Our Thanksgiving turkey beer brine can elevate your meal to a new level of awesome!
We talked to Scott about a beer brine for turkey. He’s a giant fan of brining turkey “because you can impart whatever flavor you like while keeping the moisture in the bird.” Using beer can add flavor and/or floral characteristics plus it’s great as a tenderizing marinade. He walked us through the process and we’re sharing it with you!!
Below are the ingredients Scott suggested using a 6-pound turkey. You can adapt it based on the size of your bird. A few employees who ‘swear by this’ start a day ahead but you can brine in as few as 6 hours beforehand.
8 cups of water
8 cups of ANY Woodstock Inn Brewery beer – try a malty one like Wassail.
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cups coarse salt
Wassail Ale is a winter warmer brewed by Woodstock Inn Brewery
Combine the ingredients in large stock pot or bowl, stirring the sugar and salt until they dissolve. Rinse the turkey, remove the bag of giblets,discard excess fat and place in pot with brine, breast side down. If you have a really big bird you’ll have to get creative… maybe use a cleaned cooler? If it won’t fit in your fridge hopefully it’s cold enough outside on your porch or in your garage or even the trunk of your car.
Anyway, remove your turkey from the brine an hour or so before roasting. Pat it dry with paper towels and let stand at room temperature.
Then cook as usual and bask in the limelight as all your guests freak out over how tender and juicy your turkey is!
WHAT’S BRINING ALL ABOUT, ANYWAY?
According to ifood.tv, “brining originated as a method of preserving foodstuffs centuries ago, when fish and other meats were preserved by placing them in salted seawater, which acted as brine. The concentrated salt mixture prevents the growth of bacteria.”
You can brine a variety of meats to enhance flavor and tenderness and vegetables as well, like pickles.
ABOUT WASSAIL ALE
Woodstock Inn Brewery’s Wassail Ale is a spirited winter warmer that has a huge malt profile and is deep ruby red in color. With an ABV of 8%, the alcoholic warmth finishes the flavor profile and you’ll find it easy to drink. In addition to being a terrific option for a beer brine, it pairs well with roasted meats, local full flavored cheeses and desserts.
Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Woodstock Inn Brewery!
