Since my sister and her family were coming over for Easter, we decided to do a little "beer bread sampling." Four beer breads, made with 4 different New Belgium beers.
Our breads were:
- Mom's Classic, made with Fat Tire,
- Gruyere & Rosemary, made with Blue Paddle,
- Orange Nutmeg, made with Mothership Wit,
- and Cinnamon Chocolate Chip, made with 1554
I have to tell you though, I really loved the sweet versions. (You're shocked, right?)
Mom's Classic Beer Bread
3 c. self-rising flour
3 TBSP sugar
12 ounces room temperature beer
melted butter
Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9x 5" loaf pan with shortening.
Stir together the flour and sugar. Add the beer and stir until combined.
Spoon into prepared loaf pan, and bake 1 hour. Remove immediately from pan and place on a cooling rack over a cookie sheet. Pour melted butter on top of the bread, letting it drip down the sides. Enjoy!
variations:
- Gruyere-Rosemary: use a beer such as New Belgium's Blue Paddle Pilsner-Lager. Stir in 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese and 1 TBSP fresh rosemary to the basic dough. Brush the top with melted butter after removing from the pan.
- Orange Nutmeg: use a wheat beer, such as Mothership Wit. Zest a large orange and add the zest and 1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg to the basic dough. While the bread bakes, juice half of the orange. Whisk with some powdered sugar to make a glaze. Remove cooked bread from the pan, poke several holes in the top with a toothpick. Pour the glaze over the bread, allowing it to drip down the sides.
- Cinnamon Chocolate Chip: use a dark beer such as 1554. Substitute brown sugar for the granulated. Stir in 3/4 c. bittersweet chocolate chips (Ghiradelli) and 1/2 tsp cinnamon to the basic dough. Sprinkle the dough with cinnamon-sugar before baking. Rub the top of the bread with butter after removing from the pan, if desired.
As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received a stipend to purchase New Belgium beer and ingredients. Thanks, FoodBuzz!
I love Beer Bread - my family makes it with Blue Moon White Belgian and the orange as well. Amazingness!! Glad you featured it, your pictures are lovely!
ReplyDelete~Megan @ Wanna Be A Country Cleaver
yum yum yum! this all looks and sounds delicious. i, too, am a beer drinker! i love all kinds :) can't wait to try one of these!
ReplyDeleteSo THIS is what you do all Easter, huh? Find acceptable ways to consume beer?
ReplyDeleteOkay, it's a good idea. Ashamed I didn't think of it first.
looks great.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to try your recipe. I recently made beer bread, but it was a fail. I'm not so worried about the loss of the beer though, you see my hubby is a beer guy and we have a keg, so there is always plenty of beer :) here! If a new recipe doesn't work, then it's the beer variety he chose, it's not my favorite really strong, but he loved it!
Can you believe that I've never made beer bread? Where have I been? Well, thanks to you, I am now!
ReplyDeleteYumm-o-licious!
I'm not a beer fan, but I looovvee beer bread. I usually make a whole wheat beer bread so that I feel a little better about myself ;) Can't wait to try these recipes! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI havent ever heard of beer bread but it looks so good I am going to try it this week!
ReplyDeleteWe love beer bread, but I've never made sweet versions. Such a great idea. Love your pics!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Wendy, I've never made beer bread but most definitely can't wait to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteI know we'd love it!
Bread #2 and the matched Blue Paddle brew was my favorite. I just MIGHT have to sample all four beers again, SOON, to be sure. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI've been looking for a home made beer bread recipe and can't wait to try the guyere & rosemary kind. The boxes that Pampered Chef and Tastefully Home sell are convenient but are way to overpriced for what ingredients actually go into the bread! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOoooh. I love beer bread. I'm probably more about the savory variety but I suppose the sweet versions are quite unique as well. Thanks for the options :)
ReplyDeleteWow, what a cool Easter tradition! I thought the Gruyere and Rosemary sounded good. Mmmmmmm....
ReplyDeleteI'm also a beer bread fan, but since we don't drink beer (and never have any on hand), I make Sprite bread instead! It's the best. It's sweet and amazing with a little melted butter on top. I use the same recipe as you - nobody can believe it has Sprite in it!
ReplyDeleteI just happened upon your blog via Pioneer Woman and the first thing I saw was the awesomeness of New Belgium beers. I <3 New Belgium and I have to make this bread. Even though we don't get New Belgium in Hawaii, I'll just have to make due with Kona Brewing Company beers.
