Don’t be afraid of scary good beers

Feeling like a hauntingly palatable devil’s brew to scare in the new season? Perhaps something creative that makes use of the harvest season like a spry fresh hopped beer or maybe a spicy pumpkin brew. Perchance you desire something more devilishly delectable or cryptically crisp. A number of handcrafted brewers produce morbidly mouth-watering beers suited perfectly for Hallow’s Eve.

Maudite —French for “The Damned One”, this Belgian-styled Quebec, Canada brew made by Unibroue is dark and brawny (8.0% ABV) with a subtle corriander spiciness. The label art reflects the Chasse-Galerie (the legend of the Flying Canoe). It is a tale about a group of woodsmen who made a deal with the devil in order to fly home in their canoes, guided by Satan himself, in time for Christmas.


Reaper Ale—Brewed by Green Flash of Vista, CA, these eerily exemplary brews maintain a cryptic theme to all their styles—many of which are dark and strong like the Grim Reaper himself. The Legend of ReaperAle is that of a village brewer, his daughter, and Death in a bizarre anecdote of beer as a temporary solution to the inescapable final fate. The satirical yarn of such as theme is manifested in the brewery’s various offerings such as Inevitable Ale, Redemption Red, and the hellaciously hopped Sleighor Double IPA.

Bodysnatcher—Shefford, Bedfordshire England’s B & T Brewery not only make seasonal beers, but monthly beers in traditional cask ale styles to commemorate historical events and folk laws. Their October/Halloween brew is this bitter, but very drinkable with three different malts and two rows of hops. The label on the beer depicts a ghost-like cartoon character peeking his nose out of a casket and asking “Wot, no bodies?”

Dead Guy—One of Oregon’s most lauded breweries, Rogue began brewing this German-styled Maiback in the early 1990s as a tribute to the Mayan Day of the Dead (November 1st aka All Souls Day) for Portland’s Casa U Betcha. With a creepily crispy malt presence, slightly candy carmel flavor and midnight purple hue, this gravely hopped brew quickly caught on a is now one of the brewery’s top sellers. The label depicts a grinning skeleton with a beehive on his head, sitting atop a barrel of beer while enjoying a mug of beer.


While there are varying histories of Halloween based upon different cultural perspectives, it is often believed that this is the evening in which the dead and the living mingle. Some embrace the notion that ghosts or spirits were embraced, while others persue warding off such perceived nuisances. For modern day Americans, Halloween is often a great excuse to let our hair down and espouse our fears with friends and family. For beer enthusiasts, it is often another reason to be try something bold and enfold something cold.