That’s right, cooking with beer!  Gluten-free beer has been available for several years now but it was until the last couple of years that it has been widely distributed and relatively easy to find.  There are many gluten-free beers on the market, but for cooking we tend to prefer Anheuser-Busch’s Redbridge beer.  Redbridge is available in many markets and even supermarkets are beginning to regularly stock it on a national level. 

Chicken and Tortilla Lasagne

So of course, we thought it timely to do an article, previously only dreamed of, on cooking with beer.  Think of all the recipes that this opens up; beer batters, beer brines, beer stews, and many, many more fabulous, enriched recipes.  

Over the years I have read countless recipes with beer that I have sighed over and moved on or sometimes tried to substitute with sparkling sodas.  However, beer does add a special ‘something’ in depth and richness that nothing else can replace in exactly the same way.  It does not generally impart the flavor of beer, but rather adds a layer of richness.  I must say that it has been a very enjoyable and delicious month here at our test kitchen experimenting with the nuances of cooking with beer.  My husband has commented more than once something like, “You’re really getting into this beer thing now, aren’t you?”  To which I reply, “Oh, I’m just cooking for the article on beer I’m doing for the magazine.”  Between you and I, I am really getting into this beer thing.

The recipes we’d like to share this month include a fabulous ‘Chicken and Tortilla Lasagne’.  In this dish, beer adds a layer of depth to the chicken mixture and is also used to thin and flavor the refried beans.

‘Beer Brined Pork Chops’ are cooked on a grill and are absolutely terrific!  Moist and tender, these chops will be a family favorite.

One of our biggest success surprises is ‘Pot Roast with Beer’.  The addition of beer to our pot roast resulted in a decadently rich and spectacular sauce.

Beer Battered Fish & Chips

Of course we had to do ‘Beer Battered Fish & Chips’.  This recipe will make you ask yourself, “Can this really be gluten-free?”  

‘Chili with Beer’ is fantastic.  We have several great chili recipes in our archives and this one is a fabulous addition to our lineup.

Look for more wonderful recipes using beer throughout the summer on www.glutenfreeda.com because as you know, I am really into this beer thing!  Cheers.

- Chef Jessica

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