Tag: beer

BITE Beer Pancakes

pancakesThis quick and easy recipe substitutes the milk in your regular pancakes for beer. Beer pancakes are light and moist with a distinct flavour. For the best results make your pancakes American style, adding slightly more mixture to the centre of your frying pan instead of the traditional thin pancake we Britons like to eat on Shrove Tuesday.

Before you start, the best type of beer to use in this recipe is a pale, less carbonated (the flatter the better) beer. Of course feel free to experiment all night with different beers and pancake recipes until you find one you love.

Ingredients:
4oz (115g) Plain Flour
4tbsp Caster Sugar
½tsp Baking Powder
1 Egg (beaten)
½pt (280ml) Beer
30g Butter (melted and cooled)

Cooking method:

  1. Melt the butter in a microwave on a low setting or in a saucepan on the hob and leave to cool slightly but remain a liquid.
  2. Pour the butter into a container and add the beer. Begin to stir lightly with a whisk.
  3. Add the egg to the beer and butter mixture making sure the egg is nicely whisked in, then leave to rest.
  4. In a bowl, sieve the flour, sugar and baking powder together. With a spoon, mix the dry ingredients together by stirring a few times.
  5. Into the dry ingredients begin mixing the beer/ butter/ egg mixture, keep whisking the two together until just blended.
  6. Heat your griddle or frying pan to a medium heat, add a drizzle of vegetable oil.
  7. Pour around 4tbsp of the mixture into the centre of the heated griddle or frying pan. This is up to you, the more mixture the bigger your pancake.
  8. Watch the pancake on the heat, when bubbles begin to form on the top of the pancake, it’s time to flip it over and cook the other side until browned.

Serving suggestion(s):

These pancakes taste great served with a sliced banana and drizzle of golden syrup / maple syrup or Nutella.
Keep it simple by serving them with lemon and sugar, the bitter lemon really compliments the yeasty flavours.
Serve with melted dark chocolate and cream for a rich taste.
If sweet is not your style, serve with some smoky bacon and crisp lettuce for a  savoury alternative.

Are you making pancakes this Shrove Tuesday 2013? Feel free to leave a comment in our comments section below or join in the conversation on our Facebook page.

 


The first ever tinned beer goes on sale today in 1935

Kreuger's Cream AleNot long after the abolishment of American Prohibition in 1933, the small, almost failing brewer Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company teamed up with the American Can Company in 1934 to produce 2,000 cans of Krueger’s Finest Beer and Krueger’s Cream Ale. Delivering 4 tins of beer to 500 families in the area. It was to be a make or break experiment for the Krueger Brewing Co. Lucky for them, as results came in, 91% of people gave the new way to package beer their honest approval.

With this kind of market feedback green-lighting the way the  Krueger Brewing Co. decided to go into production. With a little further refinement to the tinning process to stop beer sticking to the edges and rim of tins or to stop the tins warping under the pressurised contents, the first ever tinned beer went on sale, this day (24th January) in 1935!

The tin of beer had a simple clear design without the fuss and small print crammed onto today’s packaging, Kreuger’s tins displayed just once piece of advice to drinkers, “cool before serving”. The tin itself was crude by today’s standards but was no doubt modern or even futuristic to the people of 1935. There were no ring-pulls in those days, no widgets, no gimmicks, just beer in a tin. To get to the beer inside a drinker would have to pierce a triangular hole with a tin opener, the Kreuger Brewing Company slogan at the time was “Be a man, drink Kreuger’s”.

Tinned beer was first received by some as just a silly fad, despite the stigma surrounding the invention, sales throughout 1935 rocketed up to 550% making it clear to other brewers that packaging beer into tins was a hugely profitable way to deliver their product.

Cash in the attic? Today 24th January 2013, an empty good condition can of original 1935 Krueger’s Finest Beer would fetch you somewhere in the region of £300 at a collectors auction.

If you have a comment feel free to leave it below in our comments section, or join in the conversation on our Facebook page.


Is it the right kind of snow for 2013?

The Bear at HorshamPubs this year have reported to the Morning Advertiser that trade has been significantly up due to the blankets of snow that have covered the UK this January.

For some lucky publicans there has even been up to a 100% increase in lunch-time sales. Family friendly pubs have cashed in during lunch serving hours thanks to winter revellers. Nicky Wragg of the Green Dragon, Lavington Wiltshire, in a statement to the Morning Advertiser commented, “trade has gone up by more than 100% , but that is just at lunchtime, it could go really quiet in the evening because it is so cold.”

Although it’s good news this year for many well located pubs; on country walk routes, or popular sledging haunts. Let us not forget that once the snow has cleared the real figures will tally… It’s most likely to be on par with last year and December 2011 when pub trade was hit by the freezing weather conditions, keeping many pub-goers indoors and out of the cold.

Some pubs this year have understandably reported almost no trade, with staff unable to come to work, or being inaccessible for patrons to visit they have even had to close entirely. Seeing some good from the unfortunate situation Licensee Tom Adams of the Nags Head Tavern, Thornfalcon commented “we’ve just got to enjoy the time off, publicans don’t get a lot of time off.”

Have you spent your “snow days” down the pub? Has your pub trade been hit by the UK’s inability to deal with a few inches of snow? You can let us know in our comments section below, or by joining the conversation on our Facebook page.

