BEER
For some reason I’ve had beer on my mind a lot lately? Might be because of the lovely intestinal bug I’m just getting over?
So I’ve been compiling beer stories, beer factoids, and even beer related music.
Let’s begin with some beer history courtesy of The Beer Institute.
Its origins are lost somewhere in the stone age, long before history was recorded. Anthropologists can only guess how it happened, and their guesswork goes something like this: once, in the camp of some nomadic hunter-gatherers, there was a supply of wild grain, painstakingly collected for food. Somehow, possibly in a sudden rainstorm, a pool of warm water formed where the grain was stored. In a short time the grain fermented, turning the water into a thick dark liquid. Some adventurous soul among these primitive people sampled the liquid, and found that it tasted good.
More recently there’s the story of the Iowa man who completed a 46 day Beer Lenten Beer fast. This feat generated an article in Slate asking how long such a diet could last? This rather profound question has crossed my mind before.
While doing my research I also found some interesting uses for beer. I’m sure you might have others?
Then there’s the musical aspect. There are several choices, but I’ll go with this one.
The Lego Beer Song
Category: Pointless blather
In a past life, (pre-1992), I did scientific work using beer. I was an expert at converting it to urine. Quite a process actually. Very enjoyable, and provided me with periods of memory lapse, enabling me to forget that wench that caused me to get into this craft in the first place.
And,,,, that I left that field of Science was a medical rather than a moral choice. Oh how I miss the near daily laboratory work.
I’m surprised Operator Dan hasn’t piped in with this one yet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-jOEAufDQ4
“Uh, dude, I think you’ve had enough…”
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!”
I use beer often when cooking, especially with beef or game animals like deer or buffalo. A dark beer like Guinness or Murphy’s is an excellent choice. I use it either alone, to soak the meat in for 24 hours or so or as a base for a marinade.
For chicken or pork. a pale ale or lager is preferred.
Another good use is as a base for making stew or using a crock pot. When doing either, I first coat and brown the meat, then add a 12oz container of dark beer. It’s best if you let the beer get warm ahead of time so it doesn’t shock the meat and interrupt the cooking. Let this cook for 5-10 minutes, then add the rest of the water.liquid, vegetables, spices, etc.
Beer acts to both flavor and tenderize the meat, and the result is wicked good.
Thank you. The Lego Beer Song provided me with a much needed laugh.
#4 NHSparky… you beat me to it.
#5 AW1 Tim I’ve used Guinness in Shepherd’s Pie.
I haven’t met a beer that I like.
guinness in shepherd’s pie? oh my goodness that sounds delicious… hmmmm. I might need to try it. 🙂
#7 Boo
I ONLY had the Guinness on hand because I had made a Double Chocolate Stout Cake… actually ended up writing about it on the blog a few months ago.
old cadence I used to love:
Old king Cole was a merry old soul,
A merry old soul was he,
He called for his wife he called for his pipe
he called for his (insert rank) three uh-hugh
BEER BEER BEER said the private
I want a three day pass said the corporal,
Drop Drop Drop said the Sergeant,
Merry old men are WE-e
There’s none so fair that they can compare to the US Infantry!
Spockgirl – where was your recipe, please? I checked you site (very cool – now bookmarked) and didn’t see a reference to it.
#10 DaveO
Thanks for visiting the blog. Sorry, no recipe. The one I used was from an old Chocolatier magazine… but I always change things slightly. The shepherd’s pie… I just added the Guinness because I didn’t have enough broth.
An exgirlfriend of mine used to make Guinness cupcakes with Jameson icing.
Right now, I am drinking Dale’s Pale Ale, Yuengling, and some Brooklyn Pennant Ale.
Enjoying some Shiner Bock after “Diamond Days.” The young ladies beat the boys 14-12.
Spockgirl – thank you!