just a smidgen

Roaring Lions Winter Ale Chili

Winter Ale Chili Best

 

One of my most curious discoveries of Cross-Country Skiing was the sound your skis make behind you.. you could be convinced someone is following you. This poem sprang from that feeling of someone “lurking” behind, the lengthening shadow as it comes around and stands in front of you while you finish your route.. and the power of the harsh cold contrasting with the deceiving allure of a freshly bright winter’s day.

One should always travel with provisions, a map or a compass.

The Hunted Poem- Best Res

This was the view as we headed up the Silver Star Mountain road…

Winter Ale 7 And this was the view down the trail..

Winter Ale 5This was the gang.. notice us standing beside the same set of signs..  twice.. with map in hand..
{ note daughter rolling her eyes at the “adults” who should know their way around..}

Cross Country Collage 2012

Fortunately for us, my daughter brought out her iPhone compass App
and with a Good Samaritan’s Guidance..
we looped around the same trail twice, never found the Black Prince Cabin,
but got back to the pub in time for a well-earned meal and a few..
Granville Island Lions Winter Ale

snow flake flourish

There’s something about snow, fresh air and cross-country skiing..
that tuckers you out..and makes you ravenous..
for something steaming hot to warm your belly..

..and makes you long for an icy cold beer to wash it down.

Last winter, after traveling the same Silver Star trails last January, I made a batch of Wylie’s Winter Ale Bison Stew
Bison Stewbut this year.. I wanted to experiment again.

snow flake flourishLions Winter Ale appears just in time for our deep snow and weeks of icy winter…
notably around January. Eagerly anticipated for its seasonal vanilla flavor,
its warm creamy caramel notes finish with just a hint of citrus.
I could swear I taste cloves in there too..
but you get the idea.

At first I thought it would be great to have beer with chili..
and then thought it would be awesome to have beer in chili!!

{ Then I really had to toss in a chunk or two of bittersweet chocolate }

{ and a teaspoonful of cinnamon to play off the flavors in the Winter Ale }

This chili is the perfect end to a day of playing in the snow..
whether it’s skiing, snowboarding, tubing, tobogganing or building snowmen..

Note: I made this one sizzling hot, so reduce the cayenne and peppers if you must,
or just crack open an extra cold beer to cool things down..Winter Ale Chili 4

 

Roaring Lions Winter Ale Chili
 
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Ingredients
  • 3 lbs lean ground beef
  • 4 thick slices bacon, chopped
  • 1/2 sweet large onion, chopped
  • 1 red pepper diced
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, minced (reduce or omit to taste)
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper (reduce or omit to taste)
  • 3 heaping tsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 2 tsp powdered cumin
  • 1 tsp powdered cinnamon
  • 1 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1 bottle (12 oz) Lion’s Winter Ale (Granville Island Brewing Company)
  • 1 14 oz (398 ml) red kidney beans
  • 1 14 oz (398 ml) brown beans
  • 1 14 oz (398 ml) tomato sauce
  • 2 oz dark, unsweetened chocolate (70% cacao)
Instructions
  1. Brown the ground beef in a large dutch oven over medium high heat until it is cooked through and no pink remains. Meanwhile, fry the chopped slices of bacon in a frying pan over medium high heat. Add the chopped onion and continue to cook until the onion is softened. Spoon onto paper towels and pat well to remove excess oil. Add the bacon and onion mixture to the ground beef. Stir in the red pepper, jalapeno pepper, and spices (from cayenne to the salt). Stir and continue to cook until the red pepper begins to soften somewhat. Stir in the maple syrup.
  2. Slowly add the Lion’s Winter Ale, both kidney and brown beans and the tomato sauce. Stir gently to mix. Add the bittersweet chocolate and stir slowly until it is melted and mixed through.
  3. Simmer until ready to serve. Add extra Winter Ale to achieve the desired consistency.
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