Candy with beer? Why not! After some grueling and palate-intensive research and taste testing, I’ve come up with beer pairings recommendations for some of the most popular Halloween candies on the market. Whether your night consists of handing out candy, taking the little tikes out on a candy crawl, or partying like a rocktar — take a moment to indulge yourself in one of these tasty pairings!

5 Spooktastic Halloween Candy & Beer Pairings

Candy Corn

Beer Pairing: Belgian Tripel

According to many sources, Candy Corn tops the list as the highest selling and most popular Halloween candy. Essentially made entirely of sugar, this super sweet king of Halloween candy requires a beer pairing that won’t over power it. The sugar cookie-like malt flavors and fruity yeast characteristics in a Belgian Tripel pair nicely with the sweetness in the candy corn, while the dryness of the beer helps to cut through the overwhelmingly heavy sugar content of the candy.

Commercial Examples: Westmalle Trappist Tripel, Victory Golden Monkey, Allagash Tripel Ale, Flying Fish Exit 4, Anderson Valley Brother David’s Triple Abbey Style Ale

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Skittles

Beer Pairing: American IPA

Based on sheer volume of Facebook likes, Skittles are the most popular candy amongst social media users. (23.6 million likes is no joke). Once upon a time, my friend Michael Bussman of New Belgium Brewing recommended that I try pairing Starburst with IPA. Quite pleased with the pairing, I attempted the same pairing with the similarly fruit-flavored candy, Skittles. Oddly enough, it works. The bitter flavors in the beer contrasts the sweetness in the candy, while the tart fruity flavors in the candy pair nicely with the citrus-like character of the hops.

Commercial Examples: New Belgium Ranger IPA, Bell’s Two-Hearted IPA, Ten Barrel Apocalypse IPA, Bear Republic Racer 5, Sweetwater IPA, Dogfish Head 60 Minute Ale

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M & M’s

Beer Pairing: Chocolate Stout

Whether your vice be peanut or plain, its hard to deny the M&M’s popularity amongst people of all ages. This fairly simple and colorful candy demands a beer that shares its love for chocolate. Like M&M’s, the Chocolate Stout has many variations. From Imperial Stout, to Sweet or Milk Stout, to Dry Stout — there is a perfect Chocolate Stout for everyone. I recommend pairing the sweeter versions with milk chocolate M&M’s and the drier version with dark chocolate.

Commercial Examples: Rogue Chocolate Stout, Bison Organic Chocolate Stout, Southern Tier Chokolat, Young’s Double Chocolate Stout.

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Snickers

Beer Pairing: Nut Brown Ale

Thirsty? Why wait! This nougat candy topped with caramel and peanuts, covered in milk chocolate is a perfect match for the toasty, caramel and toffee flavors of brown ales — especially versions where nuts have been added in the brewing process. This power pairing is sure to give you that energy boost needed to power through a night of trick-or-treating. 

Commercial Examples: Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale, Goose Island Nut Brown Ale, Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar, Tommyknocker Maple Nut Brown Ale, AleSmith Nautical Nut Brown Ale.

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Sour Patch Kids

Beer Pairing: Kriek/ Cherry Lambic

Known for their abrasively sour, tongue destroying sugar crystals, Sour Patch kids are a favorite among kids and adults alike. Since you are already killing your palate by eating the candy, why not completely annihilate it by drinking a sour cherry beer? The Kriek is a style of Belgian beer that uses cherries in the fermentation process. Some are sweeter than others, some more sour. Makes a killer pairing for Sour Patch kids.

Commercial Examples: Lindeman Kriek, Hanssens Oude Kriek, New Belgium Transaltantique Kriek, Cantillon Lou Pepe, New Glarus Wisconsin Belgian Red, Cascade Kriek

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

True story: I’m the queen of snacking. And my number one vice = all things salty + crunchy, especially chips. And nothing pairs as well with my chip vice quite like my biggest vice, craft beer. In my opinion, beer and chips are a match made in heaven.

But, like beer, not all chips are created equally. Not all beer is made with grain. Not all potato chips are made of potatoes. Just like some breweries use adjuncts in beer, some chip manufacturers use artificial ingredients in chips. It’s sad, but true.

