Hooray for the spooky chill in the air. Besides the overwhelming benefits of better sleep in a cool bedroom, it’s Halloween time! One of our family’s favorite holidays. Bring on the autumn beer and horror movies!

We are not creeped out by our son’s obsession with vampires and zombies – as a matter of fact, we embrace it. As young children, both of us loved watching Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger through the protection of the cracks between our fingers. In adulthood, we still enjoy the thrill of terror films, but now can alleviate the apprehension with a great beer. Here are some obvious (and not so obvious) pairings of beer with horror movies.

 

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

Nosferatu | Great Lakes Brewing Company

It would be far too easy to pick the iconic 1931 black and white film, Bela Lugosi’s Dracula. The scene where the blood sucking creature of the night appears from the dark qualifies as freaky. Instead, we take a slight detour and offer the 1979 Werner Herzog remake Nosferatu the Vampyre. There is certainly a place in the vampire world for Nosferatu. This film is not iconic just because of its ghoulish portrayal of Dracula, it stars Herzog’s most beloved/hated muse, Klaus Kinski. Despite their near obscene loathing for each other, the two intertwined through a series of excellent films.

 

Great Lakes Brewing’s Nosferatu is a monster Imperial Red Ale. It pours an unsurprising blood red haze – straight from the victim’s vein. Although the malt profile adds a thickness to the mouth feel, it doesn’t distract from the hoppy bite of this brew.

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Halloween III : Season of the Witch

Black O’ Lantern | Wasatch Brewery

Michael Myers is one of the most recognizable horror film icons of all time. John Carpenter single handedly built the blueprint for the slasher films of the 1980’s with resurrection in the Scream films from Wes Craven. Carpenter’s film is terrifying, playing on the dread of being watched, stalked and tormented by an unstoppable foe. Okay, so why did we choose the only film in the series that doesn’t focus on this Hall Of Fame horror character? Well, it’s the campy storyline and the jingle. ‘Have a happy Halloween, Halloween, Halloween. Have a happy Halloween, Halloween, Halloween Silver Shamrock.’ A company selling wildly popular masks paired with the aforementioned jingle in the commercial basically kills you. No wonder they quickly returned to the franchises bread and butter so quickly.

Wasatch Brewery’s Black O’ Lantern is a pumpkin stout from Utah’s oldest brewery. Possessing a lighter mouth feel with all the pumpkin pie goodness you want in a beer. Interestingly enough, scenes from the 4th Halloween film ‘The Return of Michael Myers’ were filmed right here in Utah.

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The Nightmare Before Christmas

Punkuccino | Elysian Brewing Company 

Halloween isn’t just for grown-ups. People with children love to share the season with the little ones too. Depending on how old you are, The Nightmare Before Christmas may not seem like much of a horror film. Like we said, it’s not all about us. Between us two parents, we are torn on this movie. When it debuted in 1993, one of us loved it — and always has — and one of us just didn’t understand it. Now we both appreciate sharing it with our little guy. The story of Jack the Pumpkin King taking over Christmas all through the terrifically twisted lens of master Tim Burton is a cult classic. Now, as the air gets a cold bite and the haunting season is dead and gone, we will soon turn our attention to the season of St. Nick.

 

But, just like the film, one of us jumped to the pumpkin beer bandwagon early and one of us only recently succumbed. For the yam-shy beginner, Elysian Brewing’s Punkuccino is a wonderful compromise. Loaded with Stumptown coffee and more subtle seasonal spices, the pumpkin seems to smooth out the pour over the tongue. Being a Coffee Pumpkin Ale, the coffee reigns supreme in this beer.

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An American Werewolf in London

Blood Lust | Spring House Brewing Co.  

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Bad Moon Rising’ was not written specifically for An American Werewolf in London, but when heard, you’d be hard pressed to think otherwise. Two friends abroad wander the night and are attacked by a beast. One lives, one dies. The surviving friend quickly realizes he was bitten by a werewolf. And if that isn’t bad enough, his dead friend keeps appearing to warn him. As the dead friend appears, he becomes progressively more decayed. This film boasts groundbreaking special effects and some of the most gruesome scenes of the time. Did we mention the movie theatre scene?!

 

Springhouse Brewing’s Blood Lust is a bad-to-the-bone Russian Imperial Stout. Brewed with vanilla, cacao nibs with cinnamon and habeñero for a bite, supported by a strong toasted crème scent with a smooth roasted coffee flavor. The peppers are there, but they do not intend to kill you, they intend to turn you! It pours a moonless night which must be to hide the evil lurking inside.

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Zombie (1979)

Zombie Dust | Three Floyds Brewing Co.  

The zombie craze seemed to run parallel to the craft beer boom in recent years. Zombies used to be the ‘B’ class horror monster, just a notch above the Creature from the Black Lagoon and far behind vampires, werewolves and witches. Not anymore friends. Thanks to many modern classics such as the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead and 28 Days Later as well as the great The Walking Dead, the undead are kings! It would have been easy to jump on the George Romero train for this pairing and it wouldn’t have been the wrong choice. Instead, we decided to point you to the Lucio Fulci classic take on the monster. Why, why, why do you ask? First of all, there are plenty of flesh eating moments, but that is not it. Zombie vs. Shark? Mic drop!

 

Three Floyds Brewery’s Zombie Dust (at one point along with Pliny the Elder and Heady Topper) is still one of the most highly rated sought after beers in the world. Often pitted against the previous mentioned brews, this beverage holds its own despite the fact it is a pale ale challenging two world class double IPA’s. Zombie Dust pours clean with crisp hints of pine and citrus on the nose. Hops shine through, displaying grapefruit and blazing citrus. The Walking Dead drove us to zombie land and Zombie Dust devoured its way into the Citra hop invasion.

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Evil Dead Trilogy

Any beer in your hand 

Evil Dead Trilogy is the perfect combination of traditional ‘B’ grade horror, slapstick comedy, and endless quote ability. Bruce Campbell perfectly plays Ash, the anti-hero. Ash is everything you want in a champion. He grows from adversity into a confident and affectionately cocky lead in this ever changing series of classic horror films. The best part about these movies are not taking them seriously to enjoy them. This is why we say drink the beer you have in your non-possessed hand.  ‘This is my BOOMSTICK!’ Groovy…..

 

Chris & Sylvia are a #craftbeercouple who love everything beer! Check them out on Instagram @chrishollands & @sylily.

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