Welcome back to all the creatures out there to another installment of the Coffin Hop 2013! I am humbled that you have taken time from your life (or after-life) to visit once again, but be sure to hit the main page for a graveyard full of other authors and artists you should check out. So, cruise on over to www.coffinhop.com and Hop with us or click on the button to the right in the sidebar with the nice Coffin Hop pic.
I mentioned in the last post there would be a contest again for the Coffin Hop. This year, the prizes are better and here they are:
1) A signed paperback copy of In Memoriam. This is the first printing and is out of print.
2) A digital copy of the Coffin Hop: Death by Drive-In anthology featuring many of the authors and artists on the Hop.
3) A digital copy of the super secret project I helped spearhead and have working feverishly on with 12 other authors.
4) An appearance in the new printing of In Memoriam. Ashley Smith won her death in the book and now you can join her!
5) And lastly, you can win a spot in an upcoming novel. Mark Duvall won last year and his small part ended up becoming the main character in Southern Devils (the book is complete and in the editing stages now).
How to win…
Comment. That is it. During the Coffin Hop, comment on the posts I make and each comment is an entry for the contest. If you are new to the site, sign up to follow it and earn an extra entry. Simple as that, just join the conversation. On November 3rd, I will draw the winners.
Ok, now to the post.
I live life as if Halloween is every day. Seriously, it is a mind-set and not just a holiday. During the Halloween season, I do like to reflect on the great spooky stuff I’ve seen during the year. Today, I want to look at the nice beer bottles that have made my list for the best Halloween style themes…and tastes!
These four brews captured my eye with their darker natured design, but they captured my taste buds with their flavor.
First off is Three Floyd’s Brewing Company’s Zombie Dust. I am a huge drinker of hoppy beers. The more hops, the better. This brew is a very hoppy pale ale and ranks near the top of my all-time favorite beers. It can be tough to find, but I’ve been lucky enough to find bottles and grab some on tap. Highly recommended…
Second is Founder’s Devil’s Dance. Once again, another hop heavy entry. This beer is a triple IPA and if you are drinking different beers, save this for last. The hops are so devilishly strong that it will blast your buds and leave anything you drink afterward as a tasteless watery mess.
Third up is Lovely Saint Winefride from Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project Inc. I couldn’t resist a bottle with a woman holding her head in her hand, classic… This beer is a brown lager that is not too heavy and leaves a clean aftertaste. There are some hints of a dark bitterness, but it fits with the theme of being a brew to mark the end of winter where the beers are often darker and heavier.
Lastly is my pick for best bottle ever, Trooper, from Robinson’s Brewery in conjunction with Iron Maiden. It is hard resist my favorite band and beer rolled into one. The Trooper is a basic English ale that while it doesn’t roar from the crowd, is a good solid beer. It is lighter than anything on the list and finishes clean with a slight taste of hop in the end.
Ok ghouls, what are your favorite Halloween beverages (they need not be alcoholic in nature)? Share what you like and lets swap favorite brews in the comment section.
Tonight, I’m going to be taking a ghost walk in our famously haunted, Willard Library. In tomorrow’s post, I’ll give you the run down to see if I found anything that goes bump in the night.
Goodnight and Happy Hopping!
Our Darkest Fears 
I never thought about a Halloween drink. I do want to try one of the pumpkin spice drinks at McDonalds, but I’m still hesitating on the experiment.
That beer looks really cool! Happy Halloween!
Thanks for the beer tips, Brent! I’ll have to try to locate these. I was lucky enough to try 3 Floyds Dreadnaught, and thought it lived up to the hype. And Founders Centennial IPA and Pale Ale were both excellent as well–top notch brewery. If you haven’t had them already, I’d also recommend Bell’s Two Hearted or Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute and 90 Minute IPA’s. And now I’m thirsty for beer, even though it’s early afternoon!
I’ve had the Founder’s stuff and loved them. I’m going to try the last ones you listed.
Happy Halloween to you too!
If I liked beer, I’m sure I would enjoy those. A few years ago I created this amazing Halloween punch. It went like this: 1 gallon apple cider, 1 cup ginger ale, 1/2 bottle pumpkin spice liqueur, 1/2 bottle spiced rum. Serve in a hollowed out pumpkin. Of course, working at Starbucks, my non-alcoholic drink of choice would have to be a pumpkin spice latte. Hard to go wrong there.
Sounds like something I may try…
I am fond of Italian soda made with blood orange juice.
I don’t really have a favorite Halloween drink but I usually drink Singapore Slings and around Halloween I add more grenadine to make it look more like blood.
I follow you by email now.
I welcome you to the home of all our darkest fears…
Never seen beer with labels like that. So cool.
Plenty of cool stuff out there to drink and enjoy!
Bbbbeeeeeerrrrrrr!!!!! Did someone say beer? Where’s the beer? I like beer! First time coffin hopper here just checking everyone else out. Nice job on the site.
Thanks and welcome to the Hop!
The pics of the beer bottles are awesome! LOL!
Why thank you Michelle!
I love your post about the beer. I also love Halloween and celebrate all year. My skeleton is out all year and not just for this season. He is a part if our family now. I am on tasting some of the brews you posted about. Thanks!
Hope you enjoy the beers! I just received an animated caged raven that is now a fixture of my writing space. Even named him Poe…
Hmm? What, pray tell, might this super secret project be? Just kidding. I think I already might know. 🙂
Happy Coffin Hopping, Brent!
-Jimmy
Don’t really like hoppy beers myself, but I sure like the names and labels you listed above. This year, I’m going to try something new. My son told me that pumpkin spice latte’s from Starbucks are excellent. Apparently they taste and smell like fall 🙂 Anyway, we’ll see.
Found you through Coffin Hop. Very interesting labels. I never considered looking for such creepy beer before now. I look forward to my next cruise through the liquor store 😉
Last Halloween I was drinking Southern Comfort with root beer… yeah, it ended about the way you probably think it did!
Those things never end well.
Au contraire, I had quite a bit of fun and not too nasty a hangover. : )