Cheddar-Rosemary Beer Bread {& Does the Type of Beer Make a Difference??}
As if a loaf of fresh-baked beer bread isn't tasty enough, adding grated cheese and fresh herbs ... like in this Cheddar-Rosemary Beer Bread ... makes it even tastier!
A while back, I shared step-by-step how to make beer bread ... and how completely and totally easy it is to do. None of that boxed mix needed. And that a-while-back post got me to thinking ... How much does the type of beer used in one's beer bread matter?
I mean, does the type of beer really make a difference?
The answer? ... a huge YES!
The type of beer used makes all the difference.
I had always made my beer bread with whatever beer was hanging around in my refrigerator, without giving it much thought. I'd just grab whatever my husband had picked up at the store, not paying much attention. I mean, I knew the bread and flavor came out a bit different with each different beer ... but I hadn't ever truly 'experimented,' so to speak.
So I decided to change that. I decided to do a deliberate beer-bread-comparison experiment. And baked up three different loaves of beer bread ... made with three different beers. {Of course, right? It wouldn't be an experiment if I didn't use different beers!}
And here's a look at the results:
Left: Oatmeal Porter. Middle: Pale Ale. Right: 'Regular' ol' Lager.
Each of the breads does indeed look different in color, mirroring the darkness of the beer. But more importantly, each of the breads tastes different, too ... taking on the flavor of the beer, as well.
So the moral of the story?
When making beer bread, use a beer you like to drink. Because if you don't like the beer to begin with, you won't like the beer bread either.
And once you've poured in a beer you love, adding cheddar and rosemary makes your beer bread even that much better.
Cheddar-Rosemary Beer Bread
(Printable recipe)Ingredients
- 3 c. self-rising flour
- 3 T. granulated sugar
- 1 (12 oz.) beer {any kind of beer you'd like*}
- 1 c. grated cheddar cheese
- 3 T. finely chopped fresh rosemary
- 4 T. butter, melted
- In a mixing bowl, stir together flour and sugar. Add beer; mix until well combined. Stir in cheddar and rosemary.
- Place batter in a greased loaf pan. Pour melted butter evenly over the top of batter in the pan. Do not stir.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 45 - 50 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
* Choose any kind of beer you would like, keeping in mind that milder beers such as 'regular' lagers and ales will let the cheddar and rosemary flavors come through more fully. Mine is made with 'regular' lager.
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