Have you ever cooked with beer? Here at Cook’s Country, we often rely on it to bring toasty depth to stews and braises, add yeasty flavor and lift to batters and breads, and keep us hydrated while we cook. However, you shouldn’t use all beers interchangeably when cooking; different beers can have drastically different flavor profiles and bitterness levels. Here’s a guide on what to use and when.
Cooking Tips
How to Stock Your Beer Fridge for Cooking
Which beers are best for using in recipes? Read on to find out!
By Published Feb. 8, 2023
Sign up for the Cook's Country Dinner Tonight newsletter
10 ingredients. 45 minutes. Quick, easy, and fresh weeknight recipes.
America's Test Kitchen will not sell, rent, or disclose your email address to third parties unless otherwise notified. Your email address is required to identify you for free access to content on the site. You will also receive free newsletters and notification of America's Test Kitchen specials.
The Right Beer for Mild Flavor
For most recipes, a mild lager or pilsner is just right. Trusty Budweiser has a light, sweet taste and can be used in almost any recipe with good results, especially stews and breads.
Recipe
Prosciutto Bread
Why just pile cured meats atop your bread when you can embed them deep within?Get the Recipe
The Right Beer for Robust Flavor
When we want a more robust flavor, to use in a braise for example, we’ll call for a fuller-bodied brown ale, Belgian ale, or wheat beer; Newcastle is a good option for these.
Recipe
Slow-Cooker Beer-Braised Beef with Onions
This Belgian beef-and-beer stew is a natural for the slow cooker—but you have to know how to handle the three main ingredients.Get the Recipe
The Right Beer for Roasty, Bittersweet Flavor
And sometimes when we need a roasty, bittersweet flavor, we’ll cook with stout. We usually reach for Guinness, especially when cooking dishes with roots in the UK.
Recipe
Bangers and Mash with Guinness-Onion Gravy
A mixture of Guinness, Dijon mustard, and onion doubles as a simmering sauce and a gravy for bratwurst sausages.Get the Recipe
The Wrong Beer for Cooking
Lastly, keep your hoppy IPAs for drinking only; they’re overwhelmingly bitter in recipes.
Bottoms up!