cooking with beer

[sochr000]

So, the other day I was making chili using a new recipe, and it called for a can of beer.  I have really only used beer before when making beer-can chicken and so didn't know what kind to use (ended up using a can of PBR). 

From your experience, what kind of beer works best for recipes that call for it?  Are certain beers better for certain foods(pale, amber, dark, etc), in the way wine will compliment a certain dish?  Or is cooking with beer just to add whatever's the cheapest?

I added the cheapest I had on hand, hoping that cheap was all it needed, and the chili was, well, iffy, but that could be because this recipe was odd... (no beans, just red pepper, onion, and meat).

Really just looking to see if I need to buy a different kind of beer just for cooking, or if what's on hand will work.

[Randy Kaar]

i drink schmidts, so thats what i use. in a chili with all the other
flavors going on i dont think it matters all that much.
i havent had a PBR in a long time!

randy

[beeker]

I find when cooking with beer it doesnt matter what you dump in. like if your making a beer batter or chili.. I can never tell the difference.. but I have found the dish is best if I consume 2x's whatever the recipe calls for.

[sjohnnie26]

I have really only used beer before when making beer-can chicken and so didn't know what kind to use (ended up using a can of PBR). 

I use PBR for beer brats all the time.  Also consume a few as I grill!

[Randy Kaar]

you gotta sample it, you might get a bad box of beer

randy