House Westerling: Mussels in a Beer Reduction

There Is An Ancient Celtic Axiom That Says ‘Good People Drink Good Beer.’ Which Is True, Then As Now. Just Look Around You In Any Public Barroom And You Will Quickly See: Bad People Drinking Bad Beer. Think About It.

Hunter S. Thompson

This recipe is all about the sauce, and the sauce is all about the beer.  I chose to use Saw Works Dirty South Brown Ale.  The best part is it pairs wonderfully with the beer it's made out of.  You could use this sauce on a variety of dishes, such as steak.  I used it to boil mussels.  

What you need:

• 4 cups of beer (I used Dirty South Brown Ale from Saw Works)
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp brown sugar 
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped carrot
• 1/4 cup diced onion

In large sauce pan add beer (I think this recipe works best with a dark beer), garlic, brown sugar, and olive oil.  Bring to boil then reduce to medium heat.  

After 15 min add celery, carrot and onion.  

Cook at medium heat for 30 to 45 min while stirring occasionally.  At this point I added the mussels, covered the pot, raised the temperature to medium-high, and cooked for 8 min.  If you're not using the sauce to steam something like mussels then continue cooking it until it is the thickness you desire for your use.  For a steak I would aim for the consistency of thick maple syrup.