Beer Candy Hopping Into Sweets Market

1 Comment | Written on December 19, 2011 at 1:00 pm, by Lesley Kennedy

courtesy of Beercandy.com

Somewhere, Homer Simpson is salivating upon receiving word that the trend of mixing beer and sweets is on the rise. Mmm…Beer candy.

The Wall Street Journal reports treats such as beer-and-pretzel truffles, stout caramel bars and beer brittle are taking a gulp out of the confection market in an effort to get more men to shell out as much for beer-infused marshmallows and hard candy “Hopdrops” as they do for craft beers (Dean & DeLuca’s Roni-Sue’s black-stout and India Pale Ale caramels sell for $16.95, according to the newspaper).

People, it would seem, are buying. The Journal points to Beercandy.com, where you can score beer taffy, India Pale Ale caramels covered in white chocolate and the aforementioned Hopdrops, which did about $20,000 in sales in its first year.

In a tasty twist, while candymakers are adding hops to their sweets, brewers are adding sweets to their beers, the newspaper reports, using descriptions including “bisquity, toasty, caramelly, toffee-like and even chocolaty.”

Yep. We’re now officially hungry and thirsty.

So, do buyers of beer candy need to have ID in hand to purchase? Nope. The Journal reports the alcohol burns off while cooking.

As Homer once told Bart: “Now son, you don’t want to drink beer. That’s for Daddies, and kids with fake IDs.” And, now, for curing a sweet tooth or two. D’oh!