It’s that time of year where you get to sit down with family, argue over politics and than make peace by pulling out your favorite bottle from your collection. Upon popping open your most sacred brew, frowns turn upside down. Grandma smiles a bit. Your son releases your other son’s neck from his grasp and Aunt Myrtle drops her cane in favor of a tulip glass, so that she can try your offerings. Beer solves problems. It’s the ultimate bridge builder. It intoxicates angst, lifts spirits and calls on people to rally around a shared love.

This holiday season we encourage you to grab your favorite beer, or growler from your favorite Tap Trail brewery and invite family and friends over for a drink to go with their tryptophan.

The following recipes have been gathered through extensive online research and forum combing. Take your pick and be the star of your next holiday gathering.


Roasted Beer-Brined Turkey with Onion Gravy and Bacon – Boundary Bay Imperial Oatmeal Stout

TOTAL TIME:

INGREDIENTS – Full Recipe Here

  • 1/4 cup yellow mustard seeds
  • 2 tablespoons black peppercorns
  • 8 bay leaves
  • 1 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 cup kosher salt
  • 2 onions, cut into thick wedges
  • 1 pound slab bacon, skin removed and meat sliced 1/3 inch thick
  • Six 12-ounce bottles Guinness stout
  • One 12- to 14-pound turkey
  • 1 cup turkey stock or low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Swiss Beer Bread – Kulshan Brewing’s Dude Man Wheat

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 15 min. Bake: 50 min. + cooling

INGREDIENTS – Full Recipe

  • 4 ounces Jarlsberg or Swiss cheese
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 bottle (12 ounces) beer or nonalcoholic beer
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Beer and Coffee Steaks – Aslan Brewing’s Java Lava

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 6-8 hours + Bake: 15 min.

INGREDIENTS – Full Recipe

  • 12 ounces dark beer, such as Aslan’s Java Lava
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Tabasco
  • 4 boneless strip steaks (1 1/2 to 2 pounds), trimmed of fat
  • 3 tablespoons finely ground espresso or dark roast coffee
  • 1 tablespoon pure chile powder (such as ancho)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, or more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Green Beans in Beer Sauce – Wander Brewing’s Shoe Toss Rye IPA

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 15 min. Cook: 8 hours

INGREDIENTS – Full Recipe

  • 1/3 pound bacon strips, diced
  • 1 package (16 ounces) frozen cut green beans, thawed
  • 1/3 cup beer or nonalcoholic beer
  • 1/3 cup butter, cubed
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 4 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons grated onion

Chocolate Stout Loaf Cake with Blackberry Frosting – Chuckanut Brewing Stout

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 15 min. Cook: 1hr.

INGREDIENTS – Full RecipeChocolate Stout Loaf Cake with Raspberry Icing -1

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cup (335g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon (7g) vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup (170g) stout beer
  • ¼ cup (55g)vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 cups (225 g) all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup cocoa (60 g) powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon (4 g) salt
  • ½ cup (130 g) blackberries
  • 2 cups (1/2 lbs) powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon (5g) fresh lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon (3g) vanilla extract

 

 

IPA Crab Salad Sliders with Apple Daikon Slaw – North Fork IPA

TOTAL TIME: 15min

INGREDIENTS – Full Recipe

For the Slaw
  • ½ large honey crisp apple, cut into thin matchsticks
  • 3 ounces daikon, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks
  • ¼ cup green onions, sliced
  • 2 tbs IPA
  • 1 tbs raw honey
  • ¼ tsp mustard powder
For the Crab:
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 2 tbs IPA
  • ½ tsp Old Bay seasoning
  • ¼ tsp onion powder
  • pinch chili powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tbs IPA
  • 8 wt oz lump crab meat
  • 10 Slider Buns