Ingredients

2 lbs beef brisket,

trimmed and cut into

large 2-inch dice

coarse salt and coarse

ground pepper to taste

about 2 tbsp Wondra

flour

about 5 tbsp canola oil

2 cups Portobello

mushroom caps,

wiped clean and diced

(2 large)

2 cloves garlic, minced

Vegetable mix (all

peeled): 1 ‘A cups

white or red pearl on-

ions (about 8 oz),1 cup

diced carrots (2 medi-

um),1 cup diced cele-

riac or celery root (1

medium),1 cup diced

rutabaga or turnip (1

large)

2 bottles brown lager

(Wild Goose if you can

find it) or brown ale

2 cups beef broth or

stock

1 cup diced large Yukon-

gold potato

3 tsp malt vinegar

4 sprigs fresh thyme,

leaves picked from

the stem

2 small sprigs rosemary,

leaves picked from

the stem and roughly

chopped

Preparation

Generously season all sides of the beef with salt and pepper and lightly dust with Wondra flour.. Add the cano- la oil to a Dutch oven and place over high heat. When oil is almost to smoking point (Or shimmering in the pan), brown the meat in small batches, turning to sear all sides and removing each batch as it is finished.. When all brisket is browned and removed from pot, add mushrooms and roast in the residual beef fat until browned. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until just softened (but not colored), about three minutes. Remove and reserve Add vegetable mix and cook, stirring frequently, allowing onion to brown, about ten minutes. Re- move vegetables.. Return beef to the pot and add lager. Bring beer to a boil, then reduce heat, skimming any fat from the surface using a spoon or ladle. Reduce the beer by 1/4, about eight minutes. (Pay attention-it’ll re- duce quickly.) Add the beef broth or stock.. Cover and simmer over very low heat until meat is starting to be- come tender-about one hour-then add the potato and the browned vegetable mix.. Check stew after an- other hour: If simmering very slowly, the meat should be fork-tender at this point. Add vinegar and adjust seasoning to taste. Stir in the herbs and the mushrooms to heat through. Serve.