Who doesn't enjoy a nice refreshing beverage while grilling up ones favorite food?  Today we're taking the marriage of beer and barbecue one step further with an epic reverse seared steak recipe created as part of the 2016 #GuinnessBBQChallenge and featuring Guinness Blonde American Lager battered fried onion strings and a Meyer lemon "beer blanc" sauce!

GRILLED RIBEYE WITH GUINNESS BATTERED ONION STRINGS & MEYER LEMON BEER BLANC SAUCE

Ingredients

2 boneless ribeye steaks, approximately 1.5-inch thick

Kosher salt and ground black pepper

Meyer lemon beer blanc sauce (recipe follows)

Beer battered onion strings (recipe follows)

Instructions

Prepare grill for 2 zone cooking, placing pre-heated charcoal briquets on one half of the grill's charcoal grate to create a hot and cool zone.  Add 2-3 chunks of your favorite smoking wood to the charcoal then replace the main cooking grate and cover the grill.  Adjust the grill's bottom vents to bring the temperature to approximately 350 degrees.

Season both sides of the steaks well with Kosher salt and ground black pepper.  Place the steak on the cool side of the grill as far from the charcoal as possible.  Allow steaks to smoke until they reach an internal temperature of 115 degrees.  Move steaks to the hot side of the grill and grill for 3-4 minutes per side until they are nicely charred and have reached an internal temperature of 125 degrees (carryover heat will bring the steak to medium-rare).

Allow steaks to rest for five minutes then top with Meyer lemon beer blanc sauce and Guinness Blonde American Lager battered fried onion strings.  Enjoy!

MEYER LEMON BEER BLANC SAUCE

Ingredients

1 tsp. minced shallots

1 cup Guinness Blonde American Lager

3 tbsp. Meyer lemon juice

1/4 cup heavy cream

12 tbsp. unsalted butter

Kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Place shallots, beer, and lemon juice in a medium saucepan and simmer over medium-high heat until reduced to approximately 2 tbsp. of liquid.  Reduce heat to low and whisk in the heavy cream.  Add butter one tbsp. at a time while constantly whisking to allow the sauce to fully emulsify.  Continue cooking the sauce until it has achieved a sauce-like consistency.  Add salt and pepper to taste and keep warm until ready to serve.

BEER BATTERED FRIED ONION STRINGS

Ingredients

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup Guinness Blonde American Lager

2 eggs

1/2 tsp Kosher salt

Canola oil for deep frying

1 small onion sliced as thinly as possible with a chef's knife or mandoline

Instructions

Combine flour, baking powder, beer, eggs, and salt in a medium mixing bowl and blend well until smooth.  Add canola oil to a pot, filling it 2-3 inches high.  Heat oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 375 degrees.  Working in batches, dip onions to the batter then remove and add to the oil, stirring with a long spoon to keep them from clumping together as they fry.  Allow the onions to fry for 2-3 minutes until nicely browned.  Remove onions and allow them to drain on paper towels until ready to serve.

* FULL DISCLOSURE: Guinness covered the cost for the creation of this recipe. No further compensation was received.