Deep-Fried Beer Invented in Texas [UPDATED]

A Texas chef has created the world's first recipe for deep-fried beer:

The beer is placed inside a pocket of salty, pretzel-like dough and then dunked in oil at 375 degrees for about 20 seconds, a short enough time for the confection to remain alcoholic.

When diners take a bite the hot beer mixes with the dough in what is claimed to be a delicious taste sensation.

Inventor Mark Zable said it had taken him three years to come up with the cooking method and a patent for the process is pending. He declined to say whether any special ingredients were involved.

His deep-fried beer will be officially unveiled in a fried food competition at the Texas state fair later this month.

[Read the whole thing]

My Comments:
Living out of state for so long means that it's been years since I attended the Texas State Fair. I think I'm going to miss it even more acutely this year.


UPDATE
Big Tex had a post on this topic at The pALEocon just a few days ago.

A Special Pro Ecclesia Thanks ...

... to the Cranky Con himself, Paul Zummo for meeting me for an evening of fine cigars, draught beer, and excellent conversation at Shelley's Back Room in Washington, D.C.

I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to finally meet you in person, Paul.

Bishop Blair Speaks Recently at Theology on Tap

From The Catholic Chronicle:

FOSTORIA—Bishop Leonard P. Blair recounted his memories of Pope John Paul II, discussed the issue of parish closings and shared his reasons for being Catholic with an audience of about 75 people in Fostoria March 4.

The bishop discussed these and other topics during an hour-long question and answer session at The R Place as part of Theology on Tap, a monthly Catholic program for young adults that was introduced in Fostoria last fall.

[...]

Bishop Blair was also asked to share his reasons for being Catholic during the program.

“Why should anybody be a Catholic? Because of the thing that the modern world doesn’t believe exists anymore, and that is truth,” said Bishop Blair.

“Pope John Paul and Pope Benedict have spent all their time talking about this. But our world is skeptical about truth; it doesn’t believe there’s any absolute truth. You have yours, I have mine, who’s to say? But to be a Catholic, and I would submit to be a Christian, you are a Christian because you believe the truth of Jesus Christ — that He is the Way, and the Truth and the Life; and furthermore, to be a member of the body of Christ and to be a part of Christ, you have to be a member of His body; and to be a member of His body is to be a member of the Church. He said you cannot have life within you unless you eat my body and drink my blood, and where are you going to get that, except in the church?

“So ultimately the simple answer is, I am a Catholic because I believe it’s true,” said Bishop Blair. “And I don’t believe that there’s any other place to find the fullness of that truth.”

Reminder for Tomorrow: Don't Drink Green Beer!

If you want a real Irish beer to imbibe in honor of the Feast of St. Patrick, then Smithwick's Irish Ale is the one I recommend.


Smithwick's (pronounced "Smithick's" or "Smiddick's") is brewed in the 12th Century St. Francis Abbey in Kilkenny, Ireland (I've been there and tasted my first pint of Smithwick's in a nearby pub), and is touted as "Ireland's Oldest Ale", dating from 1710.

Links:

Smithwick's Wikipedia entry

Brewery with its own abbey - it must be Ireland

Here comes Smithwick's

Smithwick's: The new Irish option

Green beer? Blarney. Real Irish ale rules

Irish Ales - Wexford Irish Cream Ale and Smithwick's (Beervana blog)

Previous Pro Ecclesia posts on this subject:
Don't Drink Green Beer!

Lent Beer

Here's something I won't be giving up for Lent ... I'm delighted to report the following about my domestic beer of choice - Shiner Bock:

Shiner Bock — Shiner's flagship beer. Bock has been brewed since 1913, almost as long as the Spoetzl Brewery has been in business. However, it wasn't until a few decades ago that Shiner began producing Bock year-round. Bock was considered a lent beer, and therefore was only made around that season.

Source: Wikipedia entry for "Spoetzl Brewery" (emphasis added).

Here's more:

Shiner: The town was named after Henry Shiner, who donated 250 acres to get it started in 1887.

Bock: A type of wheat-based lager, this beer was popular among monks who needed sustenance during the fasting season of Lent.

Spoetzl Brewery: Kosmos Spoetzl was the Bavarian brewmaster who bought the brewery in 1915 and started brewing what would become Shiner Bock.

Source: Dallas Morning News story "Deciphering the label of a Shiner Bock", May 30, 2008 (emphasis added).

So, I'm going to follow the example of the monks who drank bock during Lent, and continue to drink Shiner Bock throughout the Lenten season. Because I'm going to need some sustenance during my fast from sweets and soda pop.

+:-)