I quit buying bread in the store a couple of years ago. I just couldn’t handle the long ingredient lists full of things I didn’t recognize and couldn’t pronounce. Eventually, I fell into a rhythm of making all my own bread. (On the Journal, we’ve documented how easy and affordable it is to make bread at home.) Whenever I find myself short on time or just simply too impatient to wait for bread to sit through two proofings, I default to beer bread.

Beer bread is a quick bread that doesn’t call for yeast. Instead, the yeast in the beer interacts with sugar to help the dough rise… yielding BREAD!

After trying a couple of recipes, I’ve decided that the best recipe is from Gimme Some Oven. With only six ingredients and less than an hour from start to bread, it’s great when you’re short on time or otherwise feel overwhelmed by the idea of Making Bread.

One rainy weekend when riding outdoors was out of the question, I decided to put the Athletic Beer in my fridge to work. I had three different beers — Run Wild (IPA), Rise (Coffee Stout), and Upside Down (Golden Ale) — so why not make three loaves and compare?

It should go without saying that the three loaves were pretty distinct. After sharing some bread with my neighbor and fellow TBD racer, Corey Williams, we compiled the following tasting notes:

Run Wild IPA Beer Bread

Slightly bitter aroma with a subtle IPA taste.
This would make a great sandwich option for something like a grilled cheese.

Smooth Ascent Beer Bread

The most notable flavor with a “smack you in the face aroma.”
This would make a delicious breakfast bread with butter or even a little Nutella.

Upside Down Beer Bread

The mildest of the three, this tasted the most like a typical beer bread.
Upside Down bread would go well with a little butter and jam, or as a side to a flavorful soup.

Try these beers with your favorite beer bread recipe! Drop us a comment and let us know which one you like best. And if you are new to Athletic, use code TBD25 for 25% off your first order.