Spooky-themed drinks are treats for adults

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This article was published 25/10/2025 (329 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Every year around this time, I weigh the pros and cons of tasting through a gourd number of pumpkin-flavoured beers.

Perusing the shelves this year, though, I found there actually weren’t that many to consider.

And since the notion of pairing wine and Halloween candy has always seemed a little silly to me, here instead are six spooky-themed beverages (including one pumpkin beer) for the grown-ups to enjoy while handing out candy.

Sporting a smiley jack-o’-lantern on the can, the Trans Canada Brewing Co. Burning Down the House Pilsner (Winnipeg — $4.25/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors) was brewed specially for this weekend’s Winnipeg Comiccon. Pale gold and clear in appearance, there’s lovely bread dough, herbal, malt and biscuit notes that show aromatically. It’s a dry and light-plus bodied pilsner, with cracked wheat, biscuit, red apple skin and malty notes that deliver nicely and hints of corn and biscuit in the mix. 3.5/5

The Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (Oxfordshire, U.K. — $4.49/500ml can, Liquor Marts, beer vendors) is deep gold in colour and clear, delivering malt, lacquer, biscuit and subtle raisined notes on the nose. It’s dry, medium-bodied and robust IPA, with malty notes front and centre and secondary chalky, herbal and peppery notes before a medium finish (it’s five per cent alcohol) and modest bitterness. A robust, decidedly British-style IPA. 3/5

The Brazen Brewing Co. Ravens Reign Cranberry Witbier (Winnipeg — $4.99/473ml can, brewery, Liquor Marts, beer vendors) is medium reddish copper in appearance; aromatically there’s plenty of wheat, ripe cranberry, bread dough and hints of orange peel. It’s dry, light-bodied and crisp, with that wheat and cranberry/red berry combination showing well, with a subtle saline note and, at 6.5 per cent alcohol, a slightly punchy, lengthy finish. 4/5

The Parallel 49 Lost Souls Chocolate Pumpkin Porter (Vancouver — $4.29/473ml cans, Liquor Marts, beer vendors) is deep cola-brown in colour with a deep beige head. Aromatically this pumpkin porter brings Tootsie Roll, earth, dark chocolate and roasted malt on the nose, with a hint of spice. On the dry, medium-plus-bodied palate the dried cherry, baking spice, white pepper and rich chocolate notes show nicely, while the 6.5 per cent alcohol provides a long, satisfying finish. 4/5

The One Great City Brewing Co. Room 202 Barrel-Aged Stout (Winnipeg — $8.99/500ml bottle, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts) is named after the room at the Fort Garry Hotel which is said to be haunted. Aged in rum barrels and infused with currant, elderberry, sloe and lapsang tea, it’s deep root beer-brown in colour and aromatically brings fresh bread dough, roasted malt, orange peel, raisin, cranberry and subtle botanical notes. It’s full-bodied and dry, with raisin, mocha, dark chocolate, savoury spice, sweet orange and, at 9.25 per cent alcohol, plenty of kick. Scary good. 4.5/5

For the wine drinkers, the Take it the Grave 2024 Shiraz (Barossa, Australia — $19.99, Liquor Marts and beyond) is inky purple in colour, bringing cassis, blackberry, herbal plum and white pepper notes aromatically. This Aussie Shiraz is full-bodied and dry but quite plush, with dark, ripe fruit notes coming with a blackberry jam note and some baking spice and, at 14.5 per cent alcohol, a warm finish. 3.5/5

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