‘Tis the season to start planning holiday menus that wow your family and friends. And, for the beer connoisseurs out there, now is the perfect time to shake things up with a crafty twist. Challenge everything you think you know about beer and try these Christmas lunch ideas to indulge your guests – and tastebuds.
Infusing dishes with the flavours of craft beer is nothing short of an adventure. To start you off, we bottled up a Father’s Day cookbook and a cooking with beer guide. But, with Santa on his way, we thought we would help you level up your Christmas lunch ideas. Are you ready? Leave your inhibitions behind, take out your supplies and let’s put ‘hops’ into your holiday lunch prep.
When it comes to holiday celebrations, no one pitches up just for the meal – they’re in it for the long game. That means snacks, snacks and more snacks. After all, the food is one of the highlights of a festive get-together. Right? Everyone comes prepared to fill their bellies to the brim. Luckily, for the craft lovers looking for beer-infused appetisers, whipping up a quick dip with your favourite 1000 Hills ale is a pretty simple affair. Paired with fresh veggies, artisanal bread, chips – you can’t go wrong.
Prawn cocktail is so seventies. It’s time to re-imagine your first dish, and give it a modern twist. And, as Christmas lunch ideas go, a sharing platter to start is right up there on the must-have list. It’s fun, interactive and a great way to bring all your guests together. The best part is you can keep your beer-theme alive by including a selection of beer-battered nibbles. Fish, prawns, onion rings, zucchini, your options are limitless. Our pilsner-style craft, The Dean, is the ideal choice for a light, airy batter.
Everyone loves a good old roasted bird sitting at the centre of their festive feast. And who could blame them? Crispy skin, guilt-free lean meat, and a flavoursome stuffing – we’re salivating at the thought. The key to cooking the perfect Christmas turkey is all in the basting. This year, your basting is all about the beer. It’s as easy as melting a stick of butter, stirring in a bottle of The Graduate, pouring it over your bird and basting every 20 minutes while roasting. (Keep a second bottle of our delicious India Pale Ale handy to add halfway through.)
Last, but not least, the cherry on top of your craft beer inspired holiday lunch is dessert. Here, you can let your imagination run wild. As long as you have a few bottles of our caramelly Belgian ale (The FES) on hand, you’ll be able to throw together a decadent finishing act. From rich brownies to gooey chocolate cake, there are plenty of desserts calling for a craft beer addition.
We hope you enjoy preparing and creating your special holiday gathering with these craft beer inspired Christmas lunch ideas. If you’re needing to stock up before your guests arrive, visit one of our local stockists.