The days are getting shorter and temperatures are getting
colder. Halloween is just around the corner. The Pumpkin Spice Latte may be dominating everyone’s Instagram and Twitter accounts, but Manhattan has
much more to offer in the beverage department. Whether students are planning a
Halloween party or studying for midterms, here are some tips to help fully
embrace the multitude of refreshments this holiday season.
If students want to satisfy the pumpkin coffee craving on a budget, nearly all of the local grocers carry pumpkin-flavored coffee creamer in the dairy section. The 16 oz. bottle of pumpkin goodness is about $4, which is about the cost of a small Starbucks concoction.
Most coffee shops in town also have pumpkin-flavored syrup on hand so customers can add it to any of their favorite drinks.
Logan Roberts, manager at Radina’s Coffeehouse in the Leadership Building, said the Pumpkin Chai Latte is the most popular drink being sold there right now, but it’s not his favorite.
“The Pumpkin White Chocolate Mocha is what you should be ordering,” Roberts said. “Life is so much better because of it.”
To steer away from the pumpkin overload, Bluestem Bistro is serving up a Reese’s flavored syrup, made in house. You can order it in a latte, mocha or hot chocolate.
Starbucks, arguably the creator of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, also has a Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate that should not be missed, unless energy is the goal.
“It’s so rich and creamy and filling, which is good if you’re about to go to sleep but not if you’re about to go to class,” Kelsey Befort, senior in human resources, said.
For those who are looking for a drink that will finish the day rather than start it, Blue Moon Brewmaster’s Autumn Sampler is the way to go.
The sampler contains two seasonal beers in addition to the regular Blue Moon Belgian White and Pale Ale: Caramel Apple Spiced Ale and Harvest Pumpkin Ale.
“You can’t beat the Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale,” David Ecklund, senior in civil engineering, said. “It’s not too pumpkin-y like other [fall] beers. It’s perfect.”
Having a Halloween party? Fortunately for the typical college student bank account, it’s cheap and easy to create some ghoulish drinks for party guests. Buy a funky colored soda at the store and use it as a base for your favorite liquor. Make sure you like the soda first.
Mixing a fruit punch flavored Crystal Light packet into a cup of iced water causes the flavoring powder to clump up on the side of the cup — giving the effect of coagulated blood.
You could also make a caramel apple cider with store-bought cider and caramel flavored vodka.
Make the punch bowl brim with smoke by adding dry ice. To avoid anyone actually drinking the dry ice, double up on the punch bowls. Put the dry ice in the larger bowl and then place the punch bowl inside of the larger bowl.
These drinks won’t be around, or socially acceptable, forever, so take a study break and say hello to fall. And to follow others, don’t forget to Instagram it either.
Marcella Brooks is a senior in junior and mass communications. Please send all comments to edge@kstatecollegian.com.
