Beer for Breakfast: Part II
If you’re over 21, hopefully you’re aware that arts and crafts are no longer appropriate gifts for Dad. While he may not admit it in front of Mom, Dad probably wants to do Dad things on Father’s Day – and while we won’t delve too deeply into “Dad things”, rest assured that beer and breakfast are a great start. If you’re in the market for a few good options you’ve clicked on the right link and if Dad needs some beer, our Brewery Restaurants are celebrating Father’s Day with 64oz growlers to-go for $8 bucks – including the glass.
Below is a DIY recipe for our beer-brined pork chops, along with a hearty side, and a morning cocktail. If you’re in the mood for more variety, check out our previous Beer for Breakfast post. If you’re too lazy to cook, you can always take the old man to our Sunday Brunch at Brewery Gardens.
Breakfast Cocktail: The Berlini
Berlini
Based on the Bellini, a sparking wine cocktail, the Berlini combines our Berliner Weisse with fresh fruit puree. There’s a reason Napoleon called Berliner Weisse the Champagne of Germany but this isn’t a history lesson and we’re not going into that.
11 oz Berliner Weisse
1 oz Fresh Strawberry, Raspberry, Peach Puree
Add puree to the bottom of a stemmed glass and pour beer.
Brine Ingredients
Beer-Brined Pork Chops
2 Cups Red Trolley Ale
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Honey
1/4 Cup Kosher Salt
2 (8-ounce) Center-cut Pork Chops
Step 1. Brine the pork chops: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, honey, salt,and Red Trolley Ale. Mix until sugar and salt are dissolved. Add the pork chops, submerging them completely, and refrigerate for 4-6 hours. Turn the chops ever couple of hours.
Step 2. Grill pork chops: Removed chops from brine, rinse with water, and pat dry with a paper towel. Grill chops on hot grill for 12 minutes, rotating a quarter turn on each side after three minutes.
Beer Bacon Hash
Beer Bacon Hash
2 Large Russet Potatoes (pre-baked & chopped)
1/2 Cup Yellow Onion (Finely Chopped)
6 Strips Thick-cut Bacon
1/4 Cup Honey
1/2 Cup Red Trolley Ale
2 Tbs Italian Seasoning
Prep 1. Chop uncooked bacon into 1″ pieces. Combine bacon, honey, and Red Trolley in small mixing bowl and refrigerate for 4-6 hours.
Prep 2. Scrub potatoes, bake on 375 for 1 hour, cool to room temperature, and chop into cubes.
Cooking Step 1: Drain bacon, pat-dry, and add to hot skillet. Cook bacon until edges turn golden brown and drain 1/2 the grease from the pan.
Cooking Step 2: Add chopped onion and Italian seasoning and saute until onions are translucent. Add chopped potatoes and cook on med/high heat until potatoes are golden brown. Serve with Beer-brined chops, eggs, and a Whistler Imperial Pils.
Beer-Brined Chop, Beer-Bacon Hash & Eggs Sunny Side Up
Pintail Pale Ale 5.3% ABV – An American Pale Ale brewed with Cascade and Amarillo hops for a vibrant floral aroma and citrus hoppiness. Caramel malts provide balance, rounding out its dry refreshing finish.
Whistler Imperial Pils 7.5% ABV – A bold Imperial Pilsner brewed with floor-malted Moravian barley and Noble Saaz hops for toasted malt flavors and a dry grassy finish.
Berliner Weisse 3.4 % ABV – A refreshingly tart take on a classic German style. Our version undergoes a special lactic fermentation in the brew kettle that produces its trademark tartness.
Scott’s Big India Pale Lager 8.0 % ABV – The winner of our American Homebrewers Association Pro-Am Competition, this hoppy offering will be on tap starting June 10th until it’s gone.
Whistler Imperial Pils & Shrimp Street Tacos
Shrimp Street Tacos: Crispy shrimp, shredded lettuce, Asian and cactus pear, cotija, radish, cilantro, corn tortillas, and smoky tomatillo salsa.
The Pairing:This fresh and flavorful appetizer pairing is a tasty way to welcome summer. Whistler’s rich toasted malt flavors provide a crisp complement to the tender shrimp and corn tortilla, while its clean hop profile and dry finish temper the spicy tomatillo salsa between bites.
Whistler Imperial Pils
American Craft Beer Week: Rye Not?
Just when every week was starting to feel like craft beer week, the Brewers Association went and made it official. We kicked-off this year’s ACBW with a beer we brewed especially for the occasion. Our ACBW Rye IPA is a robust India Pale ale with spicy rye malt flavors, a vibrant floral aroma, and a clean citrus hop bitterness. It’s currently on tap in our Brewery Restaurants and in honor of ACBW, 64oz growlers to-go are $9 bucks – including the glass.
Below is a recipe I came up with, ironically on Meatless Monday, which highlights multiple layers of this hoppy special release. I’ve got no beef with the herbivores; this was purely by chance, so be on the lookout for a Meatless Monday installment next month. Ya dig?
