Mrs Webmuppet Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 LMW would like me make a steak and ale pie (had one at school and now expects me to make one) there's a recipe in my Hairy Bikers pie book but I have no idea which ale to use ( I don't drink beer so have absolutely no idea) the array in the supermarket is totally bewildering........... Help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 I don't think it really matters..... I currently have a few bottles of Grolsch lying around that I'm using.... Works OK... As long as you don't get lager I reckon you'd be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 I thought that Grolsch was larger? We tend to use Manns because it is always just £1 per bottle in Morrisons, but any flat beer will do. Better to use a darker one than a pale summer ale which often have a floral edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 Is it?!? Gosh I'm rubbish with beer as I don't drink the stuff Oh well. It worked a treat in my last steak and ale pie, so guess you can use any old beer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 That made me Space Chick. My mum made beef in beer not too long ago when we went to visit and stuck a can of Carling in it. I did question whether Carling was quite the right choice being a lager... however those who ate it reported back that it tasted fine (not me, I'm a veggie). Or maybe they were just being polite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 This has made me fancy a steak and ale pie now!!! Hubby goes to the butcher on Thursday....guess what he's going to be getting! LOL! In other news, I checked the Grolsch bottle and it is indeed lager!!! Who knew?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 Using lager instead of something darker is simply like using white wine instead of red wine in a dish; it'll work, but there will be a bit less flavour. Sometimes, this actually works in your favour. Strictly, though, "ale" in a beef dish is intended to be a bitter or a pale or dark ale. There's no point getting picky between the brands, though, since all the volatile aromatics that give the variations of flavour will evaporate off early in the cooking leaving the beer and stock mixture tasting about the same anyway. And if you have a bottle or can of Guinness or stout, that'll be fine too. I suppose it comes down to the fact that cooking beef in anything alcoholic (so long as it isn't sweet) will go down a treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 This has made me fancy a steak and ale pie now!!! Hubby goes to the butcher on Thursday....guess what he's going to be getting! LOL! In other news, I checked the Grolsch bottle and it is indeed lager!!! Who knew?!? I am sure that we have used larger at some time too and as the major said, good beef in alcohol is a winner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted May 30, 2013 Author Share Posted May 30, 2013 I'll let you know how the pie goes, it's on the menu for tea tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Enjoy It's on our menu tomorrow Hubby bought the beef today shall slow cook the steak in ale tomorrow and then just do a pastry top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 If anyone is interested, I have a few pints of ale available that I brewed myself. OH is convinced it has gone off, (fussy!) but I have used it for stock in a few suitable recipes recently and it has worked just fine. Anyone local to Liverpool/Lancashire/Manchester area? I haven't used it in a month, so will have to check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 How was the pie Mrs Webmuppet? We've just had ours and it was lovely Hubby said what a nice change it was.... I told him to thank Omlet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbug Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 The omlet effect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted June 1, 2013 Author Share Posted June 1, 2013 It was delicious. I used a bottle of Simply Ale from the supermarket (£1.39). LMW said it was better than schools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
