5 Deliciously Simple Dishes That Showcase Beer

Here are five dishes with straightforward recipes that are simple enough for anyone to make. Instead of using a long list of ingredients that you have to scour the grocery store to find, and that ultimately cover up the flavor of your beer, these recipes are designed to showcase the flavors of your favorite brew. Best of all, each recipe features a different style of beer made to perfectly complement the flavors of their respective dishes.

Amber Ale Burgers

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ lbs. lean ground beef
• 1 cup favorite amber ale
• ½ cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp fresh ground pepper
• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Buns

Combine the beef, beer, Worcestershire sauce, onion, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Be sure to work all of the ingredients into the beef so it is evenly dispersed. Form patties by rolling the beef into balls that are slightly smaller than a baseball. Press them flat while rounding the edges set them aside.

Once the grill has been prepared, place the patties on the grill over medium-high heat. Cover while providing ventilation and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side.

Serve on the buns with the lettuce and tomato while avoiding too many other fixings as they may mask the flavors.

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IPA Lamb Steaks

Ingredients:

• 4 large lamb leg steaks
• 1 cup favorite IPA
• 4 tbsp oil
• ½ cup finely chopped oregano
• ½ cup coarsely chopped basil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp fresh ground pepper

Mix the IPA, 3 tbsp oil, three-fourths of the herbs, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Place the lamb steaks into the bowl and turn to fully coat. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator to marinate and chill for 6-8 hours.

Once the steaks have properly marinated, heat the remaining oil in a large skillet. Gently place the steaks into the oil and fry for 5 minutes on each side. Then, pour the marinade into the skillet and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Remove and garnish with the remaining herbs.

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Lager-Battered Green Beans

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups favorite lager – cold
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 lb. green beans

Combine the flour, beer and salt in a large bowl. Lightly mix by hand until you get an even consistency with some lumps.

Preheat the oven to 200°F. Pour an inch of vegetable oil into a large saucepan and heat to 375°F. Dip green beans into the batter and gently place them into the oil in one evenly spread out layer. Do not stack the beans on top of each other. Fry the beans until golden brown then carefully remove them from the oil and dry on paper towels. Place the beans on a cookie sheet in the oven to keep them warm. Repeat until all beans have been fried.

Tip: Make a quick and easy dipping sauce by combining ½ cup ranch dressing, 1 tsp hot sauce and a pinch of cumin.

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Pale Ale Onion Dip

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. sour cream
• 1 cup favorite pale ale
• 3 tbsp cream cheese
• 3 tbsp minced onion
• 1 tsp.garlic powder
• ¼ tsp salt

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix until evenly mixed. Put in the refrigerator to chill for 45 minutes. Enjoy with chips, vegetables or any of your other favorite dip companions.

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Red Ale Pork Tacos

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ lbs. center-cut pork loin
• 2 cups favorite red ale
• 1 cup fresh salsa
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp fresh ground pepper
• ¾ cup diced onion
• ½ cup chopped cilantro
• Tortillas

Mix the beer and all seasonings in a slow cooker. Place the pork into the slow cooker and ensure that it is even covered with the ingredients. Turn the slow cooker on the high setting for 5 hours. Then, shred the pork in the slow cooker and stir. Turn the cooker to the low setting and cook for an additional 2 hours.

Serve the pork on tortillas with the onion and cilantro as a garnish.

Learn More:

• How to Brew Beer
• How to Assemble a Kegerator: Step-by-Step
• How to Choose the Right Homebrew Kit for You
• How to Convert a Smeg Refrigerator into a Kegerator