Spicy Rye IPA Skirt Steak
ACBW RYE IPA Marinade
Ingredients:
1 Growler of American Craft Beer Week Rye IPA
1 lb Skirt Steak
1 Meyer Lemon
1/2 Cup White Onion (sliced)
2 Garlic Cloves (minced)
1 Jalapeno Pepper (coarsely chopped)
1/3 Cup Fresh Cilantro (bruised)
¼ Cup Clover Honey
1 Tbs Kosher Salt
1 Tbs Course Ground Black Pepper
Instructions:
Step 1: Pour one 16oz pint of Rye IPA into a glass mixing bowl and reserve the rest for drinking.
Step 2: Halve lemon, squeeze juice into beer, and add both halves to the bowl. Add salt and honey and whisk until dissolved. Add remaining ingredients and transfer to a 5 gallon freezer bag.
Step 3: Add steak, seal bag, and refrigerate for 3-4 hours.
Step 4: Cook steak in a grill pan on high heat for 3 minutes on each side. Remove from heat and let rest for an additional 3-5 minutes.
Fire-Roasted Habanero Aioli
Ingredients: 
4 Vine-Ripened Tomatoes
1 Medium White Onion
3 Garlic Cloves
2 Habanero Peppers
1 Tbs Powdered Chicken Bouillon
¼ Cup ACBW Rye IPA
¼ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Cup Mayonnaise
Instructions:
Step 1: Adjust oven rack to top position (about 6 inches below flame) and preheat to broil.
Step 2: Peel and quarter onion, quarter tomatoes, peel garlic, and remove stems from habaneros.
Step 3: Place above ingredients in a baking dish and broil for 15-20 minutes or until skins begin to char.
Step 4: Transfer cooked ingredients to a blender or food processor and emulsify. Slowly add in beer, olive oil, and bouillon.
Step 5: Allow emulsion to cool to room temperature before mixing in mayonnaise.
*Tip: Omit mayonnaise for a killer hot sauce.
Steak on Rye Sandwich with Fire-Roasted Habanero Ailoi
Spicy Rye IPA Skirt Steak
Pintail Pale Ale 5.3% ABV – An American Pale Ale brewed with Cascade and Amarillo hops for a vibrant floral aroma and citrus hoppiness. Caramel malts provide balance, rounding out its dry refreshing finish.
American Craft Beer Week Rye IPA 7.6% ABV –Our American Craft Beer Week Rye IPA is a celebration of craft beer culture in America. This robust India Pale Ale combines the zesty spice of malted rye with the citrus and floral hop character of American Ahtanum hops. Finishing crisp and dry, it’s the perfect way to celebrate ACBW on the West Coast.
Minden Maibock 7.5 % ABV – A traditional German springtime lager with crisp toasted malt flavors, balanced by the soft bitterness of noble Tettnanger hops.
American Craft Beer Week Rye IPA & Crispy Cheese Stack
Crispy Cheese Stack: Rye breadcrumb-crusted sharp cheddar and provolone sticks, crispy pastrami bacon, and jalapeno honey.
The Pairing: This dynamic and flavorful appetizer pairing puts tired cheese sticks to bed. Spicy rye flavors in the beer provide a delicate complement top the savory melted cheese and crispy breadcrumb crust, while its assertive hop flavors balance the richness and jalapeno spice between bites.
American Craft Beer Week Rye IPA
Blackball Belgian IPA Mussels
Every so often a small but dedicated group of our employees gather to talk beer and food. The group includes our Executive and R&D Chefs, our Brewmaster, and a few other foodies lucky enough to make the guest list. During these discussions we chat about great beers we’ve tried, restaurants we’ve visited, and even dishes we’ve prepared at home. By taking ourselves out of “work” mode, we’re able to get great work done. Our Chefs Gunther and Corey use these gatherings as an opportunity to prepare and share their latest beer and food pairings. Over the years these guys have done some truly remarkable things with beer in the kitchen – and this month’s post is a homage to their passion for beer and food. Below is a recipe inspired by their Belgian IPA Mussels, created especially for April’s menu. This version uses ingredients available at local farmers markets, including the Carlsbad Aquafarm mussels we use in our brewery restaurants. I picked up the mussels, produce, and bread at Sunday’s Hillcrest Farmers Market. 
Ingredients: Prep Time – 25 Minutes
2 lbs Carlsbad Black Mussels (cleaned and de-bearded)
6 Slices Bacon Chopped (pre-cook and pat dry before chopping)
½ Cup Finely Chopped Yellow Onion
½ Cup Finely Chopped Fennel
1 Shallot Finely Chopped
3 Garlic Cloves Crushed
4 Sprigs Fresh Thyme
2 Tbs Clover Honey
2 Tbs Butter
½ Cup Heavy Cream
1 ½ Cup Blackball Belgian IPA (room temperature)
Salt & Pepper (to taste)
French Bread
Instructions:
Step 1: Scrub mussels with a 
coarse brush under cold running water. Remove any beards and discard any mussels that are broken or open. Reserve cleaned mussels in a large bowl of ice water until ready to steam.
