13 Spooky Beers for Halloween

The creatures of the night arrive on Hallows’ eve to haunt you while witches are busy brewing multiple wicked fermentations.

Maybe it is time to exorcise a few demons and partake of something ghoulish. Go ahead, take a taste. If you dare…

Certified Evil, Lucky Bucket Brewing (La Vista, Nebraska)

The brewery describes this beer as “An undomesticated beast. A dark, ominous creation.” It’s a beast, alright. Certified Evil is a creamy, robust imperial porter with flavor that hits on many notes. It’s rich, dark, sugary, and has plenty of hoppy bitterness. It may be evil, but it’s wickedly delicious.

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Evil Dead Red, AleSmith Brewery (San Diego)

If you have seen the movie, you know that the demons in the film hunted for flesh. Well, this beer pours blood red. It’s creepy, but it tastes sensational. The pine and citrus aroma plays well with the bitter taste emanating from the American hops and the nice malty, bready flavor.

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Dead Guy Ale, Rogue Ales and Spirits (Newport, Oregon)

Pouring Dead Guy’s deep reddish ale is a great Halloween treat. Rogue’s classic, signature beer is one every beer drinker should try. It’s part Bock, part ale. The toasty-malt aroma and taste is superbly balanced by the hops and subtle fruity undertones. Dead Guy leaves you with a wonderful bitter aftertaste.

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Death Black IPA, Shmaltz Brewing Co. (Clifton Park, New York)

Bring out your dead! This spine chilling dark brew is a cross between a black IPA and porter. Death Black delivers bountiful bitterness at the nose before one gets a healthy dose of earthy pine and malt before giving into to a bitterness that lingers throughout the aftertaste.

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Death Grip, Pig Minds Brewing (Rockford, Illinois)

AT 100 IBUs, Death Grip might frighten you. But, never fear, the hops bitterness of this APA is the star, but it is also masked quite a bit. The Mosaic hops shine in Death Grip, and one is privy to plenty of citrus and tropical-fruit aromas. The aftertaste is fruity and bitter, but nothing over the top.

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Exorcist, Local Option Bierwerker (Chicago)

The power of darkness is evident in this extra stout. The dark chocolate malt gives Exorcist a deep, dark black color. There’s also some tempting raspberry, licorice, and delicate bitterness from the hops. The intensity of Exorcist will make your head spin, but it’s worth it.

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The Fear, Flying Dog Brewery (Frederick, Maryland)

Are you ready to face your fears? You should because Flying Dog’s pumpkin ale tastes like homemade pumpkin pie, with a blend of flavors that include graham cracker, fall spices, a little chocolate, and pumpkin.

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Grim Reaper IPA, Crooked Fence Brewery (Garden City, Idaho)

Be ready for this black IPA to come knocking on your door. The heavy roasted chocolate, espresso and malt cloak the presence of its 10% ABV. Then, the hoppy bitterness cuts through the roasted flavor like a scythe. It’s an incredibly flavorful black IPA. Don’t fear the reaper.

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Ichabod, New Holland Brewing (New Holland, Michigan)

Ichabod combines malted barley, pumpkin, nutmeg and cinnamon, which is exceptionally prevalent at the start. The farm-like freshness of the pumpkin is outstanding. The question is: Do you dare drink of the Pumpkin brought to you by Ichabod?

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Mummy Train, Flat Earth Brewing (St. Paul, Minnesota)

Are you ready to explore deep, dark Egyptian tombs in order to find a treasure? If you do, you may find a beer that combines pumpkin with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. The flavor is on the lighter side, but if you don’t want to be hit over the head with pumpkin flavor, hop on board the Mummy Train.

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Shallow Grave, Heretic (Fairfield, California)

Heretic suggests this rich porter is perfect for a night walk in the woods – the perfect spot to enjoy a Shallow Grave. The GABF Bronze Medal winning porter combines five malts and a few hops for rich taste that includes chocolate, caramel, and coffee. It enjoys a RateBeer grade of 96 – one of the best porters around.

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Spooky Beer, Blue Mountain Brewery (Afton, Virginia)

The ghostly brew’s mouthwatering barrel taste is impossible to miss. The pumpkin and cocoa nibs are secondary players to the pronounced barrel flavor, but it is all balanced by a nice sweetness. It’s so good it’s, well, spooky.

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Zombie Dust, 3 Floyds Brewing Co. (Munster, Indiana)

Be careful, one sip of this APA and you are sure to be more appealing to zombies during the apocalypse. The intense citrusy-hops bitterness is balanced well by pine and malt notes. It’s incredibly easy-drinking.