This Beer Bread Recipe is super easy to make with only 6 ingredients and a crispy buttery crust when it’s done baking. Great on its own with a slab of butter or dipped into soup or chili!
Easy Beer Bread Recipe
Offer me a cold beer and I will immediately decline. Offer me a slice of this beer bread and I will beg you for the entire loaf! The combination of beer, brown sugar, and butter just creates a trifecta of deliciousness that cannot be denied.
What is Beer Bread?
Beer bread is really just any bread that includes beer as an ingredient in the dough. From there, it can vary quite a bit, depending on the type of beer used and the other ingredients, transforming the mixture into a whole loaf or individual rolls.
Since all beer contains yeast, beer bread recipes don’t require additional yeast, nor do they require kneading or a lengthy rise time. The combination of yeast in the beer and sugar is what helps it rise, and an additional leavening agent (like baking powder) keeps it from being too dense.
What Does Beer Bread Taste Like?
Beer Bread will take on the flavor of whatever beer you use, but it’s also buttery, and a little sweet and tangy. It’s really good!
Ingredients Needed
You only need 6 simple ingredients to make this recipe for beer bread.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- All-purpose flour – It should be spooned, leveled, and sifted.
- Brown sugar – This adds a subtle sweetness and balances out the beer flavor.
- Baking powder – Gives the bread lift.
- Kosher salt – For flavor.
- Beer – It should be room temperature. See note below for type of beer to use.
- Unsalted butter – If you use salted butter, consider cutting back on the additional salt added.
What Beer is Best for Beer Bread?
You can use any type of beer. If this is your first time making this bread, I recommend trying it with the type of beer you enjoy drinking. After that, play around with different varieties.
Dark style lagers, like Samuel Adams, have notes of caramel and roasted malts, which will give you a strong, but smooth flavor. Whereas Miller Lite or Bud Light will deliver the mildest beer flavor. You can even have fun using seasonal brews like pumpkin ale and hard cider.
How to Make Beer Bread
This recipe comes together in 5 easy steps. You simply whisk the dry ingredients, stir in the beer, transfer to a greased loaf pan, drizzle with butter, and bake! To make this recipe, scroll down to the printable recipe card for details and measurements, and don’t miss the video below.
Recipe Tips
- Sift the flour: Spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level it off with the back of a butter knife, then sift the flour. This will result in a lighter, fluffier crumb.
- Use room temperature beer: This helps the bread rise and creates a better texture than cold beer.
- Don’t over-mix: After adding the beer to the dry ingredients, mix enough until just incorporated and nothing more. Overworking the dough will create a very dense loaf.
Watch it Being Made
Proper Storage
- Enjoy fresh. This bread is best enjoyed the same day it’s baked – fresh from the oven with a slab of butter! As the days go on, the bread will lose some of the beer flavor and also seems to settle and get heavier, but it’s still very delicious.
- Storing leftovers. Anything not eaten should be cooled completely to room temperature, wrapped tightly in foil and placed in a plastic bag, then stored at room temperature for 1 additional day.
- Freeze. After a day, you should freeze it (storing in the fridge dries it out) for up to 1 month. Thaw on the counter overnight and let it come to room temperature. If you want to re-warm it, remove it from the plastic bag and place it in the oven at 300 degrees for about 20 minutes.
More Easy Bread Recipes:
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Beer Bread
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour , sifted
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 12 ounce bottle Negra Modelo beer , room temperature (see note below)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter , melted, and divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a 9x 5x 3-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the beer and 3/4 of the melted butter until just combined (don't over-mix.)
- Spoon the batter evenly into the pan and drizzle the remaining 1/4 of the butter over the top.
- Bake for 55 minutes or until the top is golden and a tooth pick (or long skewer) inserted in the middle comes out clean. Slice and serve immediately.
Could I use soda if I don’t have beer?
I’ve never tested this recipe with soda, but honestly, I can’t see why not. As long as it’s 12 ounces and room temp it should work (obviously with a completely different taste.) Try it!
Question.. can I make my beer batter the night before and cook it in the morning
I don’t recommend it. This bread has the best taste and texture baking and eating the same day.
Just cranked out a loaf of this. Honestly, I have some beer that’s ok but not my fav, left by a guest and I want to use it up! That said, the bread that came out of the oven, and I’ve now sampled, is exactly what I had in mind. Let me explain. We’ve been baking this week – I’ve been making apple fritter bread, cranberry bread, lebkuchen and now this. I wanted something strong, a bit crusty, with some good chew to it, moist, a little grit. Admittedly I made some mods on the fly and crossed my fingers but, yum!
