As the sun warms overhead and bronze bodies line the beach, thoughts of easy cooking fill your head. Outdoor grilling becomes a passion, making no exception for the occasional rainy day. Torrential downpours and thunderstorms can be a problem, but the seasoned griller with the right equipment transitions easily enough to indoor grill surfaces. Discover your preferences, and delicious brochettes of beer marinated beef or beer-can chicken are right around the corner.

Grills and Grilling Tools

Outdoor Grills:

Charcoal Grill – Direct method – food is placed directly over the coals, opening lid only to flip foods

Gas Grill – Direct Method – preheat grill with burners on high, place food on cooking grate, then adjust the burners to appropriate temperature. Open only to flip food.

Charcoal Grill – Indirect Method – place a drip pan under meat (e.g. a whole chicken) with coals on either side of the pan. Add water to drip pan to keep grease from burning. Place meat on grate above drip pan. Open lid only to baste meat. Baste often.

Gas Grill – Indirect Method – preheat with all burners on high. Then, turn off burners beneath meat, but adjust burners on the sides to the appropriate temp. Place the meat on a roasting rack inside a disposable heavy gauge foil pan. Add water to pan to prevent drippings from burning.

Indoor Grills:

Infusion Grills – Have grilling ridges to add caramelized lines to foods, while liquid in the infusion cup steams the food and adds moisture during cooking.

Click for detailed info:  Indoor and Outdoor Grills .

Tools for Grilling:

Vertical Chicken Roasters – Used for Beer Butt Chicken Recipes, these may be fashioned in a bent wire form (you must use a beer can for these), or may be wok style with a center hull, or reservoir, allowing you the versatility to pour beer from a bottle into the center, rather than using a beer can.

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How to Make Beer Can Chicken

Beer can chicken was the brainchild of Steven Raichlen, the offbeat, creative king of the barbecue. This easy recipe keeps the meat moist, enhances herbal flavors, and creates a tasty, crisp outer skin.

Recommended beer:

Choose a beer style, rich in caramellized flavors, to echo the caramelization that occurs naturally when cooking chicken or turkey. Fruity beers can add a surprizing hint of zest to meats. Adjust your spices to suit the style of beer used. Brown Ales, Scottish Ales, Porters, or Barleywines are my favorites for this recipe:

Meantime London Porter – English Porter – Meantime Brewing Company, Greenwich, London, UK
Newcastle Brown Ale - English Brown Ale – Newcastle Breweries, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
Turbo Dog – English Brown Ale -Abita Brewing Company, Abita Springs, Louisiana, USA
Hazelnut Brown Nectar – American Brown Ale - Rogue Ales Brewery/Brewers on the Bay, Newport, Oregon, USA
Samuel Adams Scotch Ale – Scottish Ale - Boston Beer Company, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Allagash Musette – Scottish Ale/Wee Heavy - Allagash Brewing Company, Portland, Maine, USA
Old Horizontal – American Barleywine - Victory Brewing Company, Downingtown, Pennsylvania, USA
Anchor Old Foghorn – American Barleywine - Anchor Brewing Company, San Francisco, California, USA

Ingredients:

1 Roaster Chicken, cleaned and rinsed
¼ C. olive oil
½ C. Turbinado Sugar
2 tablespoons Dippy Chick “It’s Okay Bayou Cajun Mix”
1 tablespoon Caribbean Jerk Seasoning
1/8 teaspoon thyme
¼ teaspoon parsley flakes
Hickory chips, soaked in water and beer for 1 hour

Presentation – Remove chicken from roaster after allowing to set for 5 minutes. Be very careful not to spill the beer in the reservoir or can. Place chicken on on a serving platter, garnished with roasted veggies.

Cheers!
Grills come in all shapes and sizes, from this standard, easy-to-use gas grill to simple and super-deluxe models. Grilling is fun and there is nothing quite so satisfying as that outdoor flavor.

Weber 586002 Q 320 Portable Outdoor Gas Grill