Step 2: Melt butter in large saucepan. Add bacon, fennel, onions, shallots, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Sauté on medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes or until onions are translucent.
Step 3: Add Blackball Belgian IPA and bring to a boil. Add mussels, cover, and steam until mussels have opened (4-5 Minutes). Remove from heat and discard any mussels that have not opened.
Step 4: Transfer mussels to serving dish, reserving the broth in the saucepan. Return broth to medium heat and stir in honey and cream. Ladle broth over mussels and serve with grilled French bread.
22nd Anniversary PubCakes = #Winning
Misty Birchall, the founder/owner/baker of PubCakes, has made a name for herself in the San Diego beer scene by combining her passion for baking with her love of craft beer. Her avant-garde method of using beer to craft decadent desserts has caught the attention of foodies far beyond America’s finest city – most notably the folks at Food Network. Misty is a champion of San Diego’s brewing community and was kind enough to create a recipe celebrating our birthday with our 22nd Anniversary Vanilla Imperial Stout.
Our 22nd Anniversary PubCake will be available on Saturdays at the PubCakes shop, starting March 12th. If you’re unable to make it down on a Saturday, drop by during the week and try the Top 10 Cake made with Tower 10 IPA. For those of you jonesing to get your bake on at home, follow Misty’s DIY recipe below and let us know what you think.
Photo by Misty Birchall @Pubcakes
Karl Strauss 22nd Anniversary PubCake
Ingredients
1 cup Karl Strauss 22nd Anniversary Stout
*Pour remaining beer into a tulip or snifter and enjoy while baking.
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1 tbs vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp fresh ground coffee (I used Treehouse Coffee Co’s Costa Rican)
1 tsp ground cloves
*Bourbon Vanilla Bean Buttercream (recipe below)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring the beer to a boil, remove from heat, and cool to room temperature. While the beer is cooling, place cupcake liners into your muffin pan (you’ll need about 12 standard size cupcake liners).
2. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients and sift together. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar on high until mixture lightens and increases in volume. Next, add the egg and beat in well. Finally, set the mixer to low and add dry ingredients and beer in 1/3 increments until fully incorporated.
3. Using an ice cream scoop or large spoon, fill the cupcake liners about 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes, rotating the pan in the oven half way through the cooking time for even baking. The cupcakes are done when a stick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove cupcakes from the pan as soon as they’ve cooled enough to touch, this will prevent the bottoms from steaming.
Top 10 Cake & Punkin' Vegan Photo by Jeff Hammett @SDBeerBlog
Bourbon Vanilla Bean Buttercream
Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 vanilla bean, seeded
1 tbs vanilla extract
1 tbs Bourbon (I used Jim Beam)
Directions
1. Using a paring knife, scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean. Add butter,sugar and vanilla bean to your standing mixer bowl which should be fitted with the whisk attachment.Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase the speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes. Add the vanilla and bourbon and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute, adding more vanilla (or bourbon) if needed for spreading consistency.
2. Use a piping bag with a number 9 round decorating tip to get the same look achieved by PubCakes. Sprinkle with a bit of Mexican chocolate, if you have it on hand. Otherwise, a dash of cloves will work.
On Tap in the Brewery Restaurants:
Pintail Pale Ale 5.3% ABV – An American Pale Ale brewed with Cascade and Amarillo hops for a vibrant floral aroma and citrus hoppiness. Caramel malts provide balance, rounding out its dry refreshing finish.
Oatmeal Stout 5.5% ABV – We brew our Oat Stout once a year, just in time for St. Patty’s Day. A generous amount of dark roasted malts lend coffee and dark chocolate flavors, while rolled oats provide a smooth body and delicate finish.
Scotch Ale 8.0 % ABV – A hearty Scottish-style Wee Heavy brewed with caramel and cherry wood smoked malts. This full-bodied strong ale has rich toffee flavors, hints of dark fruit, and a touch of smoke in its warming finish.
Red Trolley Ale had a banner year in 2010, winning gold medals at the World Beer Cup and Great American Beer Festival. It takes more than two thousand pounds of hand-milled caramel malts to brew each batch but after enjoying this malty red ale for more than twenty years, we’re convinced it’s worth the extra effort.
Red Trolley Roasted Chicken: Red Trolley-brined ½ chicken, spice-rubbed, and oven-roasted. It’s served over edamame hash with corn, bacon, peppers, onions, potatoes, and Red Trolley BBQ sauce.
The Pairing: This delectable pairing is an inviting departure from Dad’s beer can chicken. The Red Trolley brine seals in layers of flavor that complement the sweetness of the succulent chicken, while its caramel malt character and undertones of dried fruit balance the savory spice between bites.
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