This is why I recently teamed up with Kettle Brand Chips on the Real Chips Deserve Real Beer campaign. Thirty years ago, Kettle Brand pioneered the kettle cooking style that’s become the gold standard for all-natural potato chips. They cook real, unpeeled potatoes in small batches using only the finest all-natural, non-GMO ingredients. No trans fats, no  MSG, no artificial colors or flavors, and no ingredients you can’t pronounce.

When you open a bag of Kettle Brand Potato Chips, you know you’re getting real chips made with real ingredients by real people. Kettle Brand Chips are the real deal.

I’m a huge advocate for all things artisan and craft. Which is why I was elated to join forces with Kettle Brand to develop beer pairings for their amazing line of potato chips. And now, just in time for the Super Bowl, I’m happy to share 7 of these pairings with you! And don’t forget to follow Kettle on Twitter: @KettleChips!

Xoxo,

The Wench

Welcome to the main event.

In honor of the BCS Bowl Championship Series, I partnered with Kettle Brand® to create 5 kick-ass craft beer & chip pairings for each of the major 5 bowl games. If you have been following along, you’ve already seen my picks for the 2013 Rose Bowl, 2013 Orange Bowl, 2013 Sugar Bowl, and the 2013 Fiesta Bowl.

Today sadly marks the end of the 2012-2013 college football season – something that depresses me quite a lot. What I am supposed to do with my Saturdays now? Read books? Visit museums? Travel to breweries? Le sigh, I guess so.

But before the depression kicks in, we still have one more game to watch. Le piece de resistance, la creme de la creme, the big kahuna, the game of all games – the National Championship.

As I’ve said in all the previous posts, very few things, in my opinion, pair best with (college) football than craft beer and artisan potato chips. Here are my picks for the 2013 National Championship!

2013 National Championship: Notre Dame vs. Alabama

The final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series (BCS), the BCS National Championship determines the U.S. national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The game hosts the two highest-ranked teams in the BCS standings at the end of the regular college football season. These rankings are currently determined by averaging the results of the final weekly USA Today Coaches’ Poll, Harris Interactive Poll of media, former players and coaches, and the average of six participating computer rankings. However, this will probably change this year, when the current BCS television contracts end.

This year, the National Championship game will play host to #1 Notre Dame and #2 Alabama. Notre Dame has won eight wire service (AP or Coaches’) national championships, second most ever in the post-1936 poll era. But, having said all that, the last time Notre Dame won a National Title in football was 25 years ago in 1988 with legendary coach Lou Holtz. Alabama, on the other hand, has seen more recent victories, winning the National Championship in both 2009 and 2011.

Fiesta Bowl Kettle Chip: Fully Loaded Baked Potato

The biggest of the biggest games deserves to be paired with the most intense, most flavor-powered chip. Inspired by thousands of fan recipes in the Create-a-Chip Challenge, this creamy, smoky, cheesy chip doesn’t hold back on the flavor front. Dive into a collection of toppings straight from the baked potato bar – tangy sour cream, fresh green onion, rich cheddar cheese –and an all-natural smoky flavor reminiscent of bacon – for a perfectly balanced bite straight out of the bag. These chips are vegetarian, but not vegan.

Fiesta Bowl Beer Pairing: Smoked Porter

For this particular pairing, I chose to pull out one particular flavor from the chip – the bacon-like smokiness. Roasty with hints of char, BBQ and smoke, the flavor profile of smoked porters makes them an excellent match for anything off the grill or out of the smoker and, especially, bacon. The base beer, robust porter, is also one of my go-to styles for anything rich and cheesy (like beer cheese soup). For a more intense pairing, try a rauchbier. For a less intense pairing, grab a regular ole porter.

Both Fan Recommendations: Stone Smoked Porter, Alaskan Smoked Porter, Captain Lawrence Smoked Porter, O’ Fallen Smoked Porter, Left Hand Smoke Jumper Imperial Smoked Porter, Great Divide Smoked Baltic Porter.

