Isis's Cheddar Beer Bread And Story

I first got into bread during a long, cold winter living up in Vermont. With not enough money to buy a ski pass and too...

Cheddar Beer Bread with tray

Isis's Cheddar Beer Bread And Story

I first got into bread during a long, cold winter living up in Vermont. With not enough money to buy a ski pass and too much time just trying to stay warm by the wood stove, I started baking. I started with basic recipes- whatever I could find in the old recipe books sitting on the shelves. When I moved back to R.I. I started baking and selling my bread and pastries at the Charlestown Farmer's Market. That's when I started really getting into it, and that's where the cheddar beer bread was born. I couldn't make enough of it! I always use ingredients that I can be proud of and I like to buy local when I can, so I began baking the bread with Narragansett Beer. I started with the porter because it gave the bread incredible flavor and color. Sadly I discovered that the porter is seasonal, but thought, what the heck, I'll change with the seasons!

Now I use the porter, fest, summer and bock. During the summer I still sell my bread at the Charlestown Farmer's Market and all year round at Grapes and Gourmet in Jamestown, RI.

Isis' Cheddar Beer Bread

- 3&2/3 cup bread flour or all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup rye flour
- 1 teaspoon active-dry yeast
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese (room temp)
- 1&1/2 Narragansett porter, fest, bock or summer (room temp.)
- cheddar cheese ( the amount depends on how much you love cheese)

In a large bowl, combine the flours, yeast and salt. Add the cottage cheese and mix until evenly distributed. Add beer and mix with hands or spatula until a shaggy ball forms. Move the dough to a floured work surface and knead for about 7 minutes (you may need to add more flour). The dough should be tacky, not sticky, when touched. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise for about an hour or until doubled in size. Punch it down and allow to rise for another 45 minutes. Divide dough into two pieces, loosely formed into balls . Working with one piece at a time, form into a rectangle 8 inches by 6 inches. Sprinkle the rectangle with cheddar and tightly roll the rectangle starting from the short end. Seal the dough and place on a sheet pan that has been sprinkled with corn meal. Spray with oil, cover, and allow to rise for 1 to 1&1/2 hours. When the loaves are ready to bake, sprinkle with flour and make two slashes down the bread at a slight angle. Be sure to cut deep enough to reach the cheese so that it oozes when baked. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for about 1/2 hour or until the top is a deep brown and the cheese is melty and crispy ( if you used the porter your bread will automatically be darker in color, so be aware of this when you are checking for doneness). When you remove the finished bread from the oven, allow to cool on a rack for 10 minutes. This bread is most delicious served warm.

Continue Reading

chowdah

Rhode Island Clam Chowder

Today is National Chowder Day and we’re planning on hitting some of our favorite seafood joints. If ya can’t join us, celebrate Chowder Day at home with the Official Beer...

Rhode Island Clam Chowder

Today is National Chowder Day and we’re planning on hitting some of our favorite seafood joints. If ya can’t join us, celebrate Chowder Day at home with the Official Beer of the Clam! Here’s our favorite chowder recipe......

Narragansett Beer's Irish Neighbor

The Irish Neighbor

We love our Irish Neighbor Half and Halfs around here. Never had one? A Half and Half is when you layer two beers (generally a Lager and a Stout) on...

The Irish Neighbor

We love our Irish Neighbor Half and Halfs around here. Never had one? A Half and Half is when you layer two beers (generally a Lager and a Stout) on top of each other. How is it done?...

Back to Recipes