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beer suggestions

14 years ago

I am having a large-ish group for dinner on Friday night. After reading the gumbo thread, I've decided to make gumbo. I would like to be able to offer beer with the gumbo, but I know nothing about beer. I have never been able to acquire a taste for it.

Do any of you have any suggestions for beer to go with gumbo? I would like to offer something "lite" in addition to maybe something dark, and something between the two.

I will also be offering wine and non-alcoholic drinks.

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Comments (15)

sushipup1
14 years ago
We buy Fat Tire. Trendy enough to get people interested in trying it. A lite beer is a lite beer, whatever you get is probably okay, because people who drink lite beer are probably not beer aficionados.

Here is a link that might be useful: New Belgium/Fat Tire
bbstx
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks, pup. LOL...the few times I've tried beer, it has been lite beer. I just can't get past the yeasty, hoppy, taste of "good" beer. I also do not like beer battered fried food, or malted milk shakes. They all have that taste I do not like.
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I'm not going to criticize the recipe....but think you will like something like Ken Haedrick's better....and you can sub beer for some of the chicken broth if you wish. My rule of thumb is never use water for a soup starter unless you are cooking dry beans or a pot of bones for broth. And remember a cheese soup is only as good as the cheese you use in it.....and velveeta is not "good" cheese. LOL! The flavor is virtually the same; itÃ¯Â¿Â½s just thinner, though still quite full-bodied, Ken Haedrich says. Ingredients for cheddar bisque * 1 1/2 cups peeled potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes * 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth * 1/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature * 1 cup finely chopped onions * 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour * 1 1/2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk * 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard * 1 1/2 cups shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese * 1/4 teaspoon salt * 1/8 teaspoon Coarsely ground black pepper * 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper * Prep Time - 5 * Cook Time - 28 Instructions Combine potatoes and broth in a large stockpot. Cover and bring to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions and cook, stirring, until translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir into potato mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until thickened. Add milk and cook, stirring, about 8 minutes. Do not boil. Remove from heat and stir in mustard and about half the cheese. Stir until melted. Add remaining cheese. Season with salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Recipe reprinted with permission from Ken HaedrichÃ¯Â¿Â½s Soup Makes the Meal (Harvard Common Press, 2001). Nutritional Info (per serving) * Calories 330
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Here's a very good/tasty beer cheese soup recipe yes, it does have broccoli [that's to make NOT feel as guilty about indulging] Ingredients 3 tablespoons butter 5 celery ribs, finely chopped 3 medium carrots, finely chopped 1 small onion, finely chopped 4 cups fresh broccoli florets, chopped 1/4 cup chopped sweet red pepper 4 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) chicken broth 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup water 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed 1 bottle (12 ounces) beer or nonalcoholic beer Optional toppings: Additional shredded cheddar cheese, cooked and crumbled bacon strips, chopped green onions, sour cream and salad croutons Directions In a Dutch oven, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add celery, carrots and onion; saute until crisp-tender. Add broccoli and red pepper; stir in broth and pepper. Combine flour and water until smooth; gradually stir into pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until thickened and vegetables are tender, 25-30 minutes. Stir in cheeses and beer until cheeses are melted (do not boil). Top with additional shredded cheese, bacon, green onions, sour cream and croutons as desired. Freeze option: Before adding toppings, cool soup; transfer to freezer containers. Freeze up to 3 months. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight; heat through in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally (do not boil). Add toppings as desired.
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Kswl - Our kids did Irish dance but their instructor always made a point of differentiating the spelling between ceilidh and ceili. He said that Ceildhi is Scottish Gaelic while Ceili is Irish Gaelic. They both have the same pronunciation and meaning. I wonder if it might be a regional thing - we're just outside Philadelphia. We recently attended a small Feis to watch my niece and afterwards we thoroughly enjoyed the evening ceili - as the Irish would say it was great craic. And speaking of bagpipes - DD went to Columbia and one year I happened to take a day trip into the city to spend the afternoon with her and attend a Broadway matinee. How thrilling to find out that I had stumbled onto the Tartan Day Parade. That was in 2002 and Sean Connery was the Grand Marshall. This year's parade is on Saturday, April 11 and Graham McTavish (Outlander) has the honor. I'd love to go for the parade again. There's something about pipes and drums that stirs my soul. DS married a lass who was Scottish and all her relatives came to the wedding in their Prince Charlie jackets and Crawford tartans. Unfortunately the bagpiper who was to pipe the wedding party into the reception canceled at the last minute. The string quartet was lovely but nearly as exciting. It sounds like you have thought of everything. I hope your party is a huge success and that the weather cooperates too. Have you watched the documentary "Jig" - about the Irish Dancing World Championship?
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annie1992
14 years ago
bbxtyx, I don't like beer either, but I had some called "Ephemere" by Uni-broue, it's based in Montreal, I think.

