Beer, It's Not Just For Drinking: 4 Beer-Infused Recipes

Every beer lover can agree that there's nothing better than cracking open an ice-cold beer and sitting back to relax. Founder and head brew master of Blue Moon Brewing Company Keith Villa couldn't agree more, because when he's not standing over a kettle and crafting the perfect recipe for his next brew, he's enjoying a cold one or two, too.

But that's not all he's doing. Just as Villa and his team take a unique, artisan approach to creating their brews, they're quite the artists in the kitchen as well. The Daily Meal's Cook editors don't need a lot of convincing when it comes to beer (especially when it's a Blue Moon), but when Villa described some of the recipes that Blue Moon has created using their unique set of brews, we were more than happy to lend an ear.

Take their "artfully crafted" grilled chicken recipe, which calls for basic seasonings like paprika, cayenne, coriander seeds, and Blue Moon's signature Belgian White ale. We think fans of their most popular beer will be happy to hear that this chicken recipe calls for an orange rind, just like you would garnish a glass with. There's also a bratwurst recipe, simmered with lemon and orange juice and their Sunshine Citrus Blonde — a springtime variety that's light and citrusy — and then finished on the grill, and after reading their orange marmalade recipe, we don't think we'll be relying on store-bought again. No matter what the season or blend of beer you prefer, Blue Moon offers these delicious recipes to pair with their craft brews, shedding a whole new light on beer and all of its glory.

Sunshine Citrus Blonde Bratwurst 

The bratwurst in this recipe gets two cooking treatments. First, it's simmered in a fragrant braising liquid made of fresh orange and lemon juice and Blue Moon's Sunshine Citrus Blonde beer, and then it's finished on the grill to give it a nice, flavorful char.

Blue Moon Belgian White Artfully Crafted Grilled Chicken

The best part about this recipe is that it requires you to drink half of the beer before you even start cooking. But in all seriousness, we like how it adds aromatics like cloves and an orange rind to the beer inside the beer can, so that when the chicken cooks on the grill, it becomes succulent and tender from the beer, and flavorful from the seasonings inside the can.

Valencia Grove Amber Grilled Chicken Salad

Blue Moon's favorite ingredient, orange, is infused throughout this recipe, from the marinade and salad ingredients to the dressing. Along with the signature ingredient, their Valencia Grove Amber brew has notes of caramel to make it a rich and creamy ale that serves as the perfect marinade for the chicken breasts.

Miniature Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Orange Marmalade

This recipe uses Blue Moon's Belgian White to the best of its ability, using it to create a tangy, fresh orange marmalade that you'll eventually spread onto some bread with cheese to create a gooey grilled cheese.

Anne Dolce is the Cook Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @anniecdolce