So, while we still don’t know if they use meat to brew the beer, I have heard that Guinness can be great for cooking meat, especially in slow cookers. I’ve found numerous recipes online for beef stew using Guinness, it seem to be fairly popular! I’ve never tried it myself, but I would definitely be up for it.

This stew can be prepared a day or so in advance. Refrigerate it tightly covered. Remove and discard any congealed fat from the surface then reheat gently.

SLOW-COOKER BEEF AND GUINNESS STEW

• 3 pounds boneless beef chuck, trimmed, cut into 11/2-inch pieces

• 1/2 cup flour

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

• 1 large (14 ounces) yellow onion, coarsely chopped

• 1 can (14.9 ounces) Guinness Draught beer or 1 3/4 cups Guinness Extra Stout

• 4 cloves garlic, chopped

• 1 can (141/2 ounces) beef broth

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

• 2 bay leaves

• 2 small sprigs fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried

• 1 pound small red boiling potatoes, halved

• 3 carrots, peeled, cut into 1-inch chunks

• 1/2 small rutabaga, peeled, cut into 1-inch chunks

• 1 package (17 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package, optional

Pat the beef dry with paper towels. Combine the flour, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Add the beef; toss to coat well with the flour. Reserve the remaining seasoned flour for later.

Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet. Add the beef in batches in a single, uncrowded layer. Cook until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes per batch. Transfer to a slow-cooker. Add the onion to the skillet; cook until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the Guinness and garlic; boil 1 minute, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the mixture to the slow-cooker.

Add the broth, parsley, bay and thyme to the slow-cooker. Cover; cook on low until meat is almost tender, 21/2 to 3 hours. Sprinkle in the reserved seasoned flour; stir. Add potatoes, carrots and rutabaga. Cover; cook on high until tender, about 1 hour. Taste pan juices; adjust seasonings.

If serving the stew with the pastry crust, heat oven to 400 degrees. Cut pastry sheets into quarters. Place on 2 baking sheets; pierce several times with a fork. Bake until crisp and golden, about 10 minutes. Spoon a portion of the hot stew into individual dishes. Top with a pastry square.

Note: To cook stew in the oven, transfer the browned meat and onion mixture to a large Dutch oven. Proceed with the recipe as directed; cook, tightly covered, in a 325-degree oven until meat is fork-tender, about 2 hours. Add vegetables, cover the pot and return to the oven until the vegetables are tender, about 1 hour. Makes 8 servings.

• Per serving: 493 calories, 53 percent of calories from fat, 28 g fat, 9 g saturated fat, 105 mg cholesterol, 22 g carbohydrates, 36 g protein, 539 mg sodium, 3 g fiber

(recipe from http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com)