Halloween Candy and Craft Beer Pairings

Trick-or-treating may be reserved for the kids, but the kid in all of us can't resist indulging in those bite-sized Halloween treats. We know you're going to steal a few from the company candy bowl or your kids' loot when they're not looking, so why not fully indulge by pairing those candies with some craft beer?

SideDoor Chicago’s Beverage Director, Jeff Van Der Tuuk channels his own child-like side with pairings of his favorite Halloween candy and a range of the restaurant’s large format beers offerings.

“Malty beers tend to have chocolate tasting notes, they pair with a variety of candy bars. Additionally, fruit-forward candies mellow out the tartness in sour beers, which will create a balanced flavor profile on your palate,” says Van Der Tuuk.

Photography: SideDoor Chicago

For the chocolate lovers -

Kit Kats 
paired with Evil Twin Biscotti Break Imperial Stout, Denmark (22oz, 11.5% ABV)
Beer tasting notes: coffee, chocolate 



M&M’s paired with Uinta Oak Jacked Imperial Pumpkin Ale, UT (750ml, 10.3% ABV) 

Beer tasting notes: oak-aged, pumpkin, spice 



Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups 
paired with 3 Floyds Moloko Milk Stout, IN (22oz, 8% ABV) 
Beer tasting: milk sugar, vanilla, roasted sweet malt 



Photography: SideDoor Chicago

For those with a sugary sweet tooth -

Nerds 
paired with Rodenbach Caractere Rouge, Belgium (750ml, 7% ABV) 

Beer tasting notes: cranberry, raspberry, tart cherry, oak 



Starburst paired with The Bruery Oude Tart, CA (750ml, 7.5% ABV) 

Beer tasting notes: tart cherry, black currant, toasted oak 



SweetTarts 
paired with Duchesse de Bourgogne, Belgium (750ml, 6% ABV) 
Beer tasting notes: black cherry, oak, dry finish


About Jeff Van Der Tuuk, Beverage Director of SideDoor: Jeff was pairing craft beers with a variety of dishes long before “craft beers” became a trend. He credits this long-time interest in beers, spirits and wines—and how they subtly interact with the food we eat—as being the driving force of his career. Jeff brings this hands-on approach to SideDoor’s beverage program with carefully selected beers, wines and spirits perfectly matched to the gastropub’s menu, which utilizes sustainable, artisanal ingredients. Most notably, he initiated a large format beer program and created a roster of original craft cocktails certain to please his guests. Following the inauguration of SideDoor’s monthly craft beer ‘Tap Takeover,’ Van Der Tuuk looks forward to launching like-minded brew programs, including a series of upcoming beer dinners.