Wench’s National Championship Pick: Alabama

It pains me to do so, as I am not a huge fan of the SEC, but I’m placing my bet on the Crimson Tide. Why? Because if Notre Dame loses, than Ohio State remains the only undefeated team this year. Yes, I am aware that this means diddly-squat since Ohio State is not eligible for a National Title this year. Moving on….

Notre Dame’s most impressive win this year was 17 points over Oklahoma, who was ranked #8 at the time. Aside from Oklahoma and an over-time win over Standford, Notre Dame had a pretty weak schedule aside. Even USC didn’t give Notre Dame a good fight in the big rivalry game. On the other hand, Alabama boasted major wins against highly-ranked Georgia, LSU and Mississippi State. Alabama’s only loss was a mere 4 points to fellow top-25 SEC school, Texas A&M. And in case you missed it, Texas A&M quarterback, Johnny Football Manziel, took home the Heisman this year. And, Texas A&M trampled on Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, making Notre Dame’s 17 point win look like child’s play.

If I had my way, I would have matched up Oregon and Alabama in the title game. In my opinion, Oregon boasts a much better program. Oregon’s only loss this season was to Stanford – the team Notre Dame BARELY beat in over-time.

Alabama is an NCAA football powerhouse and I predict a slaughter tonight.

Cheers!

In my opinion, very few things in this world pair best with (college) football than craft beer and artisan potato chips.

In honor of the BCS Bowl Championship Series, I partnered with Kettle Brand® to create 5 kick-ass craft beer & chip pairings for each of the major 5 bowl games. I kicked the series of BCS Bowl Chip & Beer Pairings with picks for the 2013 Rose Bowl, 2013 Orange Bowl, and the 2013 Sugar Bowl. Up next are my picks for the 2013 Fiesta Bowl!

2013 Fiesta Bowl: Oregon vs. Kansas State

One of the most sought-after bowl game in college football, the Fiesta Bowl hosts the Big-12 champion against a top-tier at-large opponent, unless the Big-12 champion goes to the BCS National Championship Game. This year, Big-12 Champion Kansas State got the automatic bid to the Fiesta Bowl. After losing to Stanford, top-ranked and once-National Championship-bound Oregon was shut out from the Pac-12 Championship game, leaving it ineligible for the Rose Bowl yet still the highest ranked at-large team. And so, #5 Kansas State has found itself matched up against #4 Oregon in, quite possibly, one of the best match-ups of the year.

Fiesta Bowl Kettle Chip: Jalapeño Jack

Outside of the sponsor chip (no need to promote that brand here), no chip pairs with the Fiesta Bowl as good as this Southwestern cheesy blend on a crunchy, fresh baked potato chip. This 1989 Kettle Brand classic has the same creamy flavor as Jack cheese but packs a fiery punch with peppercorns and jalapeño pepper that you can actually see and taste!

Fiesta Bowl Beer Pairing: American IPA

One of my all-time favorite flavor pairings in this world is hops and heat. Both the high level of hops and the moderately high levels of carbonation in an IPA have a pleasant cooling effect that help this style of beer stand up to some of the spiciest of spicy foods – especially ones that are greasy!

The only exception to this rule is high-alcohol IPAs in the Double and Imperial range. Alcohol intensifies the burn from hot spices, which can make the pairing extremely uncomfortable. Avoid pairing really spicy foods with high alcohol beers.

Known for producing some of the most potent, bitter and intense hops varietals found anywhere, the Pacific Northwest produces about 20-percent of all the hops on earth, and more than any other region of North America. These Cascadian-grown hops offer a range of flavors and aromas unique to the region. Aromatic, fruity, and floral to resinous, piquant, and bitter, Northwest hops offer a gusto unlike any others grown around the world. For this, folks from British Columbia to Northern California, Oregon to Idaho have developed a palate for the potent and intricate nuances of these varietals.

Oregon Fan Recommendations: Ninkasi Total Domination IPA, Oakshire Watershed IPA, Hop Valley Alphadelic IP, Falling Sky Exposure IPA

Kansas State Fan Recommendations: Free State Brewing Stormchaser IPA, Tallgrass Brewing IPA, Little Apple Brewing Prairie Ale, Blind Tiger Tiger Bite IPA.

