Sled Dog, a malty, full-bodied craft lager with notes of caramel and chocolate, is the key ingredient in Wagner Valley’s version of Carbonnades Flamande, Belgium’s rich national dish. The hearty stew is an excellent bracer against our cold, snowy winter days in the Finger Lakes.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 6 to 8
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Combine the flour, salt, and white pepper in a bowl. Toss the beef in the seasoned flour and shake off the excess.
Step 2
Place the olive oil and bacon in a 1-gallon stockpot and set over medium heat. Once the bacon begins to render its fat, add the beef and sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring often, only until the bacon begins to crisp. Add the garlic, carrots, parsnips, sweet corn kernels, and bay leaves. Sauté for about 5 minutes. Add the beef stock, thyme, and potatoes and bring to a boil. When the stew boils, decrease the heat to medium-low, and add the Sled Dog and pearl onions. Cover the stockpot and simmer, stirring often, for 2 hours.
Step 3
Remove from the heat, discard the bay leaves, and adjust seasonings to taste.
Step 4
For a thicker stew, remove about 1 cup of the broth, place it in a bowl, and add some of the remaining seasoned flour, then add the mixture back to the stew.
note
Step 5
Enjoy this hearty stew with some warm biscuits and garlic mashed potatoes. For a complementary beverage, buy a 25-ounce bottle of Sled Dog Doppelbock, use half for this recipe, and drink the rest with the meal; or try the stew with a full-bodied red wine such as Wagner Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon. Venison may be substituted for the beef chuck.
