Marinate Bacon?

blakeas

So, here in Cleveland there is a market called the Westside market.  There is vendor there that had Christmas Ale bacon (local brewery here called great lakes that produces a beer around xmas called Christmas Ale).  This vendor either marinates or douses or something with this ale on the bacon.  I have some of those ales and wanted to do the same thing.  Do I just pour it over the bacon ?  do I add anything to it other than the ale?  Never had marinated bacon before so I wasn't sure

LetsEat

While I'm not familiar with Christmas Ale bacon, Americas Test Kitchen has demonstrated bacon panfried with water. Sliced bacon is placed in a frying pan, covered with water, and fried until the water evaporates and the bacon is crisp. It would be interesting to substitute beer for the water which does not add to the flavor profile. If you try this, please report back. I'm curious as to the results. 

blakeas

so I cant really put the bacon in a bag and pour beer over it to marinate it?

Legume

To be clear, I'm just half-assed guessing here, but I cant see the fat taking up any flavor from a watery marinade.  The meat part of the bacon might take up some, but I would think you would need something more concentrated - there's already quite a bit of salt sucked into that meat from curing and beer alone would probably just pull salt out of the bacon.  I don't think what you want to do is very likely after the bacon has been cured.

I would say try the cooking method @LetsEat suggested, then next time try to marinate pork belly in something like beer that has been reduced before you cure it.

500

I picked up this Guinness brined brisket for St. Patty's Day. I would that it, and the Ale Bacon were done the same way, brined or cured with beer. I would agree that the normal  bacon wouldn't take the beer. It would have to be done during the cure. My thoughts. And I like Hreat Lakes Brewery beer. I get some everything time we go to visit the inlaws in Parma Heights. 

stompbox

Why not ask them?