Taste Life Blog

Growing up in Milwaukee Wisconsin, it seemed like every day was a beer day! I don’t remember too many dads including mine drinking milk at dinner or anything else. Just. Beer.

What is so interesting is that when I starting dating Gary my now husband and he drank milk with dinner I didn’t think he was “man” enough. Thank goodness he is a Triathlete who drinks beer on occasion not every day. I have fond memories of working at Pabst Brewery in college and slurping down free shorties at lunch and my breaks! It was a fun job to stay the least.

My life changed last July 13, 2015 when I found I was gluten sensitive. I still remember being in total denial for at least one week. My last “real” beer was with Julie and Tim Thoma on their pontoon boat on July 19, 2015. It was not even fun to drink that Amber Bock Beer as I felt guilty knowing I was creating havoc and inflammation. My dietitian sister was right. When you eat a food you know you are sensitive too, you feel guilty and it doesn’t even taste as good. Ignorance is bliss!I tried many gluten free beers and I really like Omission Pale Ale. Tasting is believing!

To help me celebrate National Beer Day, I asked my favorite Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Friends what their fav beers and recipes were. Check them out!

Rosanne Rust, MS, RDN, LDN

I like to drink beer. Does that count? We love a local microbrewery – Voodoo. They also serve Brunch on Sunday and daily they feature their ‘Met-mosa” which is their Belgium style ale with orange juice. Vitamin C! I have recreated that at home for holiday brunches – any good wheat, or Belgium style beer with orange juice. Like a mimosa but with beer. I also like to add dark beer to beef stews or chili.

Joan Trute  MA,RD, CDE, LD

My favorite thing to do with beer?  Of course drink it!  Michigan has a lot of craft breweries ROAK in Royal Oak, MI, Short’s brewery in Bellaire, Bells brewery  in Kalamazoo, Founders in Grand Rapids, Atwater Block Brewery in Detroit and Arcadia Ales to name a few.

Mandy Enright, MS, RDN, RYT

I LOVE cooking with beer, so it’s hard to pick only one recipe!  This is a treat that should be enjoyed in moderation, but it’s a big hit at parties- my Boozy Brownies with Irish Coffee Whipped Cream These brownies require a chocolaty stout beer.  The Jersey Shore is exploding with local breweries, so I always make these brownies with a local stout beer (favorites include Morning Bell from Kane Brewery, Ocean Township, NJ and Parade Day from Beach Haus Brewery, Belmar, NJ – both include beans from local coffee roasters!).

My favorite beer is anything Jersey Shore local. Beach Haus Brewery does this amazing rye beer made in an American wheat style called Herb’s Rye.  It’s a great flavorful beer that is perfect any time of year.

Rebecca McConville, MS RD LD CSSD

My husband makes a delicious stew with turkey (wild ) where he cooks in it a can of beer with onions & veggies. Keeps it really moist and doesn’t really have a beer taste. Hoping he gets one this spring so we can have it again!

 Jamila René Lepore, MS, RD/N

I love to make beer lemonade or use it in marinades when cooking! It adds a depth of flavor you can’t get with any other ingredient. My absolute favorite type of beer is a Hefeweizen. They’re typically less bitter but full of flavor and are quite refreshing on a hot day!

Lindsey Pine MS, RDN, CSSD, CLT

I enjoy a wide variety of beers, but I’m really enjoying French Canadian beers Blanche de Chambly and La Fin du Monde right now.  Besides drinking beer, I love to cook meatballs in beer! Instead of simmering meatballs in tomato sauce after browning, try simmering them in beer for extra scrumptious flavor. Lagers and wheat beers lend well to a wide palette of flavors that may be mixed in to your beef, pork, chicken or turkey meatballs. Check out my turkey meatballs glazed in beer.

Here is more scoop on the truth about beer from WebMd.

Celebrate! We can’t wait to hear what is your favorite beer or favorite recipe.