SCHWARZBIER DRUNKEN BEANS

Brewer’s Note: This recipe for beans cooked in beer is simple, and the ingredients are cheap and easy to find. Your house will smell amazing while it’s cooking and the resulting dish is warm and comforting, pretty much exactly what we all need right now.

INGREDIENTS:

16 oz Natural Bridge: Schwarzbier

3 slices thick bacon, diced

1 onion, diced

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups (3/4 lbs) dry pinto beans

1 tsp dried oregano

Pinch dried chili flakes

32 oz (1 quart) low-sodium chicken broth (or water, you’ll just need to use more salt)

Worcestershire sauce

Kosher salt

Pepper

Required cookware: Oven-proof potwith a lid (preferably a Dutch oven!)

RECIPE:

Rinse the pinto beans in a colander and remove any broken pieces.In a pot, cover the beans by about 1 inch of water, add a tablespoon or so of salt, and let soak for at least 2 hours (or overnight).

Preheat oven to 325°F. Drain and rinse the pinto beans. Set aside.

Over medium-low heat, add the bacon to your pot and render the fat, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted-spoon and drain on a paper towel (eat the cooked bacon pieces as a snack while you finish the recipe). Add the onion, garlic and a big pinch of salt to the rendered bacon fat and sauté for about 5 minutes. Add the oregano and chili flakes and cook for about a minute more. Splash in about two ounces of Schwarzbier to deglaze the pot.

Add the drained beans, the Schwarzbier and the broth to the pot and bring to a boil. Add 2-3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce and cover the pot. Move the pot to the lower rack of the oven and cook for 90 minutes. Kick back and finish your Schwarzbier crowler (and maybe open another one).

Stir the beans and add a little water if they are not completely covered. Cook for another 30 minutes or so until the beans are tender but not completely falling apart. Taste for seasoning, add salt and pepper as needed and serve.

If you have them on hand, some great toppings for Drunken Beans would be chopped pickled peppers, cilantro, a lime wedge, shredded cheese, sour cream and your favorite hot sauce! A favorite way to serve these beans is with toast (or tortilla) and a fried egg.