Easy Craft Beer Jelly Recipe
Easy Craft Beer Jelly Recipe
You only need 4 ingredients and about 30 minutes to make this beer jelly. No special canning experience required—just follow these simple steps for a unique and creative condiment you'll want to make over and over again.
I am a beer aficionado. I believe there is a beer for EVERYONE. Whether it be an ale, lager, stout, porter, sour, lambic, or a beer cocktail, there is something for everyone to enjoy. It's just like water. Water with hops, grain, or fruit and yeast in it.
What is craft beer?
Craft beer is beer produced in a microbrewery that produces a small amount of beer. The exact terms vary, but typically, breweries that are much smaller than large-scale corporate breweries and are independently owned fall under this category. Craft beer is characterized by emphasis on quality, flavor and small-batch brewing techniques. In North Carolina, anything that produces less than 50,000 barrels of beer a year is considered a microbrewery. There are a little more than 2 kegs in a barrel and a little more than 15 gallons in a keg.What is Craft Beer Jelly?
Craft beer jelly is exactly what it sounds like: a sweet spread made from beer, sugar, and pectin. The result is a golden to amber-colored jelly with a sweet-tart flavor and the distinctive taste of your chosen beer coming through at the finish. It's perfect for adventurous eaters and makes a homemade conversation-starting gift for beer lovers.
Best Beers for Making Jelly
When I started making this craft beer jelly, I originally considered using a light lager because it's a clear, golden color. But then I said, "Screw that. I'm going for flavor." I used a porter, which is similar to a stout.
Normally, I don't like porters or stouts. It's a personal preference, but I'm not a fan of beer that tastes malty or caramelly. But sometimes you have to take one for the team, and trust me, this jelly is VERY GOOD.
Best beer styles for jelly:
• Porters and stouts - create rich, dark jelly with deep malty flavor
• IPAs - make a more bitter, hoppy jelly perfect for savory pairings
• Amber ales - balanced flavor, beautiful color
• Fruit beers - add an extra layer of fruity sweetness
I used Baltic Porter from Foothills Brewing in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Ingredients for Craft Beer Jelly
• 3 cups beer
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 (3 oz) package of liquid pectin (I used Certo/Sure Jell)
Step 1: First, simmer the beer in a large stock pot, bring the beer to a boil, then lower the temperature so the beer is just barely simmering.Step 2: Add the sugar one cup at a time, stirring to make sure each cup has fully dissolved before adding the next cup.Step 3: Once the sugar is dissolved, add the pectin and return the mixture to a boil. Let it cook for 3 minutes. The beer will roll and foam. If needed, remove from the heat periodically so the pot doesn't boil over.Step 4: Add lemon juice and jar Add lemon juice and pour into clean jars or glasses. Clean up rims and place on lids, if using. Loosely tighten bands so they will hold but won't leak, then turn jars upside down for 15 minutes.Step 5: Next, turn jars right side up and let them finish cooling. If not using lids, simply let the jars cool and cover the tops with wax paper and seal with string for gifts.
Tips for Perfect Beer Jelly
If your jelly doesn't set: Simply re-heat the jelly until simmering and add half a pouch of pectin and 3 more tablespoons of lemon juice. Re-jar and repeat the cooling process.
About the foam: When you pour the hot jelly into your jars, there will be a little foam and it will look like a simple glass of beer. You can skim off the foam, but I think it looks a little more authentic to keep it on top.
Jar options: I used sample glasses from a couple of my favorite NC breweries, Fullsteam, Foothills and Carolina Brewing to make the jelly. You can use any kind of jar or glass you like. As long as your vessel is clean and sterilized, you should be good.
How to Serve Craft Beer Jelly
This beer jelly is sweet with a little tang from the added lemon juice. The beer flavor hits your taste buds in the back and finishes with a light alcoholic lift and lots of malty flavor from the beer.
Sweet applications:
• Spread with peanut butter or my favorite Monte Cristo sandwich
• Slather on hot, buttery biscuits fresh from the oven
• Pair with cream cheese on bagels
Savory applications:
• Glaze for pork chops or pork tenderloin
• Sauce for chicken wings
• Toss with fried shrimp for a Bonefish Grill Bang Bang Shrimp-style dish
• Serve on a cheese board with sharp cheddar, brie, or goat cheese
• Spread on crackers with charcuterie
Storing Beer Jelly
Sealed jars of craft beer jelly will keep at room temperature for up to 1 year in a cool, dark place. Once opened, store in the refrigerator and use within 3-4 weeks. This recipe yields 32 oz. Using standard 8-ounce jars, there will be four jars filled to the brim.
