Irish soda bread is traditionally made with baking soda and buttermilk but we think this beer bread–with beer and baking powder standing in for the buttermilk and baking soda–feels pretty appropriate, too. One thing’s for sure. This bread is very easy to make.
You can use whatever kind of beer you’d like. Since the bread really does reflect the flavor of your brew, choose one you love. Pour in your favorite lager, stout, pilsner, or IPA…go wild!
Love it. My sister-in-law is hosting the family St. Patrick’s party this year. I could make this for everybody. I think they’d love it.
Thank you!
Hello Pam, Maggie & Sharon,
I am gluten free and am wondering if you have tried this beer bread recipe with non gluten flours? I generally use a mixture of various flours when baking. Would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Mary Anne Duve
Lee Center, IL
(Formerly of La Grange, IL)
Mary Anne,
If you’ve got a mix of non-gluten flours that typically work for you, I can’ see any reason why this recipe wouldn’t work. Good luck.
PS Is this Mary Anne our former La Grange neighbor? If so, let us know!
I have to confess, I am not a beer drinker. BUT I do like beer bread, found a recipe awhile back for a cheddar cheese/beer bread. Looking forward to trying this recipe!
I’m curious to know if a non-alcoholic beer would produce as good a loaf as one made with regular beer?
Good question, Chris. I’ve made it with light beer and it’s just fine, so I don’t see why non-alcoholic beer wouldn’t work. If you try it, let us know what you think.
I would like to make this with whole wheat flour and add some who grains, any advice?
Hey Sheryl,
Not sure if you saw the other comment about whole wheat, but I’d substitute white whole wheat for the bread flour and then add whole grains as extra ingredients. It may require extra beer–maybe even extra leavener. I think it’s one of those things you might just have to play with.
Love the video! You all look like you’re having so much fun. Beer bread is so tasty and I like that your recipe is simple. Thanks for the post!
This bread looks incredible! You make it look so easy to make! Think it would work with green beer? 🙂
Just saw the Beer Bread recipe in USA Weekend. We love fresh bread and this looks easy enough that I could make it. The recipe says to use any beer. However, since I am not a beer drinker, any suggestions on what beer I should use? The popular Bud, Miller, Coors, etc…? Are the dark beers and lagers stronger? I’m looking for a mild beer, if there even is one!
Thank you.
Sylvia
Hey Sylvia,
We’ve made the bread with a variety of beers–light, lager, ale. Just remember, the stronger the beer the more assertive the flavor. If I were you, I’d start with a light beer or lager and then go from there.
Good luck,
pam
thanks for the great video — you three make baking bread doable and fun! I’ll be trying this soon 🙂
Saw your Beer bread recipe in Sundays paper, and just made it for myself, and son and daughter. My son said it was “ok”, but my daughter and I really liked it! Thanks for the easy recipe!! Do you have a book out?
Hey Donna,
You really know how to ask the right questions! I’ve actually have 6 published books with a 7th out this October. They are: The Perfect Recipe, How to Cook without a Book, CookSmart, Perfect Recipes for Having People Over, The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight and Eating Great, and Perfect One-Dish Dinners. My 7th is called Cook Without a Book Meatless Meals.
For Sheryl, here’s a recipe using whole wheat flour: http://www.farmgirlfare.com/2005/11/beer-bread-update-whole-wheat-version.html
The beer bread recipe I use is similar, just slightly different amounts of the ingredients. Instead of the egg wash, melted butter is poured over the top of the loaf. It’s tasty!
I made your bread with Guinness then threw in 1.5 cups of raisins & 2 Tblsp of caraway seeds.
It’s now in regular rotation at my house.
Beer bread, OMG, I forgot about beer bread! It really is a wonderfully easy, yet delicious bread. I used equal amounts of all purpose & whole wheat flour, tossed in a 1/4 cup of ground flax seeds and a 1/4 cup of hulled roasted sunflower seeds—the loaf didn’t last through the night! My husband suggested next time to add in some sliced olives for an even more savoury bread. Thanks!
Dear Chris,
Yes this bread works with non-alcoholic beer. For St. Patricks day I use Kaliber. For football season I use St. Pauly Girl. For Octoberfest I use Causthaller. They all work well.