PrintBeer Bread
I'm trying a new recipe tonight for beer bread. Needless to say, my hubby is super-excited. The recipe calls for one bottle of beer, but is completely unspecific as to what kind.
What beers have you used in the past to make good beer bread? I'm leaning towards Shiner Bock right now, to try and make a more savory, darker bread. Thoughts?
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15 Comments:
I've mostly used lagers...with lots of fresh herbs. Delicious with butter and honey!
I like to make it in muffin tins so there is more of the buttery crust to go around, but then you can't use it to make grilled cheese sandwiches!
Cary at 1:04PM on 12/10/07
Too weird... I was just thinking about serving some with my beef stew later in the week. It's been at least two years since I made beer bread, but I used to make it quite frequently. I pretty much always use a hearty, darkish beer. The bock should be good. Guiness is also nice because it's mellow yet strong.
I've found that as long as it's a really flavorful beer or ale, it doesn't really matter what kind. Enjoy!
LoCo at 1:07PM on 12/10/07
I make beer bread quite often and always use the most flavorful dark beer i can find. lately its been Guiness stout. and i agree with Cary lots of fresh herbs really take it over the top! I love mine with lots of chives and flat leaf parsley and sometimes even rosemary and lots of roasted garlic.
huney_bumper at 1:11PM on 12/10/07
Ooh, I was just going to add some shredded Cheddar and some chives, but now you've all got me thinking about rosemary and garlic instead. Mmm. And the muffin tins are a great idea. Thanks!
sheeats at 2:05PM on 12/10/07
I've used good Lager and also tried American Ple Ale as well. Both seem to work well. I think you just need a good quality beer with good flavor characteristics.
jonfoxx at 2:05PM on 12/10/07
I've even made it with some crap pilsner that I had leftover from a party and it was still delicious. I don't think you can go wrong - just think of it as an excuse to try lots of different beers and breads!
Peasantwench at 3:33PM on 12/10/07
A lager is going to give you more of a yeast/malt flavor while an ale will definitely bring some fruity notes to your bread. I've even made breads with some good hefeweizen (unfiltered wheat beer) -- totally different but really good.
I agree with Peasantwench. It seems that any beer -- even one you wouldn't necessarily drink -- can serve well as an ingredient in bread.
My question to you is this -- are you doing a quick beer bread or a yeast-risen one?
Dominic
the zen kitchen
dvchurch at 4:34PM on 12/10/07
The gal at Farm Girl fare has an awesome recipe. I've tried it- delicious!!!
bisbee at 4:48PM on 12/10/07
@ Dominic: It's a quick recipe, using self-rising flour. I'm leaning more towards the lager side this time, since I'm looking for a savory bread to go with with the tomato-basil soup that we're also having for dinner. But next time I will definitely try an ale for a sweeter bread. :)
sheeats at 5:37PM on 12/10/07
I've always used lagers, of varying quality, and never been disappointed. I don't thnk its worth using a good beer.
I wouldn't go for Guinness, since the taste is so distinct, but I do love it in a chocolate cake.
renzata at 7:51PM on 12/10/07
When making beer bread it is best to use non distinct beer. You only need the yeasty taste. This is a good time to break out the cheap beer. hell you could use non alkie if you got it. You just want beer flavor.
JerzeeTomato at 1:05AM on 12/11/07
I have never tried beer bread! How did it come out?
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 12:43PM on 12/11/07
I would go Guiness or Sheaf Stout if you're looking for a really dark but semi-sweet flavor. if you'd like a relatively similar dark beer with a little more sweetness Samuel Smith and Anderson Valley Brewing both make a very tasty Oatmeal Stout (very dark and very sweet). a small part of me thinks though that you might get a lighter and better flavor out of a Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale or a New Castle but then again i've never made beer bread.
Tenbucc2 at 4:39PM on 12/11/07
Pretty much anytime a recipe calls for beer - beer cheddar soup, beer battered onion rings, brats in beer, beer bread, etc. - I have always found cheaper is better. I'm talking Coors Light, hell, even Natural Light. You are looking to add that certain something, the thing that makes people say "Mmmm, what is that." Save the expensive good beer for drinking, haha!
erinlovestoeat at 8:04PM on 12/11/07
beer bread is easy and on a cold gray day it will fill your kitchen with a warming, wonderful aroma. all you need is one can of warm beer, 3 cups self rising flour, three tsps sugar and a greased loaf pan. mix it all in a large bowl, fold into loaf pan and place it into a preheated 375 oven for 40-50 minutes. you can use a solid shortening, lard or vegetable spray in the loaf pan. the odor of baking bread makes all manner of problems vaporize.
olddad at 8:51PM on 12/11/07