Wench’s Fiesta Bowl Pick: Oregon Ducks

My rationality on this pick has nothing to do with my love for Oregon beer – although, I do love it very very much.

Both Oregon and Kansas State had dreams of making it to the National Title Game. And if it wasn’t for each of their performances on November 17th, they both would have made it.

This year, Oregon joins the ranks of Ohio State, USC and Miami, as the fourth program to play in four straight BCS bowl games. Although Oregon is 2-2 in BCS Bowl games, Kansas State lost to Ohio State in its only other BCS appearance (Fiesta Bowl in 2004). Technically, Oregon has also lost to Ohio State in a major BSC Bowl game, but that is neither here nor there.

Both Oregon and Kansas State boast two of the best offenses in the state. This season, Oregon averaged an impressive 50.8 points per game, while Kansas State averaged an even more impressive 40.7 points. Although not as highly ranked as their offenses, both defenses are also pretty evenly matched. Oregon has forced a major-college-high 39 turnovers, while Kansas State forced 31.

My prediction is that the game will be very, very close. But the Oregon Ducks will come out on top!

Stay tuned for my National Championship picks!!!

Cheers!!

In my opinion, very few things in this world pair best with (college) football than craft beer and artisan potato chips.

It is no secret that Kettle is my favorite brand of chips. Not only do they offer a unrivaled and delicious range of flavors, Kettle makes their chips using only the finest all-natural, non-GMO ingredients (I’m super against GMO’s). They do not use trans fats, MSG, artificial colors or flavors, or any ingredients that you cannot pronounce or need to Google to find out what they are.

Kettle Brand® is also dedicated to sustainable business practices. Green building, renewable energy, habitat restoration, recycling and reuse make up the pillars of the Kettle Brand® environmental initiatives. Kettle Brand chips are not only healthier for our bodies, but also for the planet. You read read more about their sustainability initiatives here.

In honor of the BCS Bowl Championship Series, I partnered with Kettle Brand® to create 5 kick-ass craft beer & chip pairings for each of the major 5 bowl games. I kicked the series of BCS Bowl Chip & Beer Pairings with picks for the 2013 Rose Bowl and 2013 Orange Bowl. Next up we have the Sugar Bow on January 2nd. And here are my picks:

2013 Sugar Bowl: Florida vs. Louisville

Played since 1935, The Sugar Bowl, along with the Orange Bowl and Sun Bowl, are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl. The Sugar is played on January 2nd in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Under the current BCS format, the Sugar Bowl continues to host the SEC champion against a top-tier at-large opponent, unless the SEC champion goes to the BCS National Championship Game.When this happens, the Sugar Bowl usually selects the highest-ranked SEC team still available in the BCS pool. Starting in January 2015, the Sugar Bowl game will feature the SEC and Big 12 conference champions (unless they are involved in the national championship game).

This year, Alabama won the SEC conference as well as a bid to the National Championship game – leaving its opponent, Georgia, out of the BCS Bowl Championship Series running. Florida then, by default, slipped into the second-highest ranked SEC team spot, winning the bid to the Sugar Bowl. Something tells me that none of this sits well with Georgia.

After defeating Rutgers in its last game of the season, Louisville became Co-Champions of the Big East Conference alongside Syracuse and Rutgers (they do not have a play off at this time). Rutgers was rewarded at the end of the season with a bid to join the Big Ten, while Louisville secured a spot in the Sugar Bowl as a result of boasting the best season record and final ranking of 22 in the BCS standings.

Sugar Bowl Kettle Chip: Red Chili

Boasting a hot hint of cayenne pepper, a key ingredient in both Cajun and Creole cuisines, Red Chili is both sweet and spicy, making it a perfect match for the New Orleans-based Sugar Bowl. Back by popular demand for its 30th Anniversary series, Red Chili was actually Kettle’s very first flavor produced in 1982, after Sea Salt. It marries the flavor of sriracha sauce with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper for a searing chili sensation that leaves just the right amount of heat on the tip of your tongue.

