Brews news: More uses for beer than just drinking
In a glass, in a cone or infused in your hotdog. How do you like your beer?
Article content
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
In a glass, in a cone or infused in your hotdog. How do you like your beer?
While nothing’s replacing beer in a glass, clever minds at the Minnesota State Fair have concocted beer that looks like and has the texture of soft serve ice cream. It’s the latest in the fair’s annual wacky food attraction, a gimmick on which other fairs have picked up.
We’ve seen beer slushies in places such as Storm Stayed in London and Imperial City in Sarnia. But this steps it up.
According to the Minnesota news site mspmag.com, the beer treat went from concept to reality with the help of a food service equipment company to develop a proprietary process of equipment, stabilizers and additives.
The beer they chose was a sour, Royal Raspberry by Pyres Brewing of Minneapolis.
Think soft serve beer is wacky? Consider these other ideas:
Hotdogs boiled in beer. Touted as better than boiling in water, the suggested beer styles to use are pretty much anything that’s not a hoppy IPA: wheat beers, lagers or brown ales. If you think boiling wieners in beer is a waste of a good brew, a better use for beer might be with bratwurst. Simmer in a frying pan with a malty beer for about 10 minutes and finish them on the grill.
Ice cubes. Leftover beer? Freeze it in an ice cube tray.
Chocolate cake. Add porter to the recipe to deepen the chocolate taste.
Mac and cheese. Recipes usually suggest a pale ale, but whatever your favourite style is will add flavour.
Pancakes. Adding a highly carbonated beer such as a pilsner makes pancakes or waffles light and fluffy. For a spicier taste, try a Belgian ale.
Chicken marinade. Use a citrusy IPA.
Nothing wacky here: Two Forks, the eatery beneath the trees in Port Stanley, uses Anderson beer for its Lake Erie pickerel batter.
New and Noted
Caps Off on Curtis Street behind city hall in St. Thomas is marking its sixth anniversary with a collaboration with BackRoads, the hop yard in Parkhill. The hops for the special Caps Off brew made with BackRoads hops will be released Sept. 13. The Caps Off run club invites other clubs from the area to join in jogging one of the anniversary routes of up to 21 kilometres followed by the sixth year party with beer and food. Check with Caps Off for details.
Supply and Demand Beer and Pizza in downtown London has a pair of new releases. Dead Can Dance is a 5.3 per cent alcohol sour described by the brewery formerly known as Beerlab as having flavours of guava, mango and Maynard’s peach candy. Drink Like You Care is one for IPA fans, brewed with Krush, Supply and Demand’s favourite hops. There’s also T90 and Citra in the brew. Think peach.
In the tank at Red Barn, in Blenheim, are Sharecropper (a Belgian wit), Last Pass (a session IPA) and Harwich Moon (a chocolate porter). Red Barn turned five this year. The celebrations have been numerous, including Farm Fest featuring the Sadies on today (Aug. 30).
Ronald McDonald House shares the limelight with a new release from Broken Rail in St. Marys. Finish Line Lime is a citrus lager with a subtle hop profile. Proceeds from the beer are earmarked for Ronald McDonald House to help families in need.
Wayne Newton is a freelance journalist based in London. BrewsNewsTravels@gmail.com
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.