Slow Cooked Guinness Beef Stew

While the title of this recipe might lead you to believe that only Guinness will do, I have found that just about any hearty stout does the trick and even add a few extra subtle flavor notes. This stew delivers, again and again.

Slow Cooked Guiness Beef Stew
By Holly Rodricks
Feeds 6-8 (Depending on how hungry)

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. Stew Beef (or venison for all you hunters out there)
• 2 tbsp. Flour (Optional, but it really helps to sear in the flavor)
• 1 tbsp. Oil
• 1 tsp. Salt, plus more to taste
• 1/2 tsp. Pepper
• 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
• 3-4 tbsp. Bacon Grease
• 1 can/cup Tomato Sauce or pureed Whole Canned Tomatoes
• 2 Onions, chopped into large chunks
• 4-6 cloves Garlic, roughly chopped
• 1 1/2 cups Guinness or other Stout Beer
• 7 medium Carrots, sliced into thick rounds
• 5 medium Potatoes, cut into large chunks
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 tsp. dried Thyme or 3-4 sprigs Fresh Thyme
• 2 Bay Leaves
• pinch of All Spice or Ground Cloves

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, mix Flour, Salt, Pepper, and Cayenne.
2. Toss Stew Meat in large bowl with Oil. Sprinkle Flour mixture over meat and mix with hands until evenly coated.
3. In a large skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat, melt Bacon Grease and brown Meat on all side, approximately 1-2 minutes per side.
4. Add Onions, Garlic, and Tomato Sauce/Puree. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, stirring once or twice.
5. Transfer Meat mixture into dutch oven or crock pot.
6. Return skillet to stove and increase heat to high. Pour approximately 1/4 – 1/2 cup Beer into pan and swirl around until caramelized Meat juices lift off from bottom of pan. Pour Beer drippings into pot.
7. Add remaining Beer, Carrots, Potatoes, Worcestershire Sauce, Thyme, Bay Leaves, and Allspice/Cloves and mix. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or until meat falls apart when pierced with a fork.
8. Serve hot with fresh bread.