Has our Guide to Beer inspired you to get creative with your favorite ales, stouts and lagers? Quench your thirst with new ways to enjoy some your brews in your favorite dishes. We’ve got 11 recipes for a perfect three-course meal celebrating America’s favorite bubbly: beer.
Starters
Beer knows no limits, even under the sea. Try these mussels (pictured) swimming in an Urban Chestnut Schnickelfritz-infused sauce. Feeling some veggies? Check out some lager-coated okra dipped and fried to perfection.
Entrees
Pork and beer together are a no-brainer. Check out these bacon-wrapped pork shoulder meatballs, grilled pork tenderloin skewers with beer-infused barbecue sauce (pictured), or beer-braised pork cheeks with escarole. Pork not your thing? Try a beer-can chicken sure to satisfy, or go even heartier with Guinness-braised beef.
Or take a walk on the weirdly wonderful side with this Frank Blinchiki, a twist on a Russian pancake cooked with beer and wrapped around hot dogs and veggies. And have no fear, vegetarians, your best friend beer is here. Steam this vegetarian bratwurst in beer and fill up with your favorite German flavors.
Dessert Yes, we even have a few beer-centric desserts up our sleeves. Satisfy your sweet tooth with Square One’s Maple Stout Ice Cream (pictured) or an award-winning Budweiser Milkshake.
-Mussels and ice cream photos by Laura Miller; pork skewers by Carmen Troesser
This article appears in Guide to Beer 2014.