite and sip.
M&M’s + Big Ditch Brewing Excavator
Simple candy, serious flavor potential. The roasted malt and coffee notes in Big Ditch’s Excavator amplify the chocolate in M&M’s while adding depth. Bonus: it works with both peanut and plain.
Halloween might be about costumes and candy for most, but it’s another excuse to celebrate the art of craft beer — and Buffalo’s got no shortage of brews that fit the bill. Drink fresh, eat candy, and support local. Happy Halloween!
Brian Campbell is co-founder and Brand Manager of the Buffalo Beer League, and writes the weekly Buffalo Beer Buzz column. If you have beer news that should be included in the Beer Buzz, Brian can be reached at brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on X (@buffbeerleague), Instagram, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).