Sugar Bowl Beer Pairing: American Amber Ale

Coppery red in color with notable Pacific Northwest hop bitterness and hints of caramel sweetness, American Ambers are a perfect match for the both the spicy heat and hints of sweetness in the Red Chili chips. Caramel malt flavors compliment the tart and sweet flavors in the chips, while the American hops sooth the hot pepper burn.

Sadly, both Florida and Kentucky are not the strongest states in the union when it comes to craft breweries per capita.

Louisville Fan Recommendations: Cumberland Red Ale, West Sixth Deliberation Amber, Lexington Brewing Kentucky Ale

Florida Fan Recommendations: Pensacola Bay Brewery Riptide, Cigar City Tocobaga Red Ale, Funky Buddha Don’t Try Amber Ale, Swamp Head Brewery Stump Knocker (APA)

Both Fan Recommendations: Anderson Valley Boont Amber, New Belgium Fat Tire, Troeggs Nugget Nectar, Speakeasy Prohibition Ale, Green Flash Hop Head Read Ale

Wench’s Sugar Bowl Pick: Florida Gators

Having to publicly state my preference for Florida hurts me much more than anyone could possibly imagine. Florida crushed my dreams of an Ohio State National Championship title not once, but twice, in the same year and in two different sports. The mere mention of Florida make my blood boil. Nonetheless, all grudges aside, Florida is by far the better team in the Sugar Bowl matchup. So, despite my sincere loathing for green and orange, the Gators get my pick.

Stay tuned, next up are my picks for the 2013 Fiesta Bowl!!

Cheers!!

In my opinion, very few things in this world pair best with (college) football than craft beer and artisan potato chips.

In honor of the BCS Bowl Game Series, I partnered with Kettle Brand® to create 5 kick-ass craft beer & chip pairings for each of the major 5 bowl games. (Technically, only 5 games – Rose, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta, Championship Game – are a part of the BCS Bowl Series. The other games are considered to be “invitationals.”)

I kicked the series off with my picks for the 2013 Rose Bowl. You can read my chip & beer paring recommendations as well as my winning pick for the game here. But today, we discuss the Orange Bowl.

2013 Orange Bowl – Florida State vs. N. Illinois

The Orange Bowl is played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935. Since 2007 the Orange Bowl has been host to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) champion unless they are involved in the national championship game.

This year, one team selected for the Orange Bowl caused quite the outrage from sports commentators and fans alike. After winning the Mid-Atlantic Conference (MAC) Championship against Kent St., Northern Illinois secured the 15th spot in the BCS rankings, finishing the season with a 12-1 record. The aforementioned achievements then gave the Huskies an automatic spot in the Orange Bowl over the higher ranked, and arguably much better, teams of the SEC and Big12. Top ranked Georgia, LSU, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Oklahoma were all shut out from the BCS Bowl Series – while the little MAC school finally got its chance to play in one of the largest and most important bowl games in the country.

Orange Bowl Kettle Chip: Backyard BBQ

Playing in its “backyard” city Miami, the Seminoles have some serious home team advantage in this game. Get it…. backyard? Backyard BBQ?

And how could you not love the flavor of Kettle’s Backyard Barbeque®? Smoky, spicy, tangy and sweet – it’s the perfect flavor combination. This flavor is definitely in my top five!

Orange Bowl Beer Pairing: Black IPA

Just like this year’s Orange Bowl, the Black IPA has sparked quite the controversy in the the craft beer community regarding its name. Technically, the style has already been named and defined by the Brewers Association as the American-style Black Ale. Some argue that it should be called a Cascadian Dark Ale. But that is a conversation for another time.

The Black IPA is essentially an IPA brewed with the addition of dark specialty malts resulting in a dark brown to black-colored, moderate to intensely-hopped ale with a hint of roasted malt flavor.

Black IPAs are one of my favorite beer pairings for BBQ food. The dark, roasted malts compliment the smoky flavors in the chips, while the sweet and tart flavors help to balance the hop bittnerness in the beer.

