The Very First Step You Can't Skip Before Cooking With Beer (But Many People Do)

Exclusives

The Very First Step You Can't Skip Before Cooking With Beer (But Many People Do) By Rolland Judd Dec. 6, 2025 9:00 pm EST

From bread to cheese, there's no shortage of compelling ways to incorporate the flavor of beer into gastronomic delights. Steaming mussels in suds or adding a splash of beer to popular Indian fare elevates the taste of each dish in ways few other ingredients can. However, folks commonly get too excited about cooking with a tasty brew and forget to sample the product beforehand, making the flavor profile a bit of a mystery until someone takes the first bite.

When The Takeout spoke with Karen Malzone, co-owner of Odd Bird Brewing in Stockton, New Jersey, she urged people to take a moment to appreciate the flavor of the beer they're using to upg