It's the season for sweets! Instead of hitting the big chains to stock up on holiday candy, check out these great independent shops, drink some beer along the way and make Skittlebrau a reality (or not).

STOP 1: ECONOMY CANDY (3:30PM)

You could easily spend an hour just perusing the walls, crevices, and corners of Economy Candy, the legendary LES candy shop, where over 2000 varieties of sweets are piled high and packed tightly from floor to ceiling.

In addition to housing a massive inventory of almost any candy your heart desires, including a sizable selection of imported sweets, Economy Candy is also a veritable museum, dating back to 1937. Here, you can find all sorts of confectionary curiosities from the past, including vintage tins and vending machines, classic candy bars like Abba-Zaba (you my only friend) and novelties such as the cigarette gum that made you feel cool when you were six. Whether you're dropping by to snag a few samples or purchase by the pound, Economy Candy will undoubtedly satisfy your sweet tooth.

STOP 2: TOP HOPS BEER SHOP (4:00PM)

A beer shop and bar with 20 rotating taps and over 600 beers by the bottle or can, Top Hops is a great spot to learn a thing or two about craft beer (and depending on consumption, promptly forget it). Sample several brews with a tasting flight at the bar or purchase a bottle and, for an additional $2.00, crack it open at a table.

STOP 3: T HE SWEET LIFE (5:30PM)

The Sweet Life, a cozy corner store selling gourmet snacks since 1982, has a less chaotic feel than Economy Candy, with treats stacked and sorted neatly into handsome baskets, bins and jars. Like its counterpart up the street, this sweet boutique has the usual, if more upscale, selection of hard candy, chocolates, gummies, dried fruit and nuts, as well as some novelty items including the "World's Largest Gummy Bear," weighing in at 5 pounds and sitting 10 inches tall.

More than just a pre-packaged candy shop, The Sweet Life also imports Belgium chocolate to produce its own small batch products on the premises. Try the decadent, house-made "Softy Pop": marshmallows dipped in your choice of chocolate, served on a stick.

STOP 4: RANDOLPH BEER (6:00pm)

Finish your afternoon and begin your evening at Randolph Beer, where you can order from 36 beers on tap, all served at a style specific temperature with appropriate glassware. There is also an extensive "Reserve" list, featuring rare and hard to find beers, as well as a hearty dinner menu of upscale pub fare, perfect if you haven't already spoiled your appetite (sorry, Mom).

RECAP:

Economy Candy: Legendary candy shop with an endless selection of sweets from the past and present. Open since 1937.
Top Hops Beer Shop: High end beer shop and bar with 20 taps and 600+ bottles and cans.
The Sweet Life: Upscale sweet shop since 1982, selling candy and house made chocolate treats.
Randolph Beer: A dimly lit bar with lots of reclaimed wood, three dozen beers on tap and tasty pub fare.

ESSENTIAL INFO:

-Economy Candy is located at 108 Rivington Street. Top Hops is located at 94 Orchard Street. The Sweet Life is located at 63 Hester Street. Randolph Beer is located at 343 Broome Street.

-Total Cost: About $50 for sweets at Economy Candy and The Sweet Life + beers at Top Hops and Randolph. Tax and tip included.