Beer Pairings for Hocus Pocus 1 & 2

Hocus Pocus 2 is probably the most fun for modern adults who grew up with its predecessor. Time for some Halloween movie beer pairings!

The movies: a beloved fantasy-horror romp and its more musical sequel / 1993 and 2022 / Disney

The beers: Fall beer styles with spooky names and easygoing ABVs that avoid getting too scary.

I don’t know a single person over 25 who hasn’t seen Hocus Pocus. I’m sure those people do exist, and I feel bad for them. Serving up even-handed doses of silly and spooky, this movie was an essential part of Halloween for much of the ’90s and early 2000s. Almost 30 years have passed since it came out, but for many of us, Hocus Pocus remains on the list every October.

With that in mind, it’s not hard to see why they just released a sequel. Unlike the majority of recent sequels, reboots, and remakes from Disney, Hocus Pocus 2 was something I actually wanted to watch the moment I found out they got all three original witches on board. Sure it’s playing straight to nostalgia, but okay, Mr. Mouse, you can have my money this time.

Speaking of nostalgia, I do think that Hocus Pocus 2 is probably most enjoyable for adults who grew up with the first one. And that’s just fine, because that means it’s time for some spooky Halloween beer and movie pairings!

Halloween beer pairings with each Hocus Pocus movie

Unlike the when the first film came out, I’m an adult now who enjoys a beer during movie viewings. And since this year calls for a double feature, that means conjuring up two spooky brews to capture the Salem spirit. But “witch” beer shall we pair each movie with?

There are a fair amount of obvious choices out there, including a wheat beer from Magic Hat Brewing that’s actually called Hocus Pocus. It’s good, but its flavors are definitely on the summery side (and if you’re like me, an autumnal vibe is definitely ideal for these movies). So, I’m going with styles and flavors that are more traditional of the season.

And hey, if you’re an adult who doesn’t want alcohol or if you happen to be a teen who recently conjured up some centuries-old witches, just scroll on down to the end for some non-alcoholic options.

Witching Hour Marzen with Hocus Pocus (1993)

Hocus Pocus didn’t get great reviews when it first came out, and objectively, it’s not the greatest movie in the world. But honestly, what’s not to love when you’re just looking for some straightforward Halloween fun? Some kids accidentally awaken the Sanderson sisters from colonial Salem (three witches played to gleeful perfection by Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker). With the help of a magic talking cat, they must find ways to outwit the witch sisters and survive until the sun rises. Amid the magic and that catchy song scene, there’s plenty of adult humor and visual gags to make it worth watching every fall.

I meanwhile love a good marzen this time of year, and Ocelot Brewing’s Witching Hour never disappoints. This annual release is a German-style amber lager, and it’s a bit of a combination between the Oktoberfest beers of past and present. Upfront, you’ll get smooth, caramel maltiness of a Marzen (a fuller, bready style of beer that was popular during the first 100 years or so of Oktoberfest). But then it flows into crisp, almost floral happiness that it more reminiscent of modern Festbier styles.

At 5.9% ABV, it’s not too low or too high. The movie’s only 1 hour and 36 minutes long, so you could easily make this beer last throughout. But hey, if you’re looking to get just a little bit of a spell put on you, I won’t judge if you go for a couple rounds.

*Bonus beers*

Don’t live anywhere near Ocelot Brewing’s Sterling, Virginia brewery or where they distribute? Looking for different beer styles? Check out these other “bewitching” options. I promise I’ll stop with the puns soon.

• I Put a Spell on You / Pumpkin-Yam Beer / 8.71% ABV / Swine City Brewing – Fairfield, OH
• Witch’s Wit / Witbier / 4.8% ABV / The Lost Abbey – San Marcos, CA
• Night Fury / Imperial Stout with molasses / 10.2% ABV / Witch’s Hat Brewing – South Lyon, MI

3 Sisters American Red Ale with Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

Without giving too much away (for those who haven’t seen it yet, that is), Hocus Pocus 2 is ALL about sisterhood. Now almost 30 years since the events of the first film, the Sanderson sisters are once again woken accidentally by modern kids. Only this time, the teens may have a little spooky magic of their own. They need it too — there’s no talking cat this time to help them.

If you’re wondering whether or not it’s worth a watch, it is if you’re a fan of the original. Is it as delightful as the original? No, and perhaps my biggest complaint is that there are way too many musical elements. The movie doesn’t go full-on musical but instead teeters on the edge of it, unsure of its own genre. But no matter — Hocus Pocus 2 is still pretty darn fun, especially the whole first half. The new characters are even surprisingly likable. It’s not just the Sanderson sisters who embody the themes of sisterhood here.

Because of that, I can think of few better beers to pair with this movie than 3 Sisters American Red Ale (yes, that’s the full title). From Wild Ride Brewing in Redmond, Oregon, this beer is a 6% ABV red ale is softly sweet upfront with caramel malt and earth spice undertones, finishing with a piney hop bite. It’s like walking through the forest in fall.

The beer isn’t named after any witches though. It instead gets its moniker from the three highest mountain peaks in Oregon. That’s because the brewers used three types of hops and malts to represent each peak. In their description, they also note the color as being a factor:

“This beautiful beer has a sunset red appearance to remind us of their presence at the end of the day. Like many peaks you might aspire to climb, these sisters can be both bitter and sweet, as the select hops represent the northwest in every way possible.”

*Bonus beers*

If you’re nowhere near Oregon, looking for alternative beer styles, or simply don’t want to be surrounded by that much sisterhood, here are some other spooktacular beer options for Hocus Pocus 2.

• Wytchmaker Farmhouse Rye IPA / Farmhouse IPA / 6% ABV / Jester King Brewery – Austin, TX
• Witch Slap / New England IPA / 6% ABV / Clock House Brewing – Cedar Rapids, IA
• Burn the Candle / Oatmeal Stout / 4% ABV / Oliver Brewing – Baltimore, MD

Spooky non-alcoholic pairings

ABVs not your thing this Halloween? That’s fine — here are a few alternative spooky “brews” to capture the bewitching spirit of these movies.

• Hot spiced cider — Warm up some cider, stir in some cinnamon, and garnish with an orange peel and cinnamon stick.
• Pumpkin pie soda — Oh yeah, it’s a thing. Lester’s Fixins is probably the best-known brand in this arena.
• Ginger beer — the more gingery it is, the more you can pretend it bubbled up from a witch’s cauldron.
• Oktoberfest non-alcoholic beer — Athletic Brewing has a great Festbier that’s less than 0.5% ABV!