FSU Fan Recommendations: Cigar City Either Black Ale, Cigar City Or Black Ale

NIU Fan Recommendations: Half Acre Sticky Fat

Both Fan Recommendations: 21st Amendment Back in Black, Alaskan Black IPA, Ten Barrel S1NIST0R Black Ale, Deschutes Hop in the Dark (CDA)

Wench’s Orange Bowl Pick: Florida State University

As much as I love rooting for the underdog (like how I chose Wisconsin over Stanford), the outcome of this game, in my opinion, is a no-brainer. Although the Huskies have pretty decent quarterback in Jordan Lynch, they are entering the Orange Bowl, without a head coach, against a team that had its eyes set on the National Championship just a few months back. My pick goes to the ‘Noles.

Stay tuned for my next pick – the 2013 Sugar Bowl!!

Cheers!

If you follow my musings even in the slightest, you are probably aware of my intense, almost fanatic, passion for all things Ohio State and my intense, almost obsessive, passion for all things craft beer.

Although the undefeated Ohio State football team is ineligible for the BCS Bowl Game Series, it is sill one of my favorite times of year. Forget the ball dropping in Times Square, the highlight of my New Years celebration has been, and will always be, the Rose Bowl.

In my opinion, very few things in this world pair best with (college) football than craft beer and artisan potato chips.

As a slow foodie, champion of sustainability, and lover of all things salty and crunchy, Kettle is my favorite brand of chips. And, it was my favorite even before I became friends with the company and started this project. In fact, our friendship became through sharing my love of Kettle Chips on Twitter.

Kettle Chips is not only my favorite brand because of its delicious range of flavors, but also because they make chips using only the finest all-natural, non-GMO ingredients (I’m super against GMO’s). They do not use trans fats, MSG, artificial colors or flavors, or any ingredients that you cannot pronounce or need to Google to find out what they are.

But that’s not all folks. In 2007, Kettle Brand® opened the first LEED® Gold certified food manufacturing plant in the U.S. They also use both wind power and solar power to fuel the plant and 100% of the waste vegetable oil from the Kettle production process is converted into biodiesel. For more information on Kettle’s sustainability initiative, visit this link.

In honor of the BCS Bowl Game Series, I partnered with Kettle Brand® to create 5 kick-ass craft beer & chip pairings for each of the major 5 bowl games. (Technically, only 5 games – Rose, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta, Championship Game – are a part of the BCS Bowl Series. The other games are considered to be “invitationals.”)

So, without further ado – let’s kick off the series with my favorite one of them all – the Rose Bowl.

Rose Bowl 2013 – Stanford vs. Wisconsin

Nicknamed “The Granddaddy of Them All” – the Rose Bowl is the oldest bowl game. The Rose Bowl hosts the Big Ten and Pacific-12 conference champions unless they are involved in the national championship game.

Rose Bowl Kettle Chip: Cheddar & Beer

Who can resist the hearty flavors of the Midwest? Robust and malty beer notes are layered on this chip with extra sharp and tangy cheese for a perfect balance that goes down smooth. Limited 30th Anniversary batch.

Rose Bowl Beer Pairing: American Pale Ale

Two words come to mind when I think of Wisconsin – cheddar & beer. Its no secret that beer loves cheese – especially sharp flavored ones like cheddar. For this particular chip, I went with a classic American Pale Ale. The malt flavors in the beer directly compliment the malt flavors in the chips, while the pine and citrus notes in the American hop varietals shine with the salty and fatty flavors from the Cheddar cheese. This is also a perfect match-up for the Rose Bowl since California (home of both Standford and the Rose Bowl) is technically the “grandfather” state of the American Pale Ale.

Wisconsin Fan Recommendations: New Glarus Moon Man Pale Ale, LakeFront Cream City Pale Ale, Horney Goat Hopped Up N’ Horney, Sprecher Extra Pale Ale.

Stanford Fan Recommendations: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Firestone Walker Pale 31, Stone Pale Ale, 21st Amendment Bitter American.

