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Pair local craft beers, candy and horror movies for a sweet Halloween house party

I learned something important this year. Having a baby is really cool, but just because you're a parent doesn't mean you want to stop doing you, entirely. There's still beer to drink. Good times to have. Just ask 903 Brewing  Company's Jeremy and Natalie Roberts, often seen toting their littlest family member around the brewery and even to Great American Beer Fest and beyond (#lifegoals). That said, it's a lot harder to leave the house than it used to be. Some days, it's just not worth the fight.

No need to leave the house on Halloween.
No need to leave the house on Halloween.

With Halloween coming up, it might seem like a bummer to find yourself on diaper duty, but there's a flip side: Forget squeezing into any kind of "sexy little" costume (unless you really want to), have your friends come to you and kick back with that bowl of trick-or-treat candy. Whether you're a parent or just sick of DJs in Predator masks spinning Marilyn Manson throwbacks, you can keep the party at home by pairing D-FW born beers with sugar and scares.

We started with this handy beer/candy pairing guide from the experts at World of Beer as a reference and focused on classics, both when it comes to established local beers and popular scary movies that should be easy to stream. Film geeks (or those wanting to branch out from local beers) might also want to check out this pairing guide for slightly more obscure picks from Paste Magazine.

REDRUM with your red ale:

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Peticolas Velvet Hammer + caramel popcorn balls +

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Or with:

 The Shining

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Drink/Eat: World of Beer recommends pairing amber ales with "toasted or caramel flavors," and among their suggestions is a Heath Bar. No slight to the delicious toffee bars, but the notably hop-forward Hammer is no ordinary red ale, and Heath's milk chocolate covering seems too sweet to pair perfectly. That said, they're right on track with the general flavor profile; popcorn balls are a classic Halloween treat, and if you make your own at home, you can adjust to taste bringing out just the right amount of flavor and crunch to balance out the beer's big bite. Don't forget: Peticolas beers aren't available on shelves, but here are 40-plus places to pick up a growler in D-FW. See also: Four Bullets Royal Flush, Martin House Imperial Texan, Four Corners Heart O'Texas, Texas Ale Project Fire Ant Funeral, Noble Rey Off the Leash, BrainDead Red

Watch: Some will argue that Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining doesn't count as a "horror movie," and we're not here to quibble. We can tell you that it's a creepy, unnerving classic, and you will never look at bear costumes the same way again... If you start seeing double, it might be the movie's terrifying twins or the brew's hefty 9 percent ABV, known for creeping up on you and leaving a lasting impression -- as its name suggests -- like Jack Nicholson with an ax

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Candyman, Candyman, Candyman...

Revolver Blood and Honey + Bit-O-Honey +

 Candyman

Drink/Eat: Revolver Brewing Company's flagship wheat ale is cloudy, spicy and unforgettable. Blood Oranges and Texas Honey combine for a distinct flavor delicious in its own right. Pop a bar of Bit-O-Honey -- a self-described "long-chewing" taffy -- to highlight the sweet, viscous flavor. If that recommendation doesn't sit well with you (Bit-O-Honey's divisive; detractors will say it is more "teeth pulling" than "long-chewing"), go the other direction with Orange SlicesSee also: Four Corners Local Buzz, BraindDead Forbidden Nectar, Armadillo Ale Works Greenbelt Farmhouse Ale, Nine Band Brewing The Badge

Watch: Remember being dared to say "Candyman" five times in a mirror when you were in junior high, but you were too chicken? You made the right choice; don't do it. Much like the urban legend about Revolver Brewing Company being bought by MillerCoors (which turned out to be totally true), we're not interested in finding out if this rumor about a bad guy with a meathook has any meat to it. We're not talking Willy Wonka here, folks. This Candyman was killed in an horrific honey incident -- aka murder by bee -- so don't expect a golden ticket.

Stream it: VuduHulu (Candyman 3), or rent the DVD via Netflix

Sinister seductress

Lakewood Temptress + York Peppermint Patties +

House of 1000 Corpses

Drink/Eat: WOB recommends pairing a stout with chocolate, particularly Snickers or Reece's Peanut Butter Cups, and we're inclined to agree. So does Lakewood: Temptress bottle labels say it pairs best with dark chocolate and sin (oh, my). While it's almost always a good decision to go with either of the above, we'd also recommend a more complex variety -- maybe Dove or Godiva, a.k.a. "grown up" chocolate -- or, hear us out: York Peppermint Patties. It's got a thin dark chocolate shell with that crisp, minty center. Lakewood's already proven that's a match made in heaven with its seasonal Sin Mint, a riff on the original Temptress available in November. See also: Community Legion, 903 Brewers Sasquatch, Nine Band 28th State Stout, BrainDead Foreign Export Stout 

Watch:  Rob Zombie's directorial debut bombed upon release in the early aughts, but House of 1000 Corpses later developed a cult following. Heavily influenced by Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes, it's another story of a creepy family and the poor schmucks lured into their lair. This is no typical family, but one member especially stands out -- Baby Firefly, portrayed by Zombie's wife Sheri Moon Zombie, who later reprised the role in the sequel, The Devil's Rejects. Luring in unsuspecting victims is Baby's primary role in the Firefly family; she initially appears normal, if a little manic, but it soon becomes obvious that she's completely unhinged. This temptress is one sexy lady you do not want to get involved with.