Craft Beer Jelly
Yield: 32 oz
Adapted from culinaryarts360.com
When the topic of libational recipes came up for #SundaySupper, I had no other ideas except to make jelly from beer. I've heard urban legend about this stuff and I wasn't sure I could pull it off. My first thought was to use a light lager because it's pretty, golden and yellow but then I said,"Screw that. I'm going for flavor." I used a porter which is similar to a stout. Normally, I don't like porters or stouts. At all. I don't care for beer that tastes malty, caramelly, or like drinking chocolate or coffee. Sometimes you have to take one for the team for the good of the collective and trust me--this is VERY GOOD.
Ingredients
- 3 cups beer
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 (3 oz) package of liquid pectin (I used Certo/Sure Jell)
Instructions
- In a large stock pot bring the beer to a boil, then lower the temperature so the beer is just barely simmering.
- Add sugar one cup at a time, stirring to make sure each cup has fully dissolved before adding the next cup.
- Once sugar is dissolved, add pectin and bring back up to a boil and let cook for 3 minutes. The beer will roll and foam. If need be, remove from the heat periodically so the pot doesn't boil over.
- Add lemon juice and pour into warm sterilized jars or glasses. Clean up rims and place on lids, if using. Loosely tighten bands so they will hold but will not leak, turn jars upside down for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes has passed turn jars right side up and let finish cooling. If not using lids, simply let the jars cool and cover tops with wax paper and seal with string for gifts.
- If the jelly doesn't jell, simply re-heat jelly until simmering and add half a pouch of pectin and 3 more tablespoons of lemon juice. Re-jar and so forth.
Notes:
When you pour the hot jelly into your jars, there will be a little foam and it will look like a simple glass of beer. You can skim off the foam, but I think it looks a little more authentic this way. I used sample glasses from a couple of my favorite NC breweries to make the jelly. You can use any kind of jar or glass you like. Also, using jar lids isn't necessary. Just as long as your vessel is clean and sterilized, you should be good.
It's sweet, with a little tang from added lemon juice with the beer flavor hitting your taste buds in the back and finishing with a light alcoholic lift with lots of malty flavor from the beer. So what do you put it on? I'm sure you've been asking yourself that for the past minute or so. Well, it's perfect to spread on your favorite sandwich bread with peanut butter or even hot, buttery biscuits fresh from the oven. You could also put it on pork, chicken wings, or even toss it with fried shrimp for a Bonefish Grill Bang Bang Shrimp kind of situation.
Calories
87.46Fat (grams)
0.01Sat. Fat (grams)
0.00Carbs (grams)
21.03Fiber (grams)
0.14Net carbs
20.88Sugar (grams)
18.73Protein (grams)
0.11Sodium (milligrams)
4.54Cholesterol (grams)
0.00Please consult a healthcare professional or dietician about nutritional needs for your diet. I am a communications professional, not a physician.
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About the author
Nikki Miller-Ka
Ms. Miller-Ka is a classically trained chef with a BA in English from East Carolina University and a Culinary Arts Associate Degree from Le Cordon Bleu-Miami.
Formerly, she’s worked as a researcher, an editorial assistant, reporter and guest blogger for various publications and outlets in the Southeast. She has also worked as a catering chef, a pastry chef, a butcher, a baker, and a biscuit-maker. Presently, she is a food editor, freelance food writer, and a tour guide for Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours.
I have a few friends who enjoy craft beer and I think this would be a great gift for them.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds good!!!
ReplyDeleteYou would fit in well with my family. The men are all beer lovers...and my husbands group makes sure there is beef available at their staff meetings :) I have a feeling they'd love this jelly!
ReplyDeleteI have never seen this before, great recipe, I love it!!
ReplyDeleteI love every kind of beer, dark brews are my favs though. This is must try recipe for me Nikki!
ReplyDeleteFabulous idea and very creative. And a great gift for my beer loving friends. Yup, I'm "one of those". I just don't like beer, but I totally agree with what you said, I know there's one out there that I'd like. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic idea!!
ReplyDeleteI can totally see making sandwiches with this stuff! I bet its amazing! :)
ReplyDeleteYou are one clever beer-loving cooking / baking lady, Nikki. Thank you for the education in America's beloved beverage. Stout does seem to be the perfect choice for jelly =) Thanks for the recipe!
