OktoBEERfest 2014

OktoBEERfest! I guess we can officially say it's an annual tradition now that we have done it two years in a row.  In case you missed last year's recipe line-up and reviews, you can check them out here.  This year, we reused some (though I'll "re-review" them) and found some yummy new recipes as well!

We also combined the beer party with a little birthday party for our two year old (don't judge).  She wanted a Cinderella theme.  The combined theme then for the party was very autumn-y (beer and pumpkins)!  We had some chocolate kisses ("true love's kiss") and some candy corn pumpkins as well as the cake, Hershey kisses mice, and the amazing pumpkins my hubby carved as decorations.  

For a little fun the kiddos played a princess-y version of hot potato (Pass the Glass Slipper) and decorated crowns.  The crowns have been worn almost continuously for the past several days since the party, so they were clearly a hit.  

And now for the OktoBEERfest recipes and reviews.....

Pin recipes from my OktoBEERfest pin board here for any of the recipes that sound delicious to you!

The Appetizers

1. Cheddar and Beer Dipping Sauce - Beer used: Speakeasy Prohibition.  It's an amber ale.

The review: First off, this is a repeat recipe.  It's a solid, easy recipe that makes a yummy, cheesy, beer sauce that is great for dipping all manner of things.  This year we dipped sour dough bread bites and honey pretzel sticks.

2. Pimento Beer Cheese Pie Bites- Beer used: Einbecher mai-bock (a German dark lager)

The review: There is beer in both the filling and the dough for the pie bites.  These were DELICIOUS!  Some amount of work, yes, but not difficult, and it was something I could do in advance.  I made them the day before, put each tray in the freezer to set for about 10 minutes and then it was easy to throw them in a container in the fridge together for cooking the next day.  Could have easily just left them in the freezer in a bag too and cooked them frozen.  I know I will be making a larger recipe of this and freezing some so that I can just pop some in for a fun treat some days.  YUM!

Dinner

1. Bacon Beer Cheese Soup- Beer used: Deschutes Chainbreaker (White IPA, Portland, OR)

picture from theslowroasteditalian.com

The review: This is a recipe we recycled from last year as well.  It was good then, and it was good this year as well.  I pre-cooked the chicken and bacon earlier in the day, then simply threw the soup together on the stove when I was preparing/heating the appetizers and threw it in the crock pot for an hour or two until we served dinner.  Once again, I used about half the cayenne (still gave it a nice kick) and omitted the croutons and substituted almond milk for the half and half.  YUM!

2. Beer Braised Chicken Sliders- Beer used: Epic Brewing's Smoked Porter (Salt Lake City, UT)

picture from sheknows.com

The review: A new recipe we decided to try this year and it was a complete success.  We got nothing but compliments on the sliders.  The chicken is simmered in the beer and the BBQ sauce for the recipe also has the beer infused in it.  They were tender and flavorful and YUM!

3. Chicken, Pear, and Goat Cheese with Wheat Beer Vinaigrette- Beer used: Ballast Point's Wahoo (White Ale, San Diego)

picture from onceuponacuttingboard.com
(I cut up the pears into bite sized pieces instead...)

The review: Another reused recipe that we liked from last year.  Last year I omitted the chicken and goat cheese.  I did the same this year, but substituted in some gorgonzola cheese which the hubby said made it awesome and kicked it up a notch from last year's (already delicious salad).  Once again we used our favorite Bartlett pears (make sure you let them ripen up on your counter top a day or two in advance if they aren't yellow, so you get the true delicious juicy, sweet taste of pear in your salad).  Like last year, I toasted almonds instead.  I prefer them to the two kinds of nuts they suggest in the recipe.  The beer vinaigrette is superb.  Another big YUM!

4. Beer Mac and Cheese- beer used: Thunderweizen (an American wheat beer from the Lightning Brewing Company in San Diego)

picture from howsweeteats.com

The review: A "new" recipe, though I have made beer mac and cheese (not this particular recipe) before and I make other beer-less varieties of homemade mac and cheese all the time.  The girls love macaroni and cheese.  This was a big hit with the kiddos and adults alike.  Easy to throw together and could easily be done in a crockpot.  I only have one crockpot and it was being used for the soup, but a bigger crock pot is on my wish list, so then I will have two to work with... :)  Recipe says cheddar cheese.  I think I used a mix of monterey jack, cheddar, and very sharp cheddar.

Dessert

1. Spiced Cream Cheese Frosted Pumpkin Ale Cake- Beer used: Pun'kin Drublic (Imperial Pumpkin Ale-Coronado Brewing Company)

 

The review: As you can see from the recipe, it's supposed to be cupcakes, but I wanted to make our 2 year old a Cinderella pumpkin carriage cake, so I made two batches and cooked up two bundt cakes and when you put them together, it makes a nice pumpkin.  The cake and frosting were both delicious- a definite YUM!

2.  And last, but not at all least, is our very favorite recipe- Chocolate Cherry Stout Brownies - Beer used: My hubby's home-brewed chocolate cherry stout.

picture from napoleongrills.com

The review: As you see in the recipe, it calls for Guiness.  My hubby brews awesome beer and brewed up a delicious chocolate cherry stout a couple years ago that is perfect for this recipe.  Having never actually made them with Guiness, I can't truly say that our version with his chocolate cherry stout is better, but well, yeah, it is.  It just is.  These things are to die for.  Moist, rich, chocolately, with that nice bite of the chocolate cherry stout....a million YUMS!  And so easy!