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Say hello to my little friend

Collective Brewing Co. Petite Golden Sour + Skittles +

Leprechaun 

Drink/Eat: Despite sour beers' growing popularity, not a lot of local breweries have experimented with lambics, wild ales, gueuzes or other tart variations; it's not what you'd consider a "beginner friendly" style. Fort Worth's Collective Brewing Project, however, wasn't afraid to give it a go. Their Petite Golden Sour is tart and funky, just what you'd want from a sour. Pair it with Sweetarts, Jolly Ranchers, Pixy Stix or Skittles. Get it (and its apricot remix) in 500 ml bottles

See also: Deep Ellum Play Date, Martin House Salty Lady (go the extra mile and pair it with something raspberry flavored, like the traditional service), Bishop Cider Company Legendberry (obviously not a "sour," but semi-sweet and tart, "bloody red [and] bloody good."), Intrinsic Smoke Tart, or expand out of D-FW with Houston's Leprechaun Cider Golden

Watch: Looking for the pot of gold at the end of your Skittles rainbow? Grab your golden sour and laugh along to the ridiculous, hideous, wonderful Leprechaun. Jennifer Aniston's film debut is more laughable than scary, unless of course you're Aniston, who will be forever known for it as much as "The Rachel." The gist: A Leprechaun travels to America to recover his stolen pot of gold and embarks upon a (fairly mundane) murderous rampage to find it. Don't overthink it. Don't think at all. This is pure sugar candy, just like what you should pair it with. 

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Keep your wits about you

Community Witbier + Lemonheads +

Halloween

Drink/Eat:  This may seem a bit sunny for a spooky fall treat, but it is always a good idea to pair a witbier with citrus candy, namely Lemonheads, Starburst or Orange Wedges. Community Brewing Company backs up its cloudy, yeasty, light bodied beer with tangy notes of orange rind. It's a good match for those who like fruity flavors, heavy on the tart side. 

See also: Noble Rey Golden Rey (wit), Deep Ellum Brewing Company Easy Peasy (session IPA)

Watch: He was originally known only as "The Shape," but over the course of nearly four decades and 10-plus film iterations, Michael Myers eventually became known as one of the most iconic terrifying horror villains of all time. Rumor has it that his bone-chilling mask was originally a Captain Kirk mask painted white; drink your "white" witbier and try to keep your wits about you as John Carpenter's unforgettable score keys up in the background. 

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Dream Crusher Double IPA + Hot Tamales + "Intense" is the best way to describe DEBC's double IPA; it's so in-your-face that you might even lose sleep over it.  (Scratch that, at 9.4 percent ABV you might be out like a light after just one...) Take a cue from and "pair and intense beer with an intense candy, [as] it's a lot of fun to experience two high flavors duke it out." Consider Hot Tamales, Cinnamon Buttons or Red Hots for a hellishly good surprise. (Alternative option: Red rope licorice; we can't guarantee it will taste good, but it will remind you of and make you laugh.)  100 Million Angels Singing, Mosaic, Dankosaurus

Nightmare in Deep Ellum

Deep Ellum Dream Crusher + Hot Tamales +

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Nightmare on Elm Street

Drink/Eat: "Intense" is the best way to describe DEBC's double IPA; it's so in-your-face that you might even lose sleep over it. (Scratch that, at 9.4 percent ABV you might be out like a light after just one...) Take a cue from the Beeronness and "pair and intense beer with an intense candy, [as] it's a lot of fun to experience two high flavors duke it out." Consider Hot Tamales, Cinnamon Buttons or Red Hots for a hellishly good surprise. (Alternative option: Red rope licorice; we can't guarantee it will taste good, but it will remind you of Freddy Krueger's ridiculous long arms and make you laugh.) See also: Texas Ale Project 100 Million Angels Singing, Community Mosaic, Cedar Creek Dankosaurus

Watch: Does Freddy Krueger need an introduction? He uses a gloved arm with razor claws to kill victims in their sleep, which also results in waking world death. On top of that, he's almost invincible in the dream world, and he's had more resurrection jump-cuts than virtually any other iconic slasher. He keeps coming, relentless, just like a powerful IPA.

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'Tis the Season

Nine Bands Ghost Cow + Peanut M&Ms +

Ghostbusters

Drink/Eat: We'd be remiss if we were to leave off one of the hap, hap, happiest events of the season: the temporary return of fall beers. Oktoberfest brews, pumpkin ales, dunkels (and "punkels") -- beer drinkers shiver with anticipation like sorority girls in Ugg boots waiting in a Starbucks line for the first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the year. Nine Band's Ghost Cow Oktoberfest is nutty and grassy, with a toasty almost bitter finish. Pair it with sweet and salty Peanut M&Ms for a balanced blend. Alternative option: Anything marshmallow. Stay Puft, bro. See also: Lakewood Punkel, Franconia Dunkel,  Rahr & Sons Oktoberfest, Tupps Tuppkin Ale,  Oak Highlands DFDub, Oak Highlands Oktoberfest, Peticolas Ghost of Alfred Brown, 903 Crackin' Up, Intrinsic Crunktoberfest, Martin House Pumpkin Latte

Watch: Not in the mood for something scary? No need for guts and gore as long as you're cool with slime. Start the evening with the 2016 reboot starring Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Kristin Wiig, then head into the 1984 original and its 1989 sequel with Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis and Ernie Hudson.

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Have leftover candy? 

Pair it up when you celebrate North Texas Beer Week from Nov. 11-20.