America's Beer Distributors

Firing up the grill this Memorial Day weekend? Looking for a new recipe to make a spring brunch special? Nothing welcomes warm weather like cold beer, whether it is chosen as a complement to a favorite dish, or used as an ingredient to enhance a recipe. With the wide variety of styles and brands of beer available today, there is certain to be one that will make any meal taste better.

Brown Ale Beer and India Pale Ale are two beers that are loaded with rich flavor. The dark Brown Ale has a nutty, sweet taste that pairs beautifully with grilled meats like steak. India Pale Ale is light in color, but has a very strong and crisp flavor when tasted. It works well with many cheeses and is also a good choice to pour if chicken or fish are on the grill.

From the National Beer Wholesalers Association, here are two new beer-flavored recipes that are perfect for springtime meals, outdoors or in. Use the backyard grill to make steaks with this delicious beer barbecue sauce, and serve beer and cheese biscuits, baked potatoes and a green salad to complete the meal.

Ginger, Ale and Honey-Glazed Steaks feature a homemade sauce based on Brown Ale Beer. Combine with chili sauce, chopped ginger, honey, mustard, onion and garlic for a sweet and sour flavor. Brush sauce on sirloin steaks while grilling or broiling, and pass a little extra on the side for topping. Serve this dish with a hearty beer like Brown Ale or a favorite smoky Porter.

A delicious side for this meal and many others is Pale Ale Biscuits with Cheddar and Chives. These light, fluffy biscuits perfectly blend the flavor of sharp India Pale Ale with Cheddar cheese. Be sure to use self-rising flour to give them a little lift!

Ginger, Ale and Honey-Glazed Steaks

Serves 6

1 TBLS butter

1/3 cup finely chopped onion

3 cloves garlic, crushed through a press

1 bottle (12 oz) Brown Ale Beer

1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup chili sauce

1/3 cup spicy brown mustard

1 TBLS grated peeled fresh ginger

1 ¾ lbs boneless sirloin steak

1 TBLS olive oil

1 tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

In medium saucepan over medium high heat, melt butter. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add Brown Ale Beer, honey, chili sauce, mustard and ginger; bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmering and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until reduced and thickened. Cool to room temperature.

Prepare gas or charcoal grill, or preheat broiler. Brush steak with olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Place steak on grill or under broiler and sear 3 minutes on each side, turning with tongs. Brush generously with glaze and continue to grill or broil for about 10 minutes, turning and brushing steak with glaze several times during cooking. (You will need about ¾ cup of the glaze for brushing; refrigerate remaining glaze for another purpose.) Remove from heat when internal temperature in the thickest part of the steak reaches 135 F, for medium-rare doneness. Let steak rest 5 minutes before slicing on grain to serve.

Nutrition Information, Per Serving:

250 calories; 11 g fat; 3.5 g saturated fat; 8 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 9 g protein; 6 g sugar

Pale Ale Biscuits with Cheddar and Chives

Makes 18

2 ½ cups self-rising flour

1 TBLS sugar

¼ cup (1/2 stick) cold butter, cut into pieces

4 TBLS cold solid vegetable shortening, cut into pieces

½ cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

2 TBLS shipped fresh chives

1 cup India Pale Ale Beer

Preheat oven to 450 F.  Cover large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
 
In large bowl, combine flour and sugar; whisk to blend well. Add butter, shortening and cheese; cut in with a pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in chives.
 
Gradually stir in India Pale Ale Beer with fork, until a soft, sticky dough forms. Place dough on floured surface and knead four or five times, just until dough comes together. Roll into 9 x 6 inch rectangle; fold into thirds and pat or roll dough until ½ inch thick.
 
Using a floured 2 ½ inch round cutter, cut out biscuits. Gather loose scraps of dough and re-roll until all dough is used. Place biscuits on prepared baking sheet.
 
Place in hot oven and bake 12 – 14 minutes, or until light golden brown. Cool 2 minutes before serving.
 
Nutrition Information, Per Serving:
130 calories; 7 g fat; 3 g saturated fat; 14 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 3 g protein; 1 g sugar