 


A Wylde Green Christmas 2012

Wylde Green christmas 2012“It’s Chrrrristmas!” Say that in your best Noddy Holder impersonation… Yes BITE readers, with just 110 days until Christmas The Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield have already gone into their attic and dusted off the tinsel. With the tree and decorations now up, The Wylde Green opened it’s doors on the 26th August with a rather festive affair and punters queued up to get a taste of Christmas 2012. Turkey dinner in your flip-flops and shorts, can you believe it?!

Lisa Evans, assistant manager of The Wylde Green, in a statement to the press said “It’s all to do with getting our bookings for Christmas, to be fair. We like to get it up early to explain what we have got going on and get as many bookings as we can. ‘It’s going all right at the moment, we have got quite a few.”

The Wylde Green, owned by Greene King and part of the Hungry Horse pub chain have confused locals with the stunt, Lisa Evans commented “they think we are a bit mad to be honest.” She even admitted herself  “it is a bit early isn’t it?” Greene King spokesman Greg Gibbons said: When a customer realises it’s just four more pay days until Christmas it brings it home how close we are.”

2012 has been a belting year for us Brits, with the Royals spear-heading our celebrations showing the world just how great we can be as a nation, we’re draped in Olympic Gold and proudly flying the flag once again. “Ooo, I could snap a match,” why shouldn’t we celebrate Christmas early? So, are you ready to invite nan round? Put on silly hats and loosen your belt? Or is this all just a bit too early for you?

Let us know your thoughts in our comments section below or by joining the conversation on our Facebook page.


British Pie Week 2012

British Pie Week

It’s British Pie Week from the 5th to the 11th March (2012), earlier this year we posted about National Pie Day, so if you’re interested in some quick pie-related facts check out our previous blog post here.

The British Pie Week website (hosted by General Mills Inc.) has announced their “Pub Pie Champion for 2012”.  Drum roll… It’s (chef) hats off to Carol Haime at The Sandrock, Farnham, with a delicious “Wheatley House Pheasant Pie with baby parsnips, juniper and a poppy seed and rock salt crust!” Becoming the first woman to win the competition, Carol said “It’s fantastic to have won! I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet. The whole team is delighted and we’re really looking forward to celebrating during British Pie Week.”
(Source www.britishpieweek.com. The recipie for Carol’s winning pie is also available here.)

The marriage between pies and British pubs is long standing and legendary, searching the comments on BITE we discovered the following pie’scentric pubs recommended by you, our users. These pubs have gone to greater lengths to produce pies worthy of our attention as pub patrons. (Pub suggestions are based on pub-page activity within the last 12 months.)

The Brie Louise, Euston, London: While the reviews from users who have dined on The Brie’s pies seem mixed, there’s no mistaking that The Brie has won awards for it’s skills in pie making. Their Steak & Kidney pie is a crowning achievement  having scooped three consecutive annual awards, a medal has also been pinned on their seasonal Turkey, Cranberry & Stuffing pie (only available in the winter months).   The Brie Louise offers a decent range of home cooked pies, including vegetarian and fish options.

Sweeney & Todd, Reading: The sign above the door blazons the title ‘Famous Pies, Famous Ales’. Knowing the story of Sweeney Todd and the recent findings that his murderous antics were no urban myth, we’re curious as to what ingredients are used in the Sweeney’s pies… Corporate bankers? Estate agents? Expense swindling Politicians? Jokes aside, the Sweeney & Todd boasts what we all want in a pub – friendly staff, reasonably priced well stocked real ales, and a curious selection of pie fillings, … Hare & Cherry anyone? The Sweeney & Todd pie fillings cater to both meat lovers and vegetarians alike.

The Raven, Bath: Described as a “hidden gem”, The Raven in Bath offers a wide selection of ever changing pie fillings, it all depends on which season you find yourself musing their menu. Classic ingredients, such as pork, steak, lamb are all locally sourced, with vegetarian options that may even tempt a browsing carnivore. The Raven also has it’s own specially brewed Real Ale (Raven Ale), when pubs go that extra yard and get it right, The Raven, Bath is worth mentioning.

The Prince of Wales, Ledbury: Tucked away off the Ledbury High-Street, the Prince of Wales is a proper old-fashioned British boozer.  With a relaxed, ambient, atmosphere it’s the perfect setting to sit back, enjoy a real ale from their wide selection and tuck into an enormous portion of their home cooked pie.  Check out their pie board when entering, it’s ever changing with the seasons, the Prince’s pies are baked using locally sourced ingredients.

The Kenton, Homerton, London: It’s a coin-toss about this entry, granted The Kenton doesn’t bake it’s own pies.  However, by word-of-mouth the quality of the Pieminister pies served at The Kenton has reached us on a number of occasions while hunger struck and wandering in Hackney.  This Norwegian run, grand, Victorian pub caters for all tastes, that means you, vegetarians and fussy eaters. The ‘Minty Lamb Pie’ is always a firm favourite to expel those stomach-rumbles, with nice selection of ales to accompany any pie you chose.

Just to finish off, The Angel at Stoke by Nayland, Colchester is offering a special pie and pint menu between the 5th and 11th of March, everyday a choice of pies will be on the menu, baked to perfection by The Angel’s resident top chef.  Booking during British Pie Week (5th – 11th March) is advisable so you can be guaranteed a piece of the pie(s).

If you’ve a favourite pie filling, a recipe for pie success or you know of a pub worth mentioning for it’s culinary pie abilities do let us know in our comments section below or by joining the conversation on our Facebook page.

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