Sourdough Beer Bread – Milk and Pop

novembro 16, 2024

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Rustic, flavorful and customizable, Sourdough Beer Bread is a scrumptious twist the place you’ll be able to use your favourite beer and bake an incredible loaf.

Two halves of sourdough beer bread, showing the crumb.

After years of baking my favourite artisan beer bread, I made a decision to take it to the following degree by going full sourdough with this recipe. This bread is straightforward to make—no kneading required. Only a few units of stretch and folds, adopted by a stable bulk fermentation, and also you’re all set!

Elements

Ingredients of this recipe: beer, honey, flour, salt and sourdough starter.

Sourdough Starter: Ensure that your starter is lively and bubbly. We want an lively starter for this recipe to work.

Honey: I like so as to add a little bit of sugar when making this recipe to assist with the fermentation course of. If you’d like a vegan beer bread, substitute with the identical quantity of sugar, or do that vegan honey recipe.

Bread Flour: I like to recommend utilizing bread flour for this recipe to make sure good construction. Whereas all-purpose flour can work, the bread might not have the identical power and texture.

Beer: We’re utilizing beer as an alternative of water when making this loaf for a singular twist. I’ve examined this recipe with lagers, pilsners, and IPAs — lagers and pilsners create a lighter loaf, whereas IPAs add a stronger, extra pronounced beer taste. For a wealthy, darkish loaf, strive utilizing a stout like Guinness. When you desire only a refined trace of beer, go for a lightweight lager or pilsner.

I’ve heard individuals saying that baking with beer would possibly pace up bulk fermentation, however I discovered the alternative. When you’re new to baking with beer and sourdough, remember the fact that alcohol can decelerate the majority fermentation. This impact, particularly when mixed with cooler temperatures through the winter months, would possibly prolong the majority fermentation time.

The right way to make it

This recipe follows the identical strategy of a fundamental sourdough loaf however swaps water for beer, including depth and taste.

You may make this bread in a day (combine the dough within the morning and bake by night), begin after 8PM, let it bulk ferment in a single day and form it within the morning for baking, or go for an prolonged 24h chilly fermentation and end the recipe after 2 days.

Mixing the Dough: In a big bowl, mix the beer, sourdough starter, salt, and bread flour. Combine till a shaggy dough kinds. Cowl and let it relaxation for half-hour.

Dough folded over itself in a glass bowl.

Stretch and Folds: After half-hour, carry out the primary set of stretch and folds by pulling the dough up and folding it over itself, rotating the bowl and repeating till you’ve got accomplished at the very least 4 folds. Cowl and let it relaxation for half-hour. Repeat this course of 3 to 4 instances, with 30-minute intervals between every set.

Tip: You need to use a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment for this step. Merely combine till all of the components are mixed—lower than a minute, no must knead—after which let it relaxation for half-hour.

Dough after bulk fermentation in a glass bowl.

Bulk Fermentation: Let the dough bulk ferment till it turns into ethereal and will increase by at the very least 80% in measurement. If utilizing a clear bowl, search for bubbles alongside the perimeters.

Shaping: When fermentation is completed, form the dough right into a batard. Utilizing your palms, open the dough right into a rectangle. Fold the left and proper sides towards the center, then gently stretch the highest, fold it down, and seal along with your fingers. Place the formed batard, seam aspect up, right into a floured banneton for its closing rise.

Be aware on Bulk Fermentation: When making this recipe utilizing beer as the one liquid, I discovered that larger alcohol content material slows down bulk fermentation. This was particularly noticeable throughout winter when it took practically 18 hours for bulk fermentation to finish. When you’re new to sourdough and nonetheless studying the ropes of bulk fermentation, select a beer with about 5% alcohol or much less. Moreover, if it’s winter and your own home temperature drops under 64°F (18°C), and your oven has a proofing operate that stays under 95°F (35°C), you should utilize it to assist pace up the method.

Chilly Fermentation: I wish to chilly ferment this recipe for at the very least 8 hours for a deeper taste. Earlier than eradicating the dough from the fridge, preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C).

Scored dough inside Dutch oven with parchment paper.

Scoring and Baking: Flip the dough onto parchment paper, rating the highest, and place it in a Dutch oven (no must preheat the Dutch oven). Bake coated for half-hour. Take away the lid, scale back the oven temperature to 425°F (218°C), and bake for one more 20 to 25 minutes.

Cool the bread utterly earlier than slicing for one of the best texture and taste.

Baked sourdough beer bread with blisters inside a Dutch oven.

Professional Suggestions

Ensure that your beer is at room temperature. Utilizing chilly beer can decelerate the fermentation course of and, throughout colder months, might even trigger the sourdough to turn out to be dormant.
Non-alcoholic beer and even leftover flat beer can be utilized to create flavorful loaves.
For a tasty twist, strive including 100 grams of shredded cheddar or Parmesan cheese through the closing set of stretch and folds. Beer bread pairs splendidly with it, and makes an incredible choice for grilled cheese!
A 6-quart Dutch oven is right for this recipe, however a 5-quart Dutch oven will work as properly.
For finest outcomes, rating the dough with a pointy lame. When you don’t have one, a really sharp knife will do. Make certain to not press down—let the blade slide with minimal strain to keep away from deflating the dough.

Verify the finest method to retailer a sourdough loaf, or my favourite methods to make use of leftover sourdough bread.

Have you ever tried this Sourdough Beer Bread? Please depart a 🌟 star score within the recipe card under, I would like to know the way it went!

📖 Recipe