This was a big hit! I served with chili and we all loved it. So easy.
This was delicious!!
Thanks for this! I have been looking for a GREAT beer bread recipe, not from a box!! This was GREAT.
So happy to hear it!
I am so jealous that you get to meet so many great chefs! Perks of living near a big city, I suppose…. I’ll keep my mouth shut about the Negra Modelo, but this bread is definitely a keeper! Can’t wait to try it with some of Billy’s favorite beers.
I used a dark lager and loved it. Would make again.
We’re not beer drinkers, but loved this. It’s sort of sweet!
Yes!
That sounds like my kind of walking tour! And I just happen to be head over heels for beer bread. I mean, really, why wait for yeast to rise when you can get this in the oven in under 10 minutes.
This beer bread looks fantastic – and Rick Bayless – love him! His recipes are always excellent – love that you used Negra Modelo beer in this!
Can you use a lite beer? Something along the line of Miller Lite?
Hi Larry – you can, but I would really recommend sticking to a dark style lager. The malted barley lends to the color and flavor, with way less bitterness.
Oh how I love this beer bread. Especially with a bowl of chili!
I have made several Rick Bayless recipes over the years and they’ve all been fantastic (seriously, try his moles sometime). This bread sounds absolutely fantastic!
I love Rick Bayless! And beer bread! And I especially love how easy this recipe is (and that it doesn’t have yeast)
Call me jealous! When we visited SF we were lucky enough to have locals take us to the good Mexican joints. The best food! Also beer bread might just be the easiest quick bread out there.
A friend of mine used to make beer bread all the time when I was younger and it was so good. This absolutely reminds me of him and I love it!
I have a celebrity chef crush on Rick Bayless. Like a real, hard crush. It’s kind of unreal how serious my crush is lol And I’m insanely jealous right now. But your bread looks good :)
Hanging out with Rick Bayless is not only worth leaving the house, but also worthy of putting on real clothes and make-up! What an awesome opportunity. Beer bread is my favorite quick bread. It’s so easy that every meal can have fresh bread with it.
I’m all about this recipe!!
I have been a Rick Bayless fan for years! Negra Modelo is on my shopping list and this bread looks so dang good!
I LOVE beer bread. Yours looks fantastic!
I love trying beer bread with different beers – must try this!
I love beer bread! It’s so simple and wonderful!
I love easy bread recipes that don’t need yeast!
This bread looks amazing! Hearty and dense and I’m picturing it slathered in some butter – or maybe cheese – right out of the oven. Must try…
beer + bread? match made in heaven!!!
Beer bread is the best! Bet it’s awesome with Negra Modelo!
Oh my – that looks delicious! I love easy… and totally envious of you getting to meet Rick Bayless. :)
Ummm…Negra Modelo is my favorite beer, Rick Bayless is my favorite chef, and I’m so green with envy that I can’t see straight. I need a slice (okay loaf) of this delicious beer bread to soothe me. ;)
That day was SO fun with you!! I wish we could drive into the city and eat good food every week! So many laughs, so many pastries (I still love that snowball-looking one the best!), so many memories… And I totally wish I could’ve tasted this bread! It looks incredible Amy! :) Pinned!
Wow do you have tortilla recipe? Would love to learn his technique.
Hi Dolores – no sorry, I don’t. But I’m sure you could Google for it. Might even find some demo videos.
Yep I think you had reason to leave your house. I am not much of a beer drinker, but that really doesn’t matter when making this bread. Gosh it’s so easy.
Crazy easy. A few people have now mentioned chili, so I think I’m going to make both this coming week.
SO jealous you got to meet Rick Bayless. He is so awesome! I discovered him from top chef masters and we went out and bought like 4 or 5 of his cookbooks immediately after watching the show. The BEST Mexican recipes ever
Ya, seriously. His food transports you to Mexico City. Wish he had a restaurant in Sacramento! *cries*
Looks like you guys had so much fun!! Next time :) This bread looks amaaaaazing! I want some with a big bowl of soup.
We missed you!!! *sad violin*
This would go perfectly with the chili I’m making today. YUM.
YES, this definitely would go great with chili!
omg, amy. what a fun and delicious night! need to get my hands on that cookbook. and this bread!!!
You’ll love them both! Thanks, Mary!
Loooove Rick Bayless. So jealous! And this bread…totally happening!!
He is definitely enthusiastic and knowledgable about his craft. I love that!
Nailed it! This bread looks cray cray good! Had such a fun time with you Amy :) Pinning, of course!
Such an adventure. You’re my hero for driving and parking!