Wench’s Rose Bowl Pick:Wisconsin

Although Stanford did a badass job of upsetting USC early in the season and then dethroning Oregon later in the season, my heart and gut always has me cheering for the Big Ten. Wisconsin may have looked weak earlier in the season, but after annihilating Nebraska (70-31) in the Big Ten Conference Championship, I’m quite certain that have what it takes to win in Pasadena. Not to mention, Wisconsin’s loss of a head coach just might be the best thing that has happened to them all year. The return of legendary coach Barry Alvarez almost guarantees the Badgers a win in the Rose Bowl. My pick goes to the Big Ten Badgers.

Stay tuned for my Kettle Brand chips & craft beer pairings for the other 4 games – Orange, Sugar, Fiesta & National Championship!!

CHEERS!

True story: I’ve never made beer can chicken. Sounds crazy, right? I am a huge advocate for cooking with beer, but have never made a classic beer can chicken. Well, lucky for me, my friend Kevin has… and he is willing to share his recipe with me and all of you!

Now, what makes Kevin’s recipe extra special is not only the use of canned CRAFT beer, but also the addition of bacon. Yes kids, bacon does in fact make everything better. And Kevin’s recipe is living proof!

Kevin’s Beer Can Chicken Recipe

By: Kevin Mocci

Twitter handle: @tapintoct

Blog: tapintoct.blogspot.com

Ingredients

• 1 Small Whole Chicken (4-5 lbs)
  1 Can of beer (I use Dale’s Pale Ale)
  1/2 Cup of your favorite spice rub
  1/2 Tablespoon of Garlic
  1/2 lb of bacon thin or thick slice

Instructions

1. After rinsing the chicken and drying it, remove the insides.

2. Take 1/2 of your spice rub mixture and gently place it between the skin and meat of the chicken (try to do so without tearing the skin, you will be able to see the dark rub through the skin, so you can easily see what area you have covered). Take the other half of your spice rub mixture and rub it on the inside of the bird.

3. Open the beer can and drink half (the best part haha) so that you have 6 ounces left. Put the garlic into the whole in the beer can. Place the beer can, right side up into the chicken. The bird should sit perched up on the can and there should be just an inch or two of the can showing out of the bottom of the chicken.

4. Next, take thee bacon slices and drape them all over the bird, securing them by placing part of each slice into the whole at the top of the chicken. Secure the bacon even further by pushing a few slices of crumpled up bacon into the top of the whole as well.

5. Place the oven rack as low as you need to, to provide enough room for the chicken to cook up right.  You can then place the chicken (which is already on the beer can) into a deep aluminum pan. Be gentle as you put the chicken/pan into the oven, so the bird doesn’t topple over.

6. Total Cook Time 2 hours at 350 degrees. Wait 20 after finishing for the chicken to cool. Enjoy the chicken and the perfectly cooked bacon. Be careful pulling the beer can out of the chicken as it will be hot.

Those of your who follow me on Twitter are probably aware of my infatuation and preoccupation with Whole Foods Market. What can I say?

As a daughter of an environmentalist and health food nut, I grew up supporting local agriculture and companies dedicated to producing ethical and healthy products. I was taught how to read labels and to always question the source and quality of everything that I put into my body. Luckily, I don’t have to do this at Whole Foods Market, since they have a strict non-GMO policy and are dedicated to selling high quality, ethical & artisan products.

As a beer professional, lover and geek, Whole Foods Market is, hands down, my go to store for craft beer. Regardless of what city I’m visiting, I can depend on the local WFM store to have a more than decent, if not amazing, craft beer selection. Not too mention, more and more WFM stores are popping up with tasting rooms inside. And if you are anything like me, addicted to the prepared foods section, visiting a Whole Foods taproom can easily turn into a few hour extravaganza!

Speaking of beer, food and my love of Whole Foods, I recently teamed up with John Schmidt, the beer specialist at WFM Folsom, and my videographer friend Chris Eldridge, to film a short video promoting a few Valentine’s Day beer pairing suggestions featuring products available in most WFM Norcal locations.