ReplyDeleteThis is so incredibly unique, I have to try it for sure!
ReplyDeleteAnd that......is pretty much amazing. NOVEL idea--my beer-lovin' friends are going to love this one!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the more unique food gifts I've ever seen or heard of! My beer-loving hubby would go NUTS for this! And I would too, I'm one of the 2 in 10 women you meet. Confession - I used to be one of the 8 in 10, but when I started dating my now-husband, and decided I'd like to continue being with him, liking beer became a matter of survival, lol!
ReplyDeleteOh my! This is heaven!! Nik, you're a genius!
ReplyDeleteMy hubby loves all kinds of draft beer, it's a great idea as a gift!
ReplyDeleteSo unique! My hubs would love this.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic idea! I've got to try this!! (Pinned!)
ReplyDeleteWhat a creative recipe for a craft beer lover. I would have never expected lemon juice and beer to go together, but then I never would have expected beer jelly either. What an unexpected (and fun) surprise.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of using this on pork or wings - but you know I'm dying for a pb&j sammich using it! This sounds amazing, I totally want to try it.
ReplyDeleteMy hubby would love this, he's such a big craft beer junkie!!
ReplyDeleteBeer research? I'm in! I live in North Carolina so I am going to have to go looking for this beer!
ReplyDeleteWe came across some imported American craft beer today at something like Costco. Only $4-6 a bottle! We passed. ;) But if we had some, this looks like a great use of it!
ReplyDeleteThis would be a dream for my husband. Making it soon!
ReplyDeleteSoooo.... I'm one of those who doesn't really drink beer! I have actually found beer that I enjoy (and we're in NC so there is A LOT of craft beer to be had!) I love beer tasting but I rarely finish a bottle (not to mention, a pint). I'm all about wine :)
ReplyDeleteBeer jelly sounds like a total winner, though!! I have made all kinds of boozy jellies but I have never thought of beer jelly. Kudos!! :)
Here is some information about me - I am German; born and raised but when I lived in Germany beer was not my favorite. Now twenty some years later I live in Portland, Oregon where craft brew is every where and I love beer. Well, I should say most - wine remains my other preferred beverage but yummy beer.
ReplyDeleteMaking beer jelly sounds absolutely fantastic. Thank you for sharing ~ Bea @ The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
I've never seen Craft Beer Jelly! Love this!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen craft beer jelly before! This looks amazing!
ReplyDelete"It MUST be jelly 'cause jam DON'T shake like that!" Bwahaha! I have GOT to try this jelly!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds amazing! I had no idea you could make jelly out of beer...yum!
ReplyDeleteOh my! I didn't even know Beer Jelly existed! Oh and what a fantastic idea to put the jelly in beer glasses!
ReplyDeleteI rarely have beer, but I do like a good vanilla porter while cooking Thanksgiving. :)
ReplyDeleteHave you ever tried Abita Purple Haze? It's really refreshing.
Didn't know you could make jelly from beer. Learn something new every day!
Did anyone actually try and make this, of those that commented? I am trying and not sure it is setting. Liquid in jars. It's been an hour since I sealed them up. Wondering if I just wasted a bunch of nice homebrew, organic sugar, and organic lemons.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry I was unable to help you while you were making this. Next time, email me at niksnacksblog at gmail dot com
DeleteI just made this.... the jars have a nice "head" on them. When I turned upside down they got mixed up, so I decided to chill them right side up..... it smells great! I added 1/4 c apple cider vinegar and used "pamonas universal pectin" that I found at Whole Foods. I used Shock Top beer.... I'll give it a try in the morning. Do I put it in the fridge after it's cooled? I'm going to leave it out until I open it to test. It sure looks gorgeous, just don't turn upside down, this mixes up the "head", unless I should let the "head" settle before I cap them.... this is my first time making anything like this.... they are literally still warm. We'll see.... I want to give them as Christmas gifts. Thanks for the recipe!!!
ReplyDeleteI maade this yesterday and it is SOOOOO good! I can't believe it! The "foam Head" on top, gives it a festive look and makes it really look like a beer! The flavor, I used Shock Top, is amazing! I put it on some smoked chicken and it was amazing! Sounds weird and strainge, but it is fun and exciting!!! Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteMade this recipe...just as you said at the end of your recipe...it did not set. So I then followed your recommendation to fix it. It set, but has no flavor now as a result of being boiled twice.
ReplyDeleteI love the craft beer jelly ! This looks amazing!
ReplyDelete