Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a loaf pan (mine is 9x5)
Mix together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and 1 tsp of the garlic powder.
Fold in the cheddar and mix until everything is well combined.
Pour in the beer, and mix until just combined – mixture will be lumpy – don’t overmix!
Melt the butter, and mix in the remaining 1 tsp garlic powder.
Transfer the batter into the pan, and pour over the garlic butter.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes (loaf will be brown on top, and a toothpick will come out clean when testing).
Allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack.
Slice with a serrated knife and spread with butter if you choose!
Devour.
Notes
What kind of beer to use in beer bread? Use a good one! Seriously, just use a beer that you enjoy (we like a lager in this recipe, but pilsner is also good!)
What about alcohol? Cooking with beer is totally fine, we're using it for the flavor - not the alcohol - which is great because cooking it evaporates the alcohol! Let your kids have a slice!
What should I eat with this? Personally, I like a little butter on mine. But it's AWESOME with Chili and Soup and is a great sub for Cornbread.
How do you know it's cooked? Stick a toothpick into it! It should come out clean. The top will be golden.
Mix a little Italian seasoning into the topping. It will remind you a little of Red Lobster Biscuits!
Wait until the beer bread has cooled enough before slicing. If you cut into it too soon, it will be stodgy. Stodgy is not good.