ReplyDeleteI have never made beer bread nor am I beer drinker. Sorry! :) But we do keep light beer on hand for my husband's awesome fajita marinade. Can you use light beer instead?
ReplyDeleteYum! Beer bread is the best! Thanks for the different combos - I'll have to give them a try! : )
ReplyDeleteI love that you matched up the different beers with different flavors. Gorgeous bread!
ReplyDeleteam dying here . . . no really, i cannot get those flavor combinations out of my mind!!! i've not found a beer bread that i'm crazy about but i think my search ends here. i am going to make every. single. variation. and if i'm still standing and can button my jeans, i'll be reporting back!!
ReplyDeleteI love beer bread! *hick* :-P Seriously, I could eat a whole loaf all by my lonesome. Thanks for sharing your recipes. Can't wait to try them!
ReplyDeleteI have some beer on hand to make beer soaps - not sure why I didn't think to make some beer bread with some of the leftover beer! Great recipes - thanks!
ReplyDeleteThat looks really good!
ReplyDeleteI know I've never made beer bread, and I can't remember if I've ever eaten it..........but these sound SO delicious I know I must try it!!
ReplyDeleteLove that you made beer bread for Easter!
Perfect baking for a non-sweet tooth beer drinking buddy of mine!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to try your variations! Beer bread is a staple at our dinner table! My family has gone through several recipes over the years and have finally found "the one!" It's pretty similar to yours - take a look!
ReplyDeletehttp://kenyoncooking.blogspot.com/2010/02/beer-bread.html
This is GREAT, B!!! I can do this...and I happen to be surroounded by beer drinkers too! They all sound heavenly!!!
ReplyDeleteYummy and delicious looking cakes. Beer Bread. Hungry now!
ReplyDeleteAs usual everything looks perfect and wonderful. thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteNew Belgium!!!!! I live far far away from anywhere you can get New Belgium beers and this post made me salivate with jealousy. I never thought of a sweet beer bread but with the darker beer I bet the chocolate chips were delicious.
ReplyDeleteYou had me at hello with the rosemary and guyere. This will be happening very soon in my kitchen. My husband likes blue moon, so that will be happening too! Lisa
ReplyDeletetheenchantedoven.blogspot.com
You had me at the header!! YUMMO!! Love, love your blog!! The food looks awesome! I'm your newest follower. Hope you'll stop by our blog for a visit.
ReplyDeleteLori
Love beer bread!! My mom has the best recipe and I remember eating it as a kid. I keep asking her for the recipe and she hasn't found it yet.....
ReplyDeleteYour bread looks fantastic. I may have to give your recipe a shot.
I've never made nor eaten beer bread as yet but I love that you gave me four options to try first time out! All of your loaves look wonderful Bridget.
ReplyDeleteDang! You win the Beer Bread Crown. I never would have thought of going for sweet versions, but now I'm going to have to try one. Looks like a fun experiment.
ReplyDeleteYou, my dear, have just said the magic word. Or magic number, rather. 1554! LOVE that beer.
ReplyDeleteThe DC area will finally be getting New Belgium beers in September. Until then, I can only enjoy them when I'm on vacation in other states.
Um, yeah - that Gruyere one is definitely being made (and devoured) this weekend.
ReplyDeleteGreat recipes!!
megmacdesigns.blogspot.com
I've been making beer bread since moving to Colorado 25 years ago but here, the recipe was always Coors Beer Bread (go figure, right?).
ReplyDeleteAnd...I don't like beer that much but love the beer bread. I would have guessed the cheese combo and would never have tried sweet components...good to know!
I'm most curious about your results from using different beers; I go the Coors route out of tradition but once had a Fat Tire (another Colorado brand) and used it; it was subtle but noticeable; maybe next time dark? Maybe!
I know this, they all look and sound wonderful; right now wish I was a beer drinker, I would have a loaf in the oven in minutes.
Beer Bread is such a great thing! I recently posted just the basic recipe. I like to make it just to cut up in small squares and dip in an olive oil mixture for snacking! I also use light beer to keep it ...well, light! Thanks for the variations! Can't wait to try!
ReplyDeleteSo now I will have to save one from the six pack?! It'll be worth it for one of those breads. They look wonderful... and so does your site. Glad I found it!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this I just put a loaf of rosemary swiss into the oven! All we had was a cheapy beer, but it sounded so good I couldn't wait!
