This Stout Rye Pumpkin Sourdough is the BOM

This Stout Rye Pumpkin Sourdough artisan loaf, made with stout and sourdough, is not your average loaf made with beer. It’s a tasty and crusty loaf that isn’t sweet at all.

When you think of beer bread, if the image of a quick bread made with soda is what comes to mind, then I challenge you to get out of your comfort zone and try this bread.  This Stout, Rye, and Pumpkin Sourdough is not your average loaf made with beer, and this is a good thing.  I enjoyed this bread.

I’m not a huge fan of beer bread although I’ve made a few that I enjoyed, particularly ones that included rye flour.  For the most part, the beer breads I tried before were too sweet and sort of empty of flavor. The taste and texture contradicted what my taste buds were expecting; however, not so with this bread. This artisan loaf is not sweet at all.

And to think, I almost didn’t make it.  This was the bread of the month for December for the Artisan Bread Bakers FB group and my first thought was, “I think I’ll skip this one.”  Then I started seeing photos popping up on FB of the beautiful breads the other bakers in the group had made and it looked like a bread worth trying.  I’m so glad I decided to make it.

This bread reminds me of Ireland because it’s made with Stout.  It’s an exceptional loaf.

It takes a couple of days from start to finish to develop the flavor of this loaf.  Don’t let that discourage you from trying it.  Most of the time, the dough is fermenting. Good bread takes a while to develop the flavor. It is worth the wait so just plan according.

For instance, if you want to serve the bread for Sunday Dinner, start the levain Friday evening and let it rest overnight at room temperature.  Make the final dough on Saturday, place it in the proofing basket, and let it cold ferment in the refrigerator overnight. Then take it out of the fridge on Sunday when you are ready to bake it.

Reflections on baking this Stout, Rye and Pumpkin Sourdough Bread in a cold Dutch Oven instead of a preheated Dutch Oven Combo Baker

Shared by Rod in Dallas (11/2/2017)

I wanted to give you my reflections on the Stout, Rye and Pumpkin Sourdough Bread.

First, I found the dough so slack that I only turned it once as it was so tender. So I let it ferment for several hours at room temp before putting it in the fridge . Then I retarded for the 24 hours. When I set up the bake, I turned the cold dough out onto a piece of parchment and popped it into a cold Dutch oven, slashed, covered and placed DO in the lower third of the oven. I turned the (cold) oven to 425°F and set timer for 30 mins. Then uncovered and baked for another 45 mins and voilà…

It was a no knead situation! I was thrilled…my third successful sourdough loaf! Tickled pink! 

I had a couple of slices when I got home from Mass this afternoon and I’ve never tasted Sourdough bread so delicious (I don’t really like it or so I thought!) this is one tasty loaf! The Guinness makes it so “chocolaty”. I highly suggest using a cold Dutch Oven over an unwieldy super heated cast iron. Set the time as soon as you turn the oven on and remove the lid and bake uncovered for another 30-45 mins more. I’ve never encounter a sourdough crumb like this one! It’s just spectacular!

Pax et Bonum,
Rod Ferris

 

Stout Rye Pumpkin Sourdough

(Makes 1 loaf)

The oven spring on this loaf is phenomenal.  It just pops during the bake cycle.  The crust and crumb are exceptional as well.  I baked it in a Dutch Oven Combo Baker, but you can use any type of Dutch oven to bake this loaf.

 

Directions:

Day 1 (Morning): Feed sourdough starter

The morning of the day before you plan to make this loaf, feed your sourdough starter so that it is active and ready to go.

Day 1 (Evening): Prepare the levain

Prepare your levain the evening before you plan to make the dough.

• 45g starter (100% hydration)
• 150g Stout beer – room temperature
• 150g Rye flour

Place the sourdough starter in a medium bowl and pour the stout over it. Stir to break up the starter.  Add in the rye flour and mix the ingredients until the flour is completely hydrated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let it ferment at room temperature overnight (8-12 hours, depending on your starter). The mixture will not double but become fluffy and airy.  I let mine rest for the full 12 hours.

Day 2: Prepare the Final Dough

• All of the levain
• 165g Stout
• 165g warm water
• 50g pumpkin puree
• 500g Bread flour
• 10g sea salt

Combine the levain with the stout, water, and pumpkin. Add the flour and mix until it is incorporated into a shaggy mass.

Cover the dough and let it autolyse (rest) for 30 – 60 min. Allowing the dough to rest before adding the salt, helps the gluten begin to develop and keeps the dough from getting tough.

After the autolyse, add the salt, and mix until fully incorporated. Add a few drops of water to help dissolve the salt, if necessary. Mix the dough for a few minutes on low/med speed on the mixer, or use the fold-and-turn method in the bowl if you are doing this by hand.

Turn the dough out into a greased bowl. Perform a series of folds, then cover tightly with plastic wrap. Repeat stretch/folds every 30 min for the first two hours. After the first two hours, bulk ferment on the counter for an additional 1 -2 hours.

Turn the dough out onto the counter or wooden board, cover, and bench rest for 10 min. Prepare a round banneton or linen-lined basket or bowl by dusting it with brown or white rice flour. Shape dough into boule, and place in the banneton.

If you place the dough seam side down, when it is turned out into the Dutch oven, the seam should open up naturally in the oven without having to slash the dough. If you prefer to score the dough before baking, place the boule seam side up in the basket.

Place dough in a plastic bag and cold ferment in the fridge (12 – 24 hours).

Day 3: Bake the Loaf

Preheat the oven to 500F (260C) for at least 40 minutes with a cast iron Dutch Oven on the middle rack. You’ll bake the dough directly from the fridge so don’t remove the proofing basket until you are ready to flip the loaf into the pot.

Carefully turn the dough out into a combo cooker or Dutch oven, slash (if your seam is down), cover, and put in the oven.

I decided to try it with the seam side down in the basket; however, when I turned it over into the combo baker, the seam was mostly gone so I ended up scoring it anyway.

Reduce temperature to 475F (245C) and bake covered for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, carefully remove the lid, reduce oven temp to 450F (232C), and continue baking for an additional 25 minutes, or until the crust turns a dark chestnut brown. Don’t be afraid to bake strong for a dark flavorful crust.

Cool on a wire rack for 90 minutes before slicing.

 

I’m sending this Stout, Rye & Pumpkin Sourdough to be yeastspotted.

I had fun with this one.  I decided to make a collage of the ingredients and post it on FB to see if anyone could figure out what I was making. Fortunately, someone was watching and guessed it. Thank you.

 

Happy Baking!

Cathy