There are many benefits to grilling seafood with beer. Whether you prefer a light pale ale or dark lager, there is a wide variety of beers to choose from, each providing its own taste and flavor to shrimp and other seafood. Beer is also less acidic than other common seafood marinades or sauces. It will tenderize seafood quickly and won't overpower the other spices and seasonings that are added to the meal. Plus, beer is a lot cheaper than wine, a common marinade ingredient.
Step 1
Make a marinade. In a large bowl, combine your favorite seasoning and spices; one mixture calls for a pinch of salt and pepper, 2 tsp. of garlic powder, Creole seasoning or Old Bay Seasoning, plus 1/4 cup of olive oil. Add 3/4 cup of a light beer. Mix well. Place the seafood into a plastic zip-top bag and pour the marinade over the seafood. Toss the seafood around so that it is covered with marinade. Then, place the bag into the refrigerator and let it sit for at least one hour. Remove seafood from bag, place onto the grill and cook.
Step 2
Use beer-soaked woodchips. Dip the woodchips or plank into a bowl full of your favorite beer. Let it soak for at least one hour. Remove the wood from the bowl and smoke the seafood using the cold smoke process. Place and heat the woodchips in a separate heated chamber from the grill and transfer the smoke over to the grill through a pipe. The longer the cold smoke process, the deeper the flavor. Remove wood chips, then grill the seafood.
Step 3
Make a beer bath. Pour one or two bottles of beer into a heat-safe container. Add three to four cloves of chopped garlic to the mixture. Place the heat-safe container onto the grill and let it heat up to a boil. Place the seafood onto the grill and allow it to cook halfway through, about five to ten minutes. Place the seafood into the beer bath and let it sit for another five to 10 minutes. This method is perfect for fish.
Things You'll Need
- Wood chips
- Spices and seasonings
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