The video features two segments: a more classic, and romantic approach to Valentine’s Day — and then a more cynical, and snarky take on the holiday invented by greeting card companies. Regardless of whether or not you are spending today sharing a beer with a special loved one, or spending it lamenting loved ones past — hopefully one these pairing suggestions will work their way into your day!

Valentine’s Day Beer Pairings from Dridge on Vimeo.

Featured beers:
Bison Brewing Chocolate Stout
Russian River Temptation
Stone Brewing Co. Arrogant Bastard
Flying Dog Raging Bitch

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS THE FEATURED BEER PAIRING SERIES

Back in the day, it used to be my job to pair wine with food. Now, after several years in the beer industry, my palate has been trained to understand food and beer pairings. And so, I have decided to take a stab at developing a “Featured Beer Pairing” series on my site, providing beer pairing suggestions and recipes for some of my favorite dishes and then educating people on the “method in my madness.”

Featured Beer Pairing: Bourbon Imperial Stout + Bacon Chocolate Chip Pancakes

The Dish: Pancakes prepared with chopped bacon, semi-sweet chocolate chips and real vanilla bean, topped with a Bourbon maple syrup.

The Beer Style: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout

Style Description: The Imperial Stout, also known as the Russian Imperial Stout or Imperial Russian Stout, a high-gravity style brewed a complex grain bill consisting of large quantities of roasted malts and/or grain. Typical alcohol ranges from 8-12%, but many brewers these days have pushed it to levels as high as 18% abv. No hop varietals are typical of the style, and they vary with each brewer. The beer is usually fermented with either American or English ale yeast.

The fully fermented beer is added to (typically) washed Bourbon barrels to age for several weeks, months, or even as long as a year. The finished product usually bumps up a few percentages in alcohol due to the porous nature of the wood which results in evaporation and absorption of residual Bourbon.

The end result is a rich, deep, complex and vicious beer with intense roasted malt, espresso, dark chocolate, vanilla, oak, char and Bourbon flavors and noticeable alcohol burn. The alcohol and intensity tends to mellow with age, and older version of the style develop port-like characteristics as a result of aging. These beers have potential to age as long as 20 years, when properly stored.

Suggested Beers: Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout, Big Sky Ivan the Terrible, Schafly Reserve Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, Firestone Walker Parabola, The Bruery Black Tuesday, Mikkeller Black Hole, Sprecher Czar Brew, Deschutes The Abyss,

Why the pairing works:

Anyone who says that beer is not for breakfast needs a little smack in the face. Besides, breakfast foods are not just for the morning. I, for one, enjoy them all hours of the day.

Some have tried to argue with me that Bourbon-Aged Imperial Stouts are too intense and alcoholic for breakfast, which is just plain silly. I like my breakfast beers just like I like my coffee — super strong, rich and roasty with just the right “jolt” to get the body going.

Since the flavors in a Bourbon-Aged Imperial Stout are so bold and intense, the food pairing needs to be equally rich and complex. The doughy and thick, yet fluffy nature of pancakes make it an excellent “blank” canvass.

The semi-sweet chocolate chips (60% cacao or higher) compliments the chocolate, coffee and roasted malt flavors in the beer. Using real vanilla bean in the pancakes and Bourbon in the maple syrup brings out the Bourbon characteristics of the beer, while the smokiness of the bacon enhances the flavor of the char from the oak. Texture wise the dish and the beer are complimentary, both thick and heavy on the tongue. The salt from the bacon and the bitterness from the beer balances out the sweetness of the syrup and the viciousness of the alcohol, resulting in a well-balanced, yet explosive pairing.

The Recipe:

Pancake Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 whole vanilla bean
• 6 strips cooked bacon, chopped into fine pieces
• 1/3 c. semisweet chocolate chips

Bourbon Maple Syrup

Heat (all natural) maple syrup in a sauce pan on low heat. Add desired amount of Bourbon of choice. Warm, don’t burn.

Directions

1. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg, melted butter and vanilla bean; mix until smooth.
2. Fold in chocolate chips and bacon. Distribute ingredients evenly.
3. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides.
4. Top with butter and Bourbon Maple Syrup. Serve with “warm” (57-61 F) Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout in a brandy snifter.
   

CHEERS!