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Did it seem like homemade bread completely flooded your social media feeds last year?

If so, you weren’t alone. Americans got really into bread baking as we spent more time at home, even creating a yeast shortage. But now that our nationwide obsession with sourdough starter has cooled, it’s time for something different.

In 2021, we’re hoping to (safely) spend more time out in the world and less time watching bread dough rise. In sourdough’s place, might we suggest another bread fueled by fermentation?

Beer bread (no yeast required) is a moist, chewy comfort food that’s quick and easy to make with minimal ingredients.

How to make beer bread

You can make beer bread with just three ingredients: self-rising flour, sugar, and of course, beer.

If 3 ingredient beer bread is a little too basic for you, butter makes an excellent addition, especially brushed onto the outside of the loaf while it cools.

Don’t have self-rising flour? No problem. Combine regular all-purpose flour with a little baking powder and salt.

There are lots of great recipes out there that can instruct you on the perfect ingredient proportions for your beer bread, but the process is simple:

1. Whisk your dry ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Add wet ingredients and mix well.
3. Pour into a loaf pan and bake.
4. Enjoy!

Popular recipe variations

Irish beer bread

A lot of people use Guinness or another Irish stout for a savory bread flavor, but feel free to use any traditional Irish style beer.

Honey beer bread

Made with honey to balance the beer’s flavor. You can add honey in addition to sugar or swap them out.

Cheesy beer bread

Cheese and/or spices are excellent mix-ins for beer bread. You can improvise, but some favorite combos include cheddar and dill, feta and garlic, and cheddar gruyere.

What’s the best beer for beer bread?

Feel free to use your favorite beer! There's no right answer. Light or dark, alcoholic or non, hoppy or malty—the choice is yours.

Just remember that the beer’s flavor will translate to the bread. Some people like to use dark beers, such as a stout, to produce a darker bread with a more pronounced flavor. A blonde ale or pilsner, meanwhile, will lead to a lighter loaf. Some say you should use the cheapest beer you have on hand, while others claim that the better the beer, the better the bread.

We may not be bread experts, but we do know beer. Talk to our expert staff about the taste you prefer from your beer, and we’ll be happy to make a recommendation.

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