17 dark beer recipes

Corned beef braised with dark beer, sweet onions, potatoes, and mustard or collard greens. A bolder, more Southern twist on the classic St. Patrick's Day plate.

Chocolate malt cake made with dark beer and unsweetened chocolate for a rich, bittersweet crumb with a glossy semi-sweet chocolate frosting. Porter, stout, or ale all work beautifully in this two-layer showstopper.

Rye beer bread with dark beer, molasses, and crushed caraway seeds. A yeast-risen round loaf with a chewy, crackling crust from steam baking.

Pinto bean salsa with three dried chiles, dark beer, blackened tomatoes, and caramelized onion, pureed and re-fried in smoking-hot peanut oil. A deeply smoky, complex Mexican condiment.

Classic Cuban black bean soup simmered with smoked ham, green pepper, cumin, oregano, and a splash of dark rum. Topped with chopped hard-boiled egg and raw onion.

Hearty lamb shoulder chili with pinto beans, double paprika, cumin, and a secret hit of coffee. Seared, simmered, and fork-tender in 90 minutes. A bold twist on classic chili.

Slow-simmered black bean soup with a smoky ham hock, fresh thyme, and a splash of dark rum stirred in at the end. Garnished with chopped egg, parsley, and lemon slices.

Salmagundi casserole with chili-spiced meatballs baked over a three-bean base of baked beans, kidney beans, and limas in a sweet molasses and brown sugar sauce.

A thick Kentucky-style burgoo loaded with chicken, beef shank, bacon, fresh corn, lima beans, okra, and tomatoes. Low and slow in a big Dutch oven for a crowd-feeding stew.

Slow cooker beef and pork chili with secret Southern twists: bacon drippings, coffee, cocoa, and a touch of sugar for deep complexity. Simmer for hours until thick and rich.

Country-style pork spareribs braised low and slow with sauerkraut, paprika, caraway seeds, and crispy floured bacon. A hearty German classic best served with dark bread and cold beer.

Traditional Danish yellow split pea soup with smoked pork, sausage links, leeks, and celery root. Hearty Scandinavian comfort served with dark bread, mustard, and beer.

Beer and beef stew from Granite Brewery with cubed beef, root vegetables, Dijon mustard, and a dark chocolate-brown roux. A pub-style stew thickened with a proper French roux.

Finnish rye bread made in the bread machine with dark rye flour and beer for an earthy, malty loaf. Dense, hearty, and deeply flavored, perfect for open-faced sandwiches, sharp cheeses, or cured fish.

Frijoles borrachos (drunken beans) simmered with bacon, jalapenos, Mexican oregano, and a bottle of dark Mexican beer. The Norteno classic, soupy and salty, served alongside grilled meats.

Texas-style Brazos turkey chili loaded with poblano, jalapeno, serrano, and chipotle peppers, simmered with Mexican beer and finished with grated dark chocolate. Bold, smoky, and layered with heat.