(Courtesy Sierra Nevada Brewing)

Festive foods take on new meaning when made with serious beer. And who doesn’t like pulled pork carnitas especially when the pork is cooked with the right IPA.

This tasty recipe originally came our way from Sierra Nevada Brewing. But that recipe used a Green Egg grill, (which not everybody has) so we offered some alternatives.

And it’s made using a Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA, 6.7% ABV India Pale Ale with fruit-forward flavor, a modest bitterness, and smooth finish.

And when you’re done pulling things together you can kick back with this popular Juice-bomb  until everything’s tender, juicy, and ready to go.

So let’s do this!

Hazy Little Thing IPA Pork Carnitas

Servings: 6–8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3–4 hours (or 8 hours in slow cooker)

Ingredients

• 3–4 lbs. pork shoulder (boneless, trimmed, cut into large chunks)
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped (optional for heat)
• Juice of 2 oranges (or ¾ cup orange juice)
• Juice of 2 limes
• 1 (12 oz) bottle of IPA beer (go for a citrus-forward IPA)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil (for searing)

Instructions:

Stovetop/Oven Method:

1. Season the pork:
   Combine salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, and paprika. Rub the spice mix all over the pork pieces.
2. Sear the meat:
   In a large Dutch oven or oven-safe pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sear pork chunks on all sides until browned. Remove and set aside.
3. Build the braise:
   In the same pot, sauté onions, garlic, and jalapeño until softened (about 5 minutes). Add the orange juice, lime juice, and IPA. Stir to combine.
4. Braise:
   Return pork to the pot, cover, and transfer to a 300°F (150°C) oven. Cook for 3 to 3½ hours, or until pork is fork-tender and easy to shred.
5. Shred & Crisp:
   Remove pork from liquid, shred with forks, and spread on a baking sheet. Drizzle with a few spoonful’s of the cooking liquid. Broil on high for 5–8 minutes until the edges are crispy.

Slow Cooker Method:

1. Sear pork as described above (optional but adds flavor).
2. Add all ingredients to a slow cooker.
3. Cook on Low for 8 hours or High for 4–5 hours.
4. Shred pork and crisp under broiler as described above.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve in corn tortillas with diced onion, cilantro, avocado, and a squeeze of lime.
• Use for nachos, rice bowls, or stuffed burritos.

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