NEWS

Come to our After Party at Fischman's!

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Still want to try more of the best beer in Chicago? Come to our after party at Fishmans and get 1 free beer! *Fischman’s Bottle Shop is located at 4056 N Milwaukee Ave in Six Corners, about a 15 minute walk from St Viator Campus. Get one (1) free beer on August 3, 2019. Must have an official OIP Beer & BBQ Challenge tasting glass and be 21 or older. One beer per customer.

Beer-And-BBQ-Can Chicken Recipe

photo credit. billyparisi.com

photo credit. billyparisi.com

So it’s been said that a beer can chicken is all hype…and that cooking a chicken without the “beer” is just as good or better. But we’re here to tell you that it’s not true…especially a smoked beer can chicken. We love it and it should be done this over a grill or smoker. Here’s how.

Ingredientes:

1 3-5 lb amish whole frying chicken, fresh not frozen

1 tbsp of avocado oil

1/2 cup of BBQ spice rub (if you need help with this, try 1/2 cup fo Stubbs Poultry BBQ Rub)

1/2 of an orange

1 can of your favorite beer, we suggest a nice IPA, like a Revolution Anti-Hero IPA, because of the nice citrus notes of the hops that will compliment the orange and the chicken without overwhelming it or you.

1 gallon of brine, or just enough to cover the chicken overnight in a bowl. For this mix 2 tbsp of sugar and 2 tbsp more of salt in gallon of boiling water. Let cool and then set the chicken inside until the water completely covers the chicken and let rest overnight in the fridge.

1 Fancy Beer Can Roaster, to help you stand the chicken on the beer. Don’t worry…you can get one anywhere for about $5. Like this one.

A grill or even better, a smoker.

1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce for basting, add a drizzle of beer if you have any left over too.

Instructions:

After the chicken has brined for overnight, or 24 hours, removed from the brine and drive completely. Once dry, cover with oil and rub. Really get in there and make sure the chicken has plenty of spice (use more rub if needed).

Next…let’s get a pan ready. Grab a half sheet alluminum pan and place the can roaster in there. This will help you transport the chicken to the grill or smoker.

Next, crack open a can of the IPA and drink half of it. Go ahead…it’s ok. It’s damn good beer. Once the can is half full, put inside the can roaster, squeeze the juice from the orange inside the can, and place the rest of it on top.

Now comes the best part. Grab that chicken, pull it’s legs apart from the bottom and put it over the can. I looks impossible but believe us, it’s gonna fit. Just do it. It may take some tugging here and there but it will go in.

Next, take the pan with the chicken to the grill or smoker. Place it in the cool side of the grill or middle of the smoker. Try to get it down to about 250 degrees and let it roll for about an 2 hours with the lid closed. Baste it every 30 minutes with the oil and rub to keep it moist and juicy.

Get it to 165 degrees internal temp (in the thigh) and then take it out. The skin should be nice and crispy, and dark, but very flavorful. Don’t lose that! Let rest for covered in foil off the heat for about 15 minutes before cutting into it (i know…it will be tough to wait that long…).

Now you’re ready to cut in. Be careful of the hot can roaster as you take the chicken off the grill or smoker and as you cut into it. Plus, remember that the beer inside the can will be super hot (ouch!).

Take a bite and you’ll see what we mean. Juicy, BBQ, citrus goodness that is delicious. You’ll want to do it again and again. Go ahead…try it tomorrow. It will be worth it. We promise!

Beer and BBQ pairing guide from Real Simple

This Barbecue Sauce and Beer Pairing Guide Is What Father’s Day Dreams Are Made Of

This Barbecue Sauce and Beer Pairing Guide Is What Father’s Day Dreams Are Made Of

In case you missed this guide for Father’s Day it’s still a good read.

Fun fact: the first barbecue sauces were mostly made of butter. The earliest reference found that mentions a sauce for barbecue was in a cookbook published in 1867 by Mrs. A.P. Hill—it contains half a pound of butter, a spoonful of mustard, salt, pepper, and vinegar. We don’t hate the idea, but let’s just say that the barbecue sauce biz has gotten quite a bit more interesting since then. The most popular type today is the Kansas City style (the sweet, smoky, Ketchup-y kind we’re all used to) but there are endless other delectable options to coat your chicken, ribs, and previously clean clothes.

Smokey BBQ Sauce Recipe

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Making a good BBQ sauce at home may sound difficult, but following this recipe will make it quick and easy for anyone to do. Use it for any smoked BBQ or grilled meat, veggies, or tofu.

Makes 2 Cups of BBQ Sauce (16oz)

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 lb of smoked mesquite bacon, chopped into small pieces

  • 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped

  • 3 garlic cloves, minced

  • tablespoon of dried greek oregano (‘cause we like oregano)

  • 8 oz of a stout or porter beer (for example, a Coffee Dino Smores Imperial Stout from Off Color Brewing)

  • 12 oz can of tomato sauce

  • 1/2 cup of vinegar

  • tbsp of Worcestershire sauce

  • 2 tbsp of French’s mustard

  • 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar

  • 1 tbsp of agave syrup

  • 8 oz can of chipotle salsa

  • Salt + pepper to taste

Directions:

In a sauce pan, fry the bacon until it turns crispy. Add the onions, garlic, and oregano and sauté until they turn translucent. Add the beer and let it reduce by half. Once it’s thick, add the rest of the ingredients and bring the whole sauce to a boil. Stir well, bring down the heat, and let it cook for another 20 minutes. Add salt/pepper to your own taste.

Let the sauce sit for about 10 minutes and it should be ready for basting, dipping, or spreading.

Pairing suggestions:

This is a dark, thick sauce that needs to shine on its own. While the first thought would be to pair with another powerful stout or porter, the best route here would be to do a smooth lager or pils beer. The beer will let the food + sauce stand on its own without having to compete with more heavy malts of a dark beer.

Enjoy!