ReplyDeleteI come from a looonnnnggg line of BREAD eaters with high cholesterol :) This looks so good-all 4 ways!
ReplyDeletei need a piece of all of these now! awesome.
ReplyDeleteAaaaand, I'm bookmarking this post RIGHT.NOW!
ReplyDeleteI also come from a family of beer drinkers - and I married into a family of beer drinkers. Both my dad & my father in law own kegerators. It's a win-win.
Hilarious! I married into a long line of beer drinkers myself and living in Central PA we have a great supply of craft breweries nearby. I had no idea beer bread was so easy! I can't wait to experiment as well!
ReplyDeleteI have made beer bread once before, and I obviously loved the ease of it, but your variations sound great and not too much more complicated.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you guys had a fun day, what a creative cooking project idea.
Love this! We don't drink much beer around here, but I always keep some on hand for baking purposes... and chili. I will absolutely be giving these a try. :)
ReplyDeleteCan't go wrong with beer and bread! Can't wait to try these.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post! I tried the classic recipe today and it worked like a charm. I didn't know making bread could be so easy!
ReplyDeleteGasp! How did I miss this?! Love it all! The beer bread I make is pretty much your mom's classic. SO many people are amazed by the simplicity of it. But yours take it to another level Girlfriend!! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog through PW, I LOVE your blog! I also like making beer bread, just recently I started making more and adding different things to my batter but will definately try your ideas! I like to add cubed cheddar cheese, green onions and sliced canned jalepeno peppers!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my!!! I made the Blue Paddle Beer for mother's day today--so easy and so awesome--I can't wait to try all the others--thanks so much for the recipe--I can't wait to check out the rest of your blog!!!
ReplyDeleteI made the Gruyere and Rosemary version last night. Oh my gosh, amazing! I wish I hadn't made the loaves as gifts!
ReplyDeleteYumm I love beer bread and I'm very intrigued by your sweet variations!!
ReplyDeleteI made the rosemary gruyere beer bread and we loved it. Next time I am going to try one of the sweet variations. Thanks for sharing such a yummy recipe!
ReplyDeleteHi there! Just came across your blog post on beer bread. How sad are you that they are no longer making Mothership Wit? I'm devastated!! Best. Summer. Beer. Evah! I must try some of the varieties of beer bread. I'm loving it and jonesin' for some beer bread right now!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post! Makes it look so easy :)
ReplyDeleteI just found this, and a loaf halfway between classic & chocolate chip (basically, sub the sugar, use the 1554, but don't do the chips or cinnamon) is about to be out of the oven, and smells amazing already!
ReplyDeleteQuick question: were I to substitute Schlafly's Pumpkin Ale (the Emperor of pumpkin ales, in my opinion), what varieties/amounts of pumpkin pie spices would you recommend? I ran across a separate recipe, which wasn't the simple 4-ingredient style beer bread at all, and which commenters overwhelmingly seemed to think was subpar, but I'd love to do something simpler like this but in that vein while the beer is still around. I'm thinking along the lines of the orange nutmeg version but with cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and allspice instead; I just don't want to royally screw up the ratios.
Any suggestions?
OMG!!! It sounds so delicious! Cant wait to try the chocolate chip one!
ReplyDeleteMade the basic version last night, it was a hit with husband and work!! Super easy!
ReplyDeleteI used Shock Top Summer Ale, added the orange rhind, nutmeg and about 1/2t of ground corriander. It was a hit at work along with orange marmelade butter!
ReplyDeleteThis bread was AWESOME !! I made one tiny adjustment. I poured the melted butter all over the loaf and then baked it. My family and I LOVE LOVE the crispy crust it makes on outside of the bread! I get dibs on the ends, they are my FAVORITE!! YUM YUM! My know favorite beer bread recipe ;) THANK YOU!!
ReplyDeleteI loved this bread! However, I made a tiny adjustment of pouring the melted butter all over the top of the loaf before baking. It gave it a delicious and beautiful crunchy crust which my whole family loved. I couldn't resist and ate the two ends first....DELICIOUS!!!
ReplyDeleteImpressive web site, Distinguished feedback that I can tackle. Im moving forward and may apply to my current job as a pet sitter, which is very enjoyable, but I need to additional expand. Regards. Bread Maker Black Friday Deals
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete