• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Urban Bliss Life logo

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • contact
  • shop
  • cookbooks
  • cooking classes
  • resources
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • 30-Minute Meals
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Asian recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Cookie Recipes
    • Dairy-free Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Entertaining Recipes
    • Filipino Recipes
    • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • 5 Ingredients
    • Kid-Friendly Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Make-Ahead Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Snack Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cocktail Recipes
    • Dog Treats
  • Wine
    • Oregon Wine Guide
    • Washington Wine
    • California Wine
    • Food and Wine Pairing
    • Wine Country
    • Wine Tips & Wine Pairings
  • Travel
    • Europe
      • Greece
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Liechtenstein
      • The Netherlands
      • Switzerland
      • The UK (United Kingdom)
    • Canada
    • USA travel
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • Oregon Travel Ideas
      • Utah
      • Washington
      • New Orleans
    • Travel Gear
    • Japan
    • Travel Tips
    • Hotels
    • Family Travel
  • Restaurants
  • About
    • Work With Urban Bliss Life
    • Press
    • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Fall Recipes
  • All Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • About
  • Work With Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Urban Bliss Life » All Recipes » Holiday Recipes » St Patricks Day » Guinness Brown Bread

    Published: February 21, 2022 / Updated: March 16, 2023 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Guinness Brown Bread

    72 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    slices of Guinness Brown Bread and a Guinness beer with text overlay
    loaf of Irish brown bread with a Guinness beer and text overlay

    This Guinness Brown Bread is rich and flavorful. A hearty snack on its own, it's also an ideal companion for dunking into a piping hot Irish stew.

    slices of Guinness brown bread with pats of butter and a Guinness beer

    When I traveled to Ireland, I fell in love with the food. From the incredible restaurants in Dublin to the lovely coastal restaurants, bars, and cafes along the Wild Atlantic Way, I enjoyed Irish food everywhere I traveled.

    I know that surprises many people, but trust me: there is AMAZING food to be enjoyed while traveling in Ireland! And more than just corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes!

    One of the dishes I fell in love with was a side dish that was present in various forms at restaurants: Irish Guinness Brown Bread.

    Jump to:
    • 👍 Why this recipe works
    • ☘️ What is Guinness Brown Bread?
    • 🍞 Key ingredients
    • ✅ Step-by-step instructions
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs
    • 🥣 Kitchen tools and equipment
    • 🍽 How to serve Irish brown bread
    • 😉 Best drink pairings for brown bread
    • More bread recipes to try
    • Ireland Travel Articles
    • Guinness Brown Bread
    • Pin it

    👍 Why this recipe works

    • It's the perfect dish for a St. Patrick's Day party or dinner
    • This Guinness bread recipe makes enough for all your guests - 10 servings
    • Total cook time is just an hour from start to finish
    • It uses simply, easy-to-find ingredients

    ☘️ What is Guinness Brown Bread?

    loaf of Irish brown bread with a Guinness beer

    Guinness brown bread is technically a soda bread since it uses baking soda as the rising agent instead of yeast. However, it is not the same as what is known as Irish Soda Bread (see Recipe FAQs below for more details).

    🍞 Key ingredients

    Ingredients to make Irish Guinness brown bread

    Whole Wheat Flour - Whole wheat flour gives this bread its richness and weight.

    All-purpose flour - Using AP flour balances out the whole wheat flour, keeping the bread softer than if you used all whole wheat flour.

    Oats - Use old-fashioned oats, which are sometimes labeled as rolled oats. Do NOT use instant oats or steel cut oats.

    Baking soda & baking powder - Each is a leavening agent to help give the bread a hearty lift!

    Butter - Melt unsalted butter in the microwave, and then allow it to cool before adding it to the mixture.

    Brown sugar - Be sure to use dark brown sugar to get the proper taste and color in this bread.

    Guinness - The recipe calls for one 12-ounce can or glass of Guinness stout beer. You can also use any other stout beer, as long as it's not a flavored stout.

    Buttermilk - If you don't have buttermilk: Pour a cup of milk into a glass and squeeze about a tablespoon of lemon juice on top. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes, then stir. Voila! Homemade buttermilk.

    Salt - I use kosher salt.

    Vanilla - A little bit of vanilla extract goes a long way. This helps add that bakery fresh aroma and flavor to the bread.

    ✅ Step-by-step instructions

    Exact measurements of ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this post. Here are some helpful tips to guide you as you make this recipe.

    1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line an 8x5 loaf pan with parchment paper.

    dry ingredients in a bowl to make Guinness brown bread
    whisking dry bread batter ingredients in a bowl

    2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, dark brown sugar, oats, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

    Guinness beer added to batter
    adding buttermilk to batter
    adding melted butter to bread batter
    adding vanilla to bread batter

    3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the beer, buttermilk, melted & cooled butter, and vanilla.

    whisking dry bread batter ingredients in a bowl
    adding wet batter to dry ingredients
    whisking batter for Irish Guinness Brown Bread
    Guinness brown bread batter in a bowl

    4. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet mixture, stirring to combine.

    Guinness brown bread batter in a loaf pan
    baked Irish brown bread

    5. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Lower the temperature to 400°F then bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

    6. Allow the bread to cool slightly in the pan at room temperature before removing from the pan and serving.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

    slices of Guinness brown bread with pats of butter
    Is Guinness Brown Bread the same as soda bread?

    While it is similar to Irish soda bread, Guinness Brown Bread is different. Traditional Irish Soda Bread tends to be sweeter, whereas Guinness Brown Bread tends to be more savory. This recipe also calls for a mix of whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour, which creates a richer weight and texture compared to Irish Soda Bread, which usually consists of only all-purpose flour.

    Why does this recipe start at 450°F then drops to 400°F for the actual bake time?

    The initial higher temperature helps the bread rise better and faster, before the gluten has a chance to set. By the time the oven goes down to the lower temperature, the bread will have had a chance to rise without getting overbaked, and will then bake evenly for the remaining time in the oven.

    What's the best way to store brown bread?

    Store in an airtight container or bread box at room temperature for up to five days. You can also refrigerate the bread for up to one week. 

    Are old-fashioned oats the same as rolled oats?

    Yes. Old-fashioned oats are a type of rolled oats, so you may see packaging that uses one name or the other.

    Can I use steel cut oats instead?

    Unfortunately, you cannot substitute steel cut oats in this recipe. Steel cut oats take longer to cook than rolled oats and quick cooking oats. They also absorb less water. So using steel