beer Archives - DeckTec Outdoor Designs

Best Local Cold Weather Micro-Brrrews

February 27th, 2019|Blog, Colorado Life, Life On Deck, Outdoor Recipes|

Beer is a big part of the Colorado lifestyle! For every camping trip, whitewater adventure or 14’er summit there’s beer shared on the back of a tailgate, at one of Colorado’s 300+ taprooms or on your custom redwood deck. But what to do when the temperature drops and the flakes start flying? We’re blessed with plenty of excellent Colorado craft beers for the 65 days of the year when the sun isn’t shining. Find them at your local brewery or stock up until deck weather returns in the spring. These malt-focused beers are perfect for cozying up by the fire after a long day in the Colorado cold and are guaranteed to chase your winter brrrews away! German Dunkel If you’re a fan of Porter be sure to give Dunkel a try – similar to the English favorite but with a cleaner taste from cold fermentation and lagering. Dunkel is [...]

Deck Worthy Dinners: Beer-Brined Turkey with Onion Gravy & Bacon

December 5th, 2018|Blog, Outdoor Recipes|

Ingredients ¼ c. yellow mustard seeds 2 tbsp. black peppercorns 8 bay leaves 1 c. dark brown sugar 1 c. kosher salt 2 onions, cut into thick wedges 1 lb. bacon slab, skin removed, sliced 1/3-in. thick six 12-oz. bottles Guinness stout one 12-14 lb. turkey 1 c. turkey stock or chicken broth 1 tbsp. unsalted butter 1 tbsp. all-purpose flour Directions In very large pot, combine mustard seeds, peppercorns and bay leaves. Toast on moderate heat until fragrant, about 2 mins. Add brown sugar and salt, remove from heat. Add 4 cups water, stir until sugar and salt dissolve. Let cool completely. Add onions, bacon, Guinness and 16 cups cold water to pot. Add turkey to brine, breast side down, keep submerged with heavy lid. Cover and refrigerate 24 hours. Preheat oven to 350°, put rack on bottom shelf. Lift turkey from brine, pick off spices, pat dry. Transfer [...]

Deck Worthy Snacks: Homemade Soft Pretzels

November 7th, 2018|Blog, Colorado Life, Outdoor Recipes|

Ingredients 1½ c. warm (110-115°) water 1 tbsp. sugar 2 tsp. kosher salt 1 package active dry yeast 22 oz. all-purpose flour (about 4½ cups) 2 oz. unsalted butter, melted vegetable oil, for pan 10 c. water 2/3 c. baking soda large egg yolk beaten w/1 tbsp. water pretzel (or other course) salt Directions Combine water, sugar and kosher salt in mixer bowl. Sprinkle yeast on top. Let sit for 5 mins. or until mixture begins to foam. Add flour and butter. Using dough hook attachment, combine on low speed. Knead on medium speed until dough is smooth and pulls away from sides, about 4-5 mins. Remove dough, clean bowl and coat with oil. Return dough to bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let sit in warm place for 50-55 mins. or until dough doubles in size. Preheat oven to 450°. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper. Lightly brush [...]

Oktoberfest In September?

October 24th, 2018|Blog, Colorado Life|

Ever wonder why Oktoberfest happens in September? Well, true to name, Oktoberfest was originally held in October – or Oktober, in German. The first Oktoberfest, held on October 12, 1810, was a wedding celebration and parade honoring the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen . Six days of festivities took place on the outskirts of Munich on fairgrounds named “Theresenwiese” (Therese’s meadow) after the princess, concluding on October 17 with a horse race. The festival was such a hit that it was repeated in following years. Additional features such as a Bavarian agricultural show and carnival booths were added as the festival grew. In 1819, Oktoberfest became an annual event run by the city fathers. This year marked the 211th anniversary of the world’s largest beer festival, with more than six million attendees consuming more than one million gallons of beer. Oktoberfest still takes place [...]

Beer Myths

June 19th, 2017|Blog|

Thousands of years of brewing science still has not put some classic beer myths to rest. Let’s debunk them once and for all! Myth #1: All Dark Beer is Heavy Don’t be afraid of the dark! While a beer’s color can offer clues about flavor, color has little to do with “mouthfeel” – the way a beer’s weight and texture feel, literally, in the mouth. To understand mouthfeel, consider how skim milk feels and weighs on your palate compared to whole milk. While it’s commonly believed that dark beers feel thick, more like whole milk, this is a myth. Why not give a Schwarzbier or Dunkelweizen a try, both dark, German-style brews that are perfect for your deck. Myth #2: Beer is Best Ice Cold The truth is that extremely cold temperatures inhibit the flavor and aroma of beer. As well, pouring beer into a frozen mug often results in [...]