03.11.13
Once upon a time I quit life. It was during college, which meant it was completely acceptable to throw your hands in the air and give up, even if only temporarily. And so I did. I put in my notice, rented a storage unit, couch surfed for a few months to save money (and because I had been kicked out of my apartment), and planned a backpacking trip through Europe with only an end destination in mind: St. James’s Gate for a pint of Guinness. Oh, my priorities back then. I knew nothing of German beerhalls, Trappist monastaries, or the wonder that is Cantillon. What I did know – the famous Irish Stout that’s available in just about every pub across the U.S.
Guinness was my gateway drug. It introduced me to a world of beers that I may have otherwise been unwilling to try. While I still kick myself that I missed out on so many incredible brews, I did have the time of my life.
College me at the top of the Guinness Brewery Tour.
St. Patrick’s Day is the one time of the year I return to my first beer love. And while I may not have an ounce of Irish blood in my veins, I did fall in love with the Irish countryside (and, for a brief while, an Irishman), all while drinking an excess of Guinness. It was great craic.
So here’s a not-so-Irish take on an Irish classic. It’s a recipe I return to time and time again as a result of its versatility. Here, it’s cooked until tender in a thick gravy and covered with puff pastry to create an easy to assemble meat pie. Other variations: add potatoes to create a hearty stew or barley for a satisfying soup – simply increase the stock level by a little to a lot. You may notice that in the picture below, there’s no Guinness. Oops? It just so happened that there was a six pack of Velvet Merlin in my refrigerator and it’s not St. Patrick’s Day just yet! An oatmeal stout is a satisfactory substitute, but this recipe really is better served with the classic. Besides, if you should happen to have any leftover, it makes a wonderful addition to Bloody Marys for the morning after.
Ingredients
Steps
Tags: beef stew • carrots • cooking with beer • craft beer • Guinness • irish stew • kale • meat pie • parsnips • recipe • stew • stout