Cooking with Beer "Beer Can Chicken"

As a lot of you know by now, I like to post beer recipes on here from time to time. Being as tomorrow is Labor Day, and many of us will be grilling, I wanted to post a recipe using beer and the backyard grill. Well, one recipe that comes up more then just about any when it comes to cooking with beer, is beer can chicken. I've had a lot of folks ask me about my "favorite" beer can recipe, or how i do it. OK, so here goes.....

The easier way

There are two ways you can do this. The easy way, and the even easier way. For the even easier way. You can just buy the pre-made beer can chicken rub (I think the one by Weber is the best). Or, for the slightly more difficult, but still very easy way, you can make your own rub with little more then a well stocked spice rack. Here is the recipe I use....

2 tablespoons smoked paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons black pepper
2 teaspoons garlic powder

Just mix all that together in a bowl, and there you have it, just that easy. Now to prep the chicken.... but first, preheat your grill to medium/high heat.

Start with a whole chicken. Rub down the entire bird, inside and out with either vegetable or olive oil.

Now, coat the entire bird with the rub (the one you either made, or bought) including the inside cavity.

Take a 12 oz can of beer of your choosing. *hint- even if the beer you want to use doesn't come in a can, just empty a can of beer that does, and use that* I like to use a nice, flavorful light (in color) beer. Like a Triple, or Belgian White Ale, but really, any lighter beer will work just fine. Make sure the can of beer is only about 3/4 full, then place the chicken over the can in the center of your grill, so that it sets nicely without falling over. Cover the entire chicken. My grill is pretty small, and the cover won't close with the bird standing up, so I just us a large piece of aluminum foil to cover it, or just close the lid if it fits. Cook the bird for about an hour an a half, or until the internal temp reads over 165 degrees. Once that temp is reach, where you have it, a very simple, very delicious, very affordable way to grill a whole chicken!! Just a note, you can also do this recipe in your oven as well, just as easy.

Enjoy!

If you have a favorite beer recipe, and would like to share it, please send us a copy of the recipe (and any photos you have of the preparation, or completed recipe) to us at thebeerczar@gmail.com, we would love to share it!

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend, have fun, and be responsible!

Until next time
Bottoms up my friends

The Beer Czar