Braised beef ribs are all about low, slow cooking to build layers of umami-rich flavor. Usually, that savoriness comes from the combination of the meat and the fat and juices that render out, as well as broth, tomato paste, garlic and other aromatic ingredients. In this recipe, we add one more component: Pennsylvania brown ale for a malty, smooth character that adds a certain something special to the cooking liquid. The recipe calls for a full 12-oz. bottle of beer, but you can save the rest of the six-pack to serve alongside the ribs for a “like-with-like” pairing, or choose a hoppy, crisp pale ale or IPA to achieve more of a contrast. To turn the braised ribs into a complete meal, serve them with homemade mashed potatoes or creamy polenta made with locally milled cornmeal.
Not sure where to find a PA brown ale? Try one of these great local breweries:
- Two Locals Brewing Nubian Brown Ale: This cozy winter warmer has aromas of roasted coffee, baked bread and roasted nuts. It’s slightly sweet, with cinnamon and nutmeg flavors. Brothers Richard and Mengistu were raised in Philadelphia, which is where you can find their products at two Liberty Kitchen locations. Or, order online via Rieker Bottle Works in Lancaster.
- Attic Brewing Co. Bloodhound Brown Ale (coming soon): This English brown ale is brewed with five grains, including rye. It’s malty with notes of raisin rye bicuits and chocolatey, caramel flavors. Find it at the taproom in the Germantown section of Philadelphia soon!
- Weyerbacher Brewing Company Easton Brown & Down: this brow ale is a warm, roasty brew with a dry finish, brewed by Weyerbacher with deep-roasted chocolate malt for rich flavor. Grab it in a crowler to-go!
- Elk Creek Brookie Brown Ale: Yes, brookie, like the brownie-cookie. This drinkable dark beer has chocolate and caramel malt flavors for a sweet, mellow sip. Find it in smack-dab-central PA in Manheim at the Elk Creek Farmers Market through October.
- Boal City Brown Ale: From Boalsburg microbrewery comes an American Brown Ale made with Munich malts and American hops. It’s chocolate forward with toffee and toast flavors. Grab it from the tap or in to-go cans.
- The Brewerie at Union Stations’ Major McNair’s Nut Brown: A full bodied, deep roasted mahogany ale with nutty, malty flavors made and sold in Erie.
- Helltown Brewing Mischievous Brown Ale: At 5.5% ABV, this is a smooth traditional Southern English style brown ale with minimal America hops and generous amounts of European malts. It’s rich, malty, and delicious. Find it online here or at multiple Pittsburgh area locations.
- Cobblehaus Wicked Denny: This American Brown Ale is a punchier take on traditional English Brown Ales or Nut Browns, with high hop bitterness and plenty of dark malt character. You can find it on tap at Cobblehaus’ original taproom in Coraopolis, PA.
Pennsylvania Beer-Braised Short Ribs
| Yield |
|---|
| Serves 6 |
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| 15 min | 190 min | 205 min |
Ingredients
- 3 pounds beef short ribs
- 1 tablespoon Pennsylvania sunflower seed oil
- 2 teaspoons salt, plus more, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper, plus more, to taste
- 2 small shallots, halved lengthwise
- 1 carrot, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 (12-ounce) bottle Pennsylvania brown ale
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 5 sprigs fresh thyme, plus chopped thyme, for garnish
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Pat beef dry with paper towels, and season with salt and pepper. Sear beef until golden-brown, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to plate and set aside.
- Add shallots and carrots to the same pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until light golden-brown, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and tomato paste, and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in beer, and simmer until reduced by half, about 1 to 2 minutes. Return beef to pot. Add broth, brown sugar and thyme, and bring to a gentle simmer over low heat. Cover with lid.
- Transfer to the oven, and cook until ribs are fork-tender, about 2 to 3 hours. Garnish with thyme. Serve and enjoy.
This series is made possible by support from Deer Creek Malthouse through the Pennsylvania Malt and Brewed Beverage Industry Promotion Board and grant funding from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
Deer Creek Malthouse (Glen Mills, PA) produces high-quality, flavorful malt ingredients made from local grain. Founded in 2012, Deer Creek is the first commercial malting operation in Pennsylvania since prohibition. The Company is dedicated to improving the regional grain supply chain for all stakeholders and leads many advocacy and value chain building initiatives, including Malt-A-Palooza, and the Mid-Atlantic Grain Fair & Conference. Deer Creek also produces a variety of consumer food and beverages using their grain and malt ingredients such as zero proof Barley Tea.
- Photo and recipe: Dish Works
