One of the many amazing things about beer is the many different ways you can use it. Aside from drinking, one of the most common uses is in cooking. Unfortunately, it can be tough to find a wide array of recipes that highlight and celebrate the unique flavors of both the food and the beer. That is why we enlisted the help of our friend Jackie Dodd, The Beeroness, to help us with some amazing recipes using beer. She has dedicated her life to creating exciting and delicious recipes that utilize beer, she specifically focuses on using craft beers.
— Jackie Dodd- MalloryI have yet to try any Firestone Walker beer that isn’t exactly what I want it to be. It’s consistent and consistently incredible.
Why use beer in cooking? Other than the novelty of using your favorite brews in your meals, beer helps to tenderize meat and leavening. Beer is a natural meat tenderizer, which makes it great for braising or marinating your tougher cuts of meat. Beer is also a fantastic brining liquid for your roast turkeys or chickens, it helps to keep the bird juicy and tender. Due to the yeasts used in beer, it is also a mild leavening agent, giving bread and cakes and really great, light texture.
To get you started on your beer-cooking-endeavors, try her Stout Creole Gumbo over Smokey Cheddar Grits with our Coconut Merlin Milk Stout.
Ingredients
For the Gumbo:
- 1 lbs bacon chopped
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1 cup white onions diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/3 cup flour
- ½ cup stout beer
- 4 cups seafood or fish broth
- ½ lbs okra sliced
- 2 (14.5oz) cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon gumbo file
- 1 lbs andouille sausage cut into ½ inch rings
- 1 lbs raw shrimp
- 1 lbs live clams
- Chopped parsley
For the Grits:
- 3 ½ cups chicken broth
- ¼ cup half and half
- 1 cup corn grits
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese use smoked cheddar for a more intense smoke flavor
For the rest of the recipe, click here. Want more information and recipes, check out Jackie’s Instagram (@thebeeroness) and website, or pick up one of her three incredible cookbooks.
About Coconut Merlin
With an infusion of freshly toasted coconuts and a touch of seasonal sorcery, Brewmaster Matt “Merlin” Brynildson conjures up Coconut Merlin – a uniquely flavored brew for fall and winter.
The fresh coconut addition perfectly accentuates the beer’s roasty, nutty character. The lactose gives a rounded mouthfeel & suggestion of sweetness resulting in the perfect combination of flavors in this first-time release from Firestone Walker.
Learn more about Coconut Merlin, and find it near you. Seasonal release, get it while it lasts.