A nice sour apple overtone, but it was still definitely beer. I also tasted a dark one at a local brewery that tasted like coffee, but I can't remember what the heck it was called, and Elery just had a draft "shandy" at a local restaurant a month or so ago, a mix of lemonade and beer, and it wasn't bad.

Funny, I dislike beer but I LOVE chocolate malts and Whoppers malted milk balls....

Annie
bbstx
Original Author
14 years ago
annie, your comment about dark beer reminded me of going to the Guiness brewery in Dublin a few years ago. At the end of the tour, you get a free Guiness. I took a tiny sip, it tasted as bad as I thought it would, and I set it down on one of the tables. The people who were bussing the tables kept moving it around and not taking it away. I suppose they thought it was put there by someone who was coming back to drink the rest of it, rather than someone who just can't abide beer and was trying to get rid of it.
kandm
14 years ago
I would just grab some Abita Amber or Golden which is made in Louisiana from Abita spring water. If the gumbo is going to be super spicy maybe try Abita's Jockamo IPA which has more hops.
foodonastump
14 years ago
Since you're not a beer lover yourself I think it would be a mistake to buy a microbrew or other obscure beer for this. I'd offer a nice, safe variety such as:

Sam Adams Octoberfest - Seasonal, a bit darker.

Stella - A popular/trendy/drinkable "regular" beer.

Heineken Light - Personally I'd prefer Miller Lite, but I'd buy Heineken for appearance's sake.
foodonastump
14 years ago
I'm not familiar with Abita but I like kandm's suggestion as well. It goes with the theme.
Solsthumper
14 years ago
I'm not a beer drinker either, but I have tried a few fancy brews in my time. And, like Foodonastump, the beer that restored harmony to my universe was good ol' Miller.

Sol
bbstx
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for all the suggestions. For the lite beer, I'll probably go with Miller Lite since my brother-in-law prefers that. I can feed him the "leftovers." (DH is not a beer drinker either.)

FOAS, is Stella the same as Stella Artois? (Isn't my beer ignorance boundless?)
bbstx
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for all the suggestions. For the lite beer, I'll probably go with Miller Lite since my brother-in-law prefers that. I can feed him the "leftovers." (DH is not a beer drinker either.)

FOAS, is Stella the same as Stella Artois? (Isn't my beer ignorance boundless?)
foodonastump
14 years ago
yup!
Terri_PacNW
14 years ago
Go to beer in my house...Sam Adams Boston Lager...
booberry85
14 years ago
If you can find it in your next of the woods, I'd go with Dixie Voodoo beer. It would go great with the gumbo. If not I'd go with Labatt's (Labatt's Blue, Labatt's Light) or Molson (Molson Canadian, Molson Light).
lindac
14 years ago
I'll second what Boo said!!
bbstx
Original Author
14 years ago
Made the grocery run today. I bought Sam Adams Octoberfest (are cute little orange caps a good enough reason to buy a beer?); Stella Artois; and Miller Lite (althought my college roomie told me that her hubby says no manly man would ever drink a lite beer!). Bud Light almost won out over Miller Lite. The cutest guy was stocking the Bud Light!

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