If your barbecue is still stashed away in storage from last season, but your barbecue cravings just can’t wait, you can fake the flavor of smokey pulled pork in your very own kitchen. A slow cooker, a good rub and a great beer are all the components you need to make a simple, slow cooked pork shoulder worthy of smothering in your favorite barbecue sauce. Pulled pork has always been a favorite of mine. Messy, flavorful and dripping with sauce, there’s something so satisfying about sinking your teeth into this classic Southern-style sandwich. I used Redhook Brewery’s Longhammer IPA to give the pork an infusion of flavor. Loaded with hops, this medium body ale adds the perfect flavor to your feast. Serve alongside coleslaw and baked beans and you’ll forget it’s still spring and enjoy this sunshine.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 7 hours
Serves: 10
Ingredients:
1 5-pound pork shoulder
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons paprika
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup Redhook Longhammer IPA
1 diced yellow onion
Directions:
In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, kosher salt and pepper.
Place pork shoulder on a cutting board and vigorously coat with rub, making sure that the entire pork shoulder is completely coated. Place pork shoulder in slow cooker. Add beer and onion. Cover and cook on high for 7 hours. Once the pork shoulder has finished cooking, drain excess liquid and shred meat with fork.
Serve on your favorite bun or bread and smother with barbecue sauce. This meat is great to make ahead of time and store for simple dinners when you don’t feel like cooking.
