Uncle George’s Beer Barbecue Sauce and Barbecue Chicken

Beer barbecue sauce – a mildly spicy sauce that’s super flavourful. The addition of beer just seems to suit a summer day

My Uncle George was an Englishman from Nottingham, England, the land of Robin Hood, Friar Tuck, and likely the occasional Medieval pig roast. He shared this recipe with my family back in the 1970s (when we still lit our grill with lighter fluid).

While we never did become a barbecue family, this sauce did help us along and has become a summer staple in our house. And a family friend now gives it as gifts, which I think is brilliant. Because, really, who wants to buy store bought barbecue sauce when you can easily have a nice fresh batch of homemade?

We have always made beer barbecue sauce with a locally brewed lager but I had a note from someone who tried it with a sturdy stout beer and had great success.

So take your pick. The world is full of wonderful craft beer so experiment to find your favourite.

This is a mildly spicy sauce that’s super flavourful. The addition of beer just seems to suit a summer day.

Use it on chicken, steak, vegetables or whatever else you like to grill. It’s great for “oven barbecuing” too.

Uncle George’s Beer Barbecue Sauce

½ cup fancy molasses
¼ cup Dijon mustard
½ cup chili sauce
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
½ cup minced onion
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
½ cup beer

Combine in a saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes.

Brush barbecue sauce on grillables during the last few minutes of grilling. (If you brush it on too early the sauce will burn before your meat is cooked through.)

Cooked over indirect heat this barbecued chicken stays moist and is extra flavourful.

Salt-Brined Barbecued Chicken

Bathed in a salty brine and cooked over indirect heat this barbecued chicken stays moist and is extra flavourful.

4 quarts of cool water
1 cup coarse sea salt
3-4 pounds of chicken (1/2 a chicken or skin-on, bone-in chicken pieces)
2-4 Tbs olive oil for brushing
1-2 cloves garlic, cut in half
Freshly ground black pepper
Beer Barbecue Sauce

In a large pot combine water and salt. Stir a few times to start the salt dissolving. Add chicken, cover and place in the fridge for six hours or overnight.

When ready to cook preheat barbecue to medium and keep the lid closed.

Remove chicken from brine, pat dry.

Rub with garlic, brush with oil, season with pepper.

Turn off one burner, place chicken on “off” side of the grill, and brush with barbecue sauce.

Close lid and cook until done, flipping half way through and re-basting with sauce. (Baste as often as you like.)

(Cooking time will depend on the kind of chicken you’re coking).