Beer Drop Biscuits

Ingredients & Equipment

Our recipe is very low key while at the same time yields great results. You will need just a handful of ingredients:

• Flour
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Sugar (optional, we don't like sweet biscuits so we omit it)
• Butter (cold and cut in cubes)
• Beer (see below for styles suggestions)

If the ingredients remind you of those typically used in beer bread - you are right! The manner of preparing the biscuits however is more similar to that of buttermilk drop biscuits which is why the texture is actually better than that of beer bread.

The main reason these beer biscuits are so incredibly easy to make is that a food processor does most of the work for you. You will also need

• a standard size baking sheet
• parchment paper (or silicone mat)
• (optional) cookie scoop

Process

Step 1. Begin by adding the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar (if using) and cold butter pieces into the bowl of the food processor. 

Step 2. Pulse a couple of times until all the ingredients are combined and the mixture looks crumbly as shown below.

TIP: If you don't have a food processor you can use a pastry cutter/butter blender to manually mix the flour and butter and then a wooden spoon to incorporate the beer.

Step 3. Next measure out the beer and add it to the Bisquick-like mix you created. If you'd like to add shredded cheese add a cup along with the beer.

Step 4. Pulse a few more times until all the ingredients form a mass and it lumps against the wall of the food processor bowl. 

Step 5. Use a cookie scoop or simply two spoons to transfer the biscuits mixture onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet.  

If you want to freeze a certain quantity of the biscuits, especially if you made a double batch, first scoop them onto a baking sheet and place them in the freezer until they harden enough to be transferred to a gallon zip lock bag, then freeze. Before you bake frozen beer biscuits allow them to come to room temperature.

Step 6. Bake the biscuits for about 15 minutes. Take them out once golden and allow them to cool down a little. Serve while still warm.

Do not waste time and enjoy them before they cool off completely. I love breaking them in two halves and slathering each with herb compound butter. I can eat a few so fixed biscuits and call it a complete meal, perhaps with a side salad. Definitely with a beer. 

How to Make Rosemary Butter

This time around I made rosemary butter with a bit of salt, but you can vary the fresh herb or if baking sweet beer biscuits make a whipped honey butter. Whatever you feel like. The pictures below show the few easy steps to make rosemary compound butter.

Simply combine room temperature butter cut in pieces with very finely chopped fresh rosemary and a bit of salt - to taste, mix them well with a fork and transfer to a bowl. Or you can roll the butter in parchment paper and refrigerate it for later use like I did with this cilantro, red pepper flakes and preserved lemons version.

TIP: If you are making these beer biscuits to go with grilled food the rosemary compound butter will be great on grilled steak, chicken, fish, potatoes, veggies... Two birds with one stone:)

Best Beer Styles for Drop Beer Biscuits

Not every beer style out there is appropriate to add to your biscuit mixture. After all, who wants to eat bitter beer biscuits?

Look for predominantly sweet or well balanced lagers and ales. Styles with bready and/or biscuity notes are perfect to use in this recipe.

I used Upslope Brewing Company American craft lager, brewed exclusively with malted barley. It is very light-bodied, balanced, with a slightly spicy Saaz hops aroma and IBU only 15. 

In short, good styles are:

• American craft lagers
• Bohemian pils or Munich helles
• Dunkel lagers, bock lagers, light bock lagers
• wheat ales  
• low bitterness amber ales or lagers
• as a flavor twist - porters or pumpkin ales if you want to impart mocha or pumpkin spice flavors