Not all beers work for beer bread, so let’s discuss the best beer for beer bread, and I’m sharing my easy, five-ingredient recipe!
Beer bread is the perfect recipe for those who don’t love baking. With one bowl, a few ingredients, and about five minutes of prep time, you can have a warm, delicious loaf of bread on the table in about an hour. However, the beer you choose matters. I think the best beer for beer bread is any variety that is low on the IBU scale.
Anyone who knows me knows I don’t love bread, and it’s not because of any health or diet opinions. Since I was a little girl, I’ve always thought of bread as a filler. I vividly remember being young, sitting at my Italian grandmother’s dinner table, and thinking I could have more meatballs if I didn’t have bread. It’s not that I dislike bread. I just don’t get as excited about it as others. Beer bread is one of the few recipes I look forward to making and eating. When your loaf comes out of the oven and rests, slice a thick piece and eat it with some good quality salted butter, and thank me later!
What Does IBU In Beer Mean
IBU stands for international bitterness units. The lower the number, the less bitter the beer. There’s a lot more to this, but for the purposes of this post, know that something like a hoppy IPA, which is very high on the IBU scale, will yield a bitter-tasting bread. Try to stick with something that has an IBU of 20 or less. Most people say to use what you like when it comes to choosing the beer. I don’t agree. The flavor of the beer will be even more pronounced in your bread, which is what you need to think about when choosing a beer for beer bread.
Best Beer For Beer Bread
When choosing the best beer for beer bread, choose something you like and remember that whatever flavors are in the beer will be more pronounced in the bread. Here are some of my favorites and why.
- Dos Perros Has an IBU score of just 11%. It’s a rich and malty beer with a subtle sweetness.
- Killian’s Irish Red has an IBU score of 14. It has a smooth finish and toasty malt flavor.
- Newcastle Brown Ale has an IBU of just 4.7%. It’s an English brown ale with a nutty/multi-aroma and taste.
In the fall, I love playing with some seasonal beers. Schlafly Pumpkin Ale has an IU score of 16 and notes of caramel, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It makes an absolutely delicious beer bread that tastes like fall!
Easy Beer Bread Recipe
Why We Love It
- It uses minimal ingredients that most of us already have on hand.
- With minimal prep time and no need required, it’s probably the easiest loaf of bread you’ll ever make.
- If a bread can taste cozy, this bread is it. It’s multi, buttery, Cozy deliciousness.
- From start to finish, you can enjoy a freshly baked loaf of bread in about an hour and a half, and most of that time is baking and resting time.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredients in beer bread are simple, but you have a few options depending on your dietary needs, which I’ll discuss below.
- All-purpose flour is what I use, but we’ll discuss some other options below.
- Baking powder helps the bread rise.
- Sea salt to help bring out the flavors.
- Sugar balances out the savory flavors and gives the bread a subtle sweetness.
- Salted butter gives the bread an irresistible buttery, salty crust.
- Beer! I typically use a low IBU beer with caramel and malty notes, but any beer will technically work.
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How To Make Beer Bread
Homemade beer bread is so easy to make that I can hardly even call it a recipe!
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
- Prepare your loan by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray.
- Sift the flour into a mixing bowl.
- Add the baking powder, sugar, and salt.
- Slowly pour in the beer.
- Whisk until just combined.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.
- Drizzle the melted butter over the top.
- Bake for approximately one hour. See notes below.
- Allow the loaf at least 20 minutes before slicing.
Pro tip: to check for Dess, you can insert a toothpick or a knife into the center of the bread. When it comes out clean, it’s done. However, the most foolproof way to check to see if the bread is done is to use an instant-read thermometer. Insert the thermometer and the center of the bread, making sure not to go all the way to the bottom of the pan. When the temperature reads 190°F, the bread is perfectly cooked, and always let it rest before slicing into it.
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Serving Suggestions
- My favorite way to eat is his warm slathered and salted butter!
- Serve with soup, stew, and chili.
- Cube it up and make beer bread croutons.
- Slice it up and make The most amazing grilled cheese sandwich ever!
Variations + Helpful Tips
- If you don’t have sugar, replace it with 1/4 cup of honey.
- For cheesy beer bread, add one cup of shredded cheese to the dry mix before adding the beer.
- Stir any fresh herbs you want into the batter. My favorites are rosemary and chives!
- For garlicky beer bread, Fresh garlic, roasted garlic, and garlic powder all work well here.
- Resist the urge to slice into the bread right away and allow it to rest for a minimum of 20 minutes.
- Try not to compact and/or overmeasure the flour. It can result in a dry, hard loaf.
- Sifting the flour is crucial for a lighter, fluffy loaf of bread.
- Adding butter to the bread before baking results in a hardy, crunchy top. If you want a softer top, add the butter only in the last 15 minutes of cooking.
Check out our vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, and low-carb recipes if you have food sensitivities! |
Serve This With
- 10-Minute Tangy Tomato Dressing Recipe
- Foolproof Butter & Lemon Baked Rice Recipe
- Easy Oven Roasted Broccoli Recipe
- Homemade Basil Pesto Recipe | Plus 25 Ways To Use It
If you try this recipe, I'd love to know! Comment below or tag me on Instagram. Be sure to sign up for my email list so you don’t miss out on anything new. Thanks so much for being here, friends! |
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Best Beer for Beer Bread + Easy 5-Ingredient Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 12-ounce can beer
- 1/4 cup melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F
- Lightly grease a 9x5" loaf pan with butter or non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
- Pour in the beer and stir until just combined. Don’t overmix.
- Spoon the batter into a loaf pan and gently smooth the top.
- Drizzle the melted butter over the top.
- Bake for approximately 45-50 minutes or until the top is a deep, golden brown and a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Remove the bread from the oven and let rest for 20 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Try not to compact and/or overmeasure the flour. It can result in a dry, hard loaf.
- Sifting the flour is crucial for a lighter, fluffy loaf of bread.
- Adding butter to the bread before baking results in a hardy, crunchy top. If you want a softer top, add the butter only in the last 15 minutes of cooking.
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