This amazing beer bread recipe is incredibly simple, made from staple ingredients – no yeast required! Just six ingredients are required for this delicious recipe.

This beer bread recipe has a buttery crust and the perfect crumb. It’s a one dish, no fuss bread recipe that takes just five minutes hands on time!

If you love quick bread recipes, you’re going to adore this easy beer bread.

A loaf of beer bread on a white platter, with a small jar of honey butter to the side.

Entertaining doesn’t have to be complicated! Truthfully, I’ve found over the years that all people really want is something to snack on, drinks, and great company.

This beer bread makes the easiest appetizer and there is rarely a crumb left! So, grab a few of your favorite craft beers and whip up a loaf in just a few minutes for an easy appetizer, last minute get together, or game day entertaining.

It’s always a hit and makes a great addition to a St. Patrick’s Day dinner, Thanksgiving or football watch party as well! This beer bread is truly a foolproof recipe – and it comes together fast.

Sliced beer bread on a white platter.

Why You’ll Love this Easy Beer Bread

  • No Yeast – The yeast in beer makes the bread rise while the alcohol from the beer evaporates leaving its incredible flavor. It can be made with just a few basic ingredients, though I add a few extra staples for an out of this world texture and taste!
  • Simple Ingredients – One of the many amazing things about this beer bread recipe is that you can mix it up directly in your loaf pan! Who doesn’t love a no fuss, less cleanup recipe?!
  • Perfect for Game Day – Or St. Patrick’s Day!
A loaf of beer bread on a white platter, with a small jar of honey butter to the side.

Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Flour – All purpose.
  • Sugar – A touch of white granulated sugar.
  • Beer – You can mix this easy recipe up with your favorite beer or whatever you have on hand! The options are endless! Stouts, IPAs, Wheats, Ales, oh my!
  • Baking Powder – The leavening agent that gives this bread the perfect crumb.
  • Minced Garlic – You can use fresh minced garlic, but I tend to use minced garlic purchased in the produce section of the grocery store. It adds incredible flavor, without the fuss! Read more about How to Peel and Mince Garlic here.
  • Butter – I always use salted butter in all of my bread recipes, but if you don’t use salted butter, add a little salt. It’s listed as optional in the recipe.

Variations

  • To make it a little spicy, add a little crushed red pepper to the batter!
  • You can sub the minced garlic for garlic powder – read more about Garlic Conversions here.
  • Try a darker, deeply flavored beer like Guinness to mix things up!
  • Add grated cheese including cheddar or parmesan.
  • Add herbs.
  • Add veggies – onions or jalapeños are always a delicious addition.
Sliced beer bread on a white platter.

How to Make Beer Bread

  1. Prep – Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease a loaf pan.
  2. Combine dry ingredients – flour, baking powder and salt.
  3. Mix – Add granulated sugar, garlic, melted butter and beer. Mix well.
  4. Bake – If you mixed it up in your loaf pan, bake 45 minutes – if not, pour the batter into your bread pan and bake.
A loaf of beer bread on a white platter, with a small jar of honey butter to the side.

What Kind of Beer to Use in Beer Bread

You can use any beer in beer bread! Have fun with it and experiment! Each beer will change the flavor of the bread.

  • Guinness is a great beer for stout lovers and the perfect way to adapt this homemade bread recipe for St. Patrick’s Day!
  • IPAs offer a lot of depth. Some of our favorites include Happy Camper, Dogfish 90 Minute, Bell’s Two Hearted. Try your favorite!
  • A farmhouse ale is also a delicious beer to integrate into a loaf of bread. My favorite is Boulevard Brewery’s Tank 7.

More beers to try in this easy beer bread recipe:

  • Pale Ale
  • Brown Ale
  • Belgian

Lighter beers like Coors Lite, Miller Light, Bud Light, etc can be used as well, but aren’t as flavorful.

A loaf of beer bread on a white platter, with a blue linen towel underneath

Tips

  • Make Beer Muffins – While I like to use a classic loaf pan, you can also make it in a muffin tin for individual portions! Just reduce baking time. Read more about Loaf Pan Sizes here.
  • This Beer Bread recipe is completely adaptable! It’s so incredible as is, but I’ve adapted it to create an amazing Cheddar Beer Bread Recipe and Honey Beer Bread. It’s fun to mix it up.
  • Or, gift the Beer Bread Mix itself to a friend. It’s a delicious homemade gift that anyone will love!

