Steak & Ale Pie

DullGreyGuy

[rant]It frequently irritates me when recipes say to add red wine or beer etc and nothing more than that, particularly when its a material part of the ingredients rather than just a dash. Why can't they at least give a suggestion?[/rant]


Have always used Black Sheep simply because it was what was recommended in the first recipe that I did and it was great. Have tried a couple made by friends using Guinness and they weren't great but obviously dont know if thats the choice of beer or their cooking. 

Did try to make it with a stout from the Kernel but someone turned the oven up high for reasons she still can't explain so it dried out/burned. 

I know the principle is you are looking for malty beers rather than hoppy ones but wondered which beers others recommend for making a steak and ale?

Cairnpapple

Always Newcastle Brown!

JIL

I use Guinness. I also use Guinness to make a fabulous chocolate cake.

fatbelly

Any of the beers from the £1 shelf at Morrisons. Banks's Bitter might work

joedenise

Delia has a recipe where she just uses cheap lager!  So don't think it really matters what you use - just use something that you would drink!  Same when it comes to using red wine - never use anything you wouldn't actually drink.

DullGreyGuy

joedenise said:

Delia has a recipe where she just uses cheap lager!  So don't think it really matters what you use - just use something that you would drink!  Same when it comes to using red wine - never use anything you wouldn't actually drink.

Surely by definition it isnt a steak and ale pie if you arent using an ale?

Personally wouldn't drink Black Sheep but it makes a great pie/stew... what I would drink is very hoppy and unanimously people say it doesn't work as once evaporated down the bitterness from the hops is too strong and the more delicate esters that give it tropical fruit flavours etc are gone.

Brambling

It's been a while since I've made one but I used to use a Porter I think I've used Waitrose Fuller London Porter which is about £2.50 a bottle I think most SMs sell a variation of it.  

Agree with Joedenise about not buying cheap alcohol for cooking as it will reflect in the taste

goldfinches

I looked at the BBC Good Food recipe here and noted that it specified a sweet brown ale in the ingredients list. If you scroll down to the comments some of them include the ale they used which might be helpful and there are also some GF team replies to questions about it too.

Nasqueron

goldfinches said:

I looked at the BBC Good Food recipe here and noted that it specified a sweet brown ale in the ingredients list. If you scroll down to the comments some of them include the ale they used which might be helpful and there are also some GF team replies to questions about it too.

Off topic but Leffe Brune makes a nice chocolate tart.

DGG - Badger Beers make some good hearty ales that I think work well depending on the style you want, Cranborne Poacher or Fursty Ferret for the darker beers or Golden Glory / Tangle Foot perhaps for a lighter flavour 

goldfinches

Nasqueron said:

goldfinches said:

I looked at the BBC Good Food recipe here and noted that it specified a sweet brown ale in the ingredients list. If you scroll down to the comments some of them include the ale they used which might be helpful and there are also some GF team replies to questions about it too.

Off topic but Leffe Brune makes a nice chocolate tart.

DGG - Badger Beers make some good hearty ales that I think work well depending on the style you want, Cranborne Poacher or Fursty Ferret for the darker beers or Golden Glory / Tangle Foot perhaps for a lighter flavour 

Off topic again I'd be glad to hear more about this recipe if you please. Leffe Blonde is one of my favourite bottled beers so think this might suit my palate.

cricidmuslibale

DullGreyGuy said:

[rant]It frequently irritates me when recipes say to add red wine or beer etc and nothing more than that, particularly when its a material part of the ingredients rather than just a dash. Why can't they at least give a suggestion?[/rant]


Have always used Black Sheep simply because it was what was recommended in the first recipe that I did and it was great. Have tried a couple made by friends using Guinness and they weren't great but obviously dont know if thats the choice of beer or their cooking. 

Did try to make it with a stout from the Kernel but someone turned the oven up high for reasons she still can't explain so it dried out/burned. 

I know the principle is you are looking for malty beers rather than hoppy ones but wondered which beers others recommend for making a steak and ale?

@DullGreyGuy For a richly flavoured and rather fruity steak and ale pie I recommend using either Theakston's Old Peculier or Black Sheep Riggwelter (as opposed to Black Sheep Ale which is very suitable for the usual style, high quality steak and ale pie as you've already mentioned). Both these delicious and very traditional old ales are widely available nationwide in 500ml bottles in most supermarkets, off licences etc.