Gourmet peanuts are the Batman to beer's Robin, the peanut butter to its jelly, the John Stockton to its Karl Malone. Okay, even if one of those legendary combinations is no longer, you get the idea. The two are inextricably linked, tied at the waist, and an increasingly expanding waist at that. Actually, peanuts and beer are more healthful than a lot of snacks, such as Twizzlers and Coke or brownies and milk shakes.

There's something undeniable about the combination of smoky peanuts and frothy beer, which is probably why sports stadiums make so much money selling them in tandem. The salt content of gourmet peanuts lays the perfect pillow upon which the hops and malt of a strong pilsner rests its head. For this reason, any fan of home beer brewing would be remiss to overlook gourmet peanuts once brewing season arrives in full bloom.

Gourmet Peanuts Flying Solo

While beer and peanuts bring out the best in one another, each can stand ably on its own two feet. Why should teetotalers be denied the right to indulge in one of history's most well-loved snacks? If lemonade and iced tea are more your pace, that's fair enough; there's a smattering of peanut varieties that dovetail nicely with each, from Old Bay-seasoned nuts to butter-toasted and Cajun-style delights.

The best news, however, is yet to come: gourmet peanuts can be had for a mere pittance, and with a few clicks of your mouse. More and more online peanut retailers have hit the Web, many in an attempt to distinguish their beer-related product line. That means prices are low on 12-, 24-, 40-, even 96-ounce canisters of your favorite nuts, whether it's the holiday season or just a bland day in need of some seasoning.