Make More (or Less!)

Scaling up, down or substituting? You’ll love this printable Measurement Conversion Chart!

A loaf of beer bread on a white platter, with a small jar of honey butter to the side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does beer bread taste like beer?

No, not really. It does have a richer and deeper flavor than other savory quick breads – and the darker beer you choose, the more that’s true!

Does the alcohol burn off in beer bread? Is beer bread safe for kids?

The alcohol evaporates during the baking process. In fact, it likely contains around the same amount of residual alcohol as other breads, because of the yeast!

Shortcuts

  • Use bottled minced garlic – all the flavor, none of the work.
  • Mix the batter right in your loaf pan!
Sliced beer bread on a white platter.

Serving Suggestions

While this beer bread is delicious on its own, it’s even better when paired with one of these delicious dips.

Don’t Skip These:  Looking for more ways to serve this easy beer bread? Check out this FREE guide to 35+ Easy Dip Recipes for Parties.

A loaf of beer bread on a white platter, with a small jar of honey butter to the side.

How to Store

  • At Room Temperature – Covered in plastic wrap or in a Ziplock bag up to three days.
  • Refrigerated – Covered in plastic wrap or in a Ziplock up to five days. It will soften the crust and add to the beer flavor.
  • Freeze – Freeze covered in plastic wrap or foil and place in a freezer bag to prevent freezer odors from seeping in up to three months. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Dietary Considerations

  • Vegetarian
  • Nut Free
  • Gluten – to make this beer bread gluten free, choose a gluten free flour and gluten free beer
  • Dairy – to make this bread dairy free, sub with a vegan butter that is approved for baking.
Sliced beer bread on a white platter.
Sliced beer bread on a white platter.
4.86 from 42 votes

Beer Bread

This beer bread is incredibly simple, made from staple ingredients in 5 minutes of hands on time and with just 6 ingredients.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Servings: 10
Pin Rate Print

Ingredients  

  • 3 cups all purpose flour sifted (not packed)
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 3 tablespoons white granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic or 3 cloves minced
  • 4 tablespoons butter melted (we use salted butter and eliminate the optional salt)
  • 12 ounces beer Use your favorite!
  • 1 teaspoon salt (optional)

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease loaf pan.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.
  • Add sugar, garlic, butter and beer. Mix well.
  • Pour into loaf pan, allowing room to compensate for rise. Bake 45 minutes or until toothpick in the center comes out clean.

Tips

Substitutions

  • Sugar – Naturally sweeten this beer bread with 1/4 cup honey instead.
  • Beer – Guinness, IPA, Farmhouse Ale, Pale Ale, Brown Ale, Belgian. You can use lighter beers as well, but they’ll offer less flavor.
  • Minced Garlic – You can use fresh minced garlic, but I use minced garlic purchased in the produce section of the grocery store for a shortcut. 
  • Butter – I always use salted butter in all of my bread recipes, but if you don’t use salted butter, add a little salt. 

Variations

  • Add Cheese – Aged cheeses tend to work well with honey. Add 1 cup of freshly shredded parmesan, gruyere or cheddar to make a sweet and savory cheesy beer bread.
  • Add Herbs – Fold 1 tablespoon dried rosemary, thyme or sage into the batter just before baking.
  • Add Salt – Just before serving, brush the loaf with warm honey butter and use a grinder to add thick flakes of sea salt.
  • Make into Beer Muffins – While I like to use a classic loaf pan, you can also make it in a muffin tin for individual portions! Just reduce baking time.

Tips

  • Mix it up directly in the loaf pan for easy cleanup! 
  • Serve with honey butter
  • If you’re not a beer drinker, you can frequently find beers sold individually in your grocery store as well.  
  • Brush honey butter on top for a beautiful glisten and added flavor.

Store

  • At Room Temperature – Covered in plastic wrap or in a ziplock bag up to 3 days.
  • Refrigerated – Covered in plastic wrap or in a ziplock up to 5 days. It will soften the crust and add to the beer flavor.
  • Freeze – Freeze covered in plastic wrap or foil and place in a freezer bag to prevent freezer odors from seeping in up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Video

Calories: 208kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 276mg | Potassium: 170mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1.8mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

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54 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This not only smelled amazing while it was baking but it was so tasty we devoured it in about 15 minutes… next time Im making 2 loaves!