Beer Bread

Three ingredients.  Flour, sugar and beer.  What could be easier?  And it really is easy to make.  Now this bread isn’t a light and airy artisan loaf. but it’s not flat like focaccia either.  It’s just your basic bread, decent for toast, a sandwich or just bread at a meal.

Beer Bread Ingredients - Self-Rising Flour, Sugar and BeerThe bible says that man cannot live on bread alone, which is why God gave us beer, of course.  Okay, that kind of takes some liberties with the Gospels (Matthew, 4:4 and Luke, 4:4, KJV), as well as Deuteronomy, which really meant that spiritual health is as important as physical health but, when it comes down to it, bread and beer go well together.  So this recipe combines them right at the start.

The recipe also only takes three ingredients, self rising flour, sugar and a bottle/can of beer.  And if you don’t actually stock self rising flour in your pantry (there’s really not a solid reason you should), you can make your own with all purpose flour (everybody has that), baking soda (ditto) and salt.  You mix them, pour them in a pan and bake them.  Heck, you can do it in the coals of a campfire or on a camp stove if the power is out.  Or if you happen to be camping.

Okay, the beer.  Use a decent beer for this.  If you don’t drink, steal a couple bottles from the next party you attend “for the road” (NO!  Don’t drink them on the road!  Or in the road!  That’s dangerous!  And, in the case of drinking and driving, illegal).  Light beers (or Lite beers if you look at the label) should be skipped here (and everywhere) since they just don’t have the carbohydrates needed.  Besides, they taste like bilge water.  Beer is a decent ingredient in cooking, like wine, so even non-drinkers should stock it in the pantry.  The Half Crackers usually pick up a 12-pack of Coors (Not Coors Light!) when it goes on sale in the summer and it lasts most of the year.  Yeah, they merged with Miller, but they still make a decent tasting beer. But, if you are a beer drinker, use the beer you wold normally drink.  Even a Pabst Blue Ribbon, the choice of Rednecks everywhere.  Although it’s becoming hip again, even though it still is a watery, lifeless beer that doesn’t do fancy Super Bowl ads.  It’s still cheap though.  And NFL viewership is down anyway.

Beer BreadThis bread goes well with barbecue ribs, franks and beans or just plain butter.  But it really shines with a cheese spread.  It’s firm enough for the spread and beer complements cheese in taste, so it a natural option.  Of course, if you made it with PBR you really should pick up a can of Cheese Whiz.  Which is, of course, the proper choice for a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich.  Next time you’re in Philly walk up to the window at Pat’s and ask for “One whiz wit and a Coke” for the best culinary experience outside of a fried Snicker’s Bar.

Otherwise, any cheese spread from a commercial one to home made maple and cinnamon or pimento cheese spread will work.  Enjoy the beer bread but don’t eat it and drive.

Disclaimer

This is how we do it here at HalfCracker Ranch.  It should work fine for you and you shouldn’t get sick from any of our recipes or methods.  That said, you’re in charge of your own and your family’s health, not us.  If you think anything we describe is risky, unsanitary or downright dangerous, don’t do it.  We can’t know what you may or may not be allergic to, what special dietary requirements you might have or what any of your particular tastes are.  Those things are up to you and you are really the only one who can make those choices.

In other words, if you get sick or die from one of our recipes, don’t blame us.  We haven’t got enough money to interest your lawyers anyway.

Beer Bread

Basic bread with three ingredients, easy and quick.
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 1 hr
Total Time 1 hr 5 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Loaf Pan
  • Oven

Ingredients
  

  • 3 Cups Self Rising Flour
  • 3 Tbsp Sugar
  • 12 Ounces Good quality beer

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix flour and sugar in a mixing bowl, then add beer and continue mixing. Use a wooden spoon lightly sprayed with cooking spray, the batter is sticky. Mix until all the flour and beer is incorporated.
  • Grease the sides and bottom of a standard 9" x 5" loaf pan. Pour bread dough into pan and roughly level it.
  • Dust the top of the loaf with some extra sugar if you wish, then bake at 350 F for 50-60 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the loaf, if it comes out clean the loaf is done.
  • Let bread cool on a rack for ten minutes before removing it from the loaf pan, let the loaf cool on the rack for another hour or serve it warm.

Notes

Make sure you use a decent quality beer, one you would enjoy drinking.  Also do not use light beer or low calorie beer, the bread flavor will suffer.  You can make this with ale for a different flavor, but a decent drinking beer does best.
If you do not have self rising flour, you can make your own by adding 1 1/2 Tsp of baking soda and 1/2 Tsp of salt for each cup of all purpose flour.
Keyword Beer, Bread