Cookaholics Bulletin Board

I'm going to make CI's gingerbread, and it calls for "stout" beer. I couldn't find Guiness, so I got Beck's (when did beer get to be so expensive?) Is there a difference? Should I shelve it, until I find Guiness?

Is it Beck's dark? I would think you would need to sub a dark beer to get a roasty flavor.

Well, Becks isn't a stout. It's a German Pilsener, which is about as far from a stout as you can get. Pilseners are lager (cold fermented) and stouts are ales (top fermented). It's like the difference between white and red wine. Guinness, especially the stuff they sell in the states is very bitter, IMHO. Depending on how much is needed in the gingerbread, it may not be so tasty. That about exhausts my knowledge of stouts, sadly. I'm sort of a Big Belgian gal, myself. If I were making the recipe, I'd pick up an oatmeal stout. Try a good liquor store or high-end grocery, like Whole Foods. If you have one of the remaining CostPlus World Markets near you, they usually have a great selection. Even TJ's might be a good choice. At least, you should be able to able to pick up a single bottle and not have to purchase an entire 6-pack.

Even Beck's Dark is a lager.

Thanks. I obviously know nothing about beer.....I'll hold out for Guiness.

My pleasure.

KSS,

A "porter" would probably also work as well. But KSS is right .... Beck's would be completely wrong. Also crap to drink, frankly. Save it for something which needs to be beer-risen but doesn't care about flavor.

You were both right. DS opened a Beck's last night, said he didn't like it after two swigs, and asked if he could dump it. Which he did.

I'd hold out for the Guiness. My absolute favorite. I buy a 6-pack every March 17 and it usually lasts me the entire year.

Fitzie,

You, sir, are an inferior drinker. A 6-pack of Guiness lasts me barely two evenings. Less if anyone is drinking with me!

The Fuzzy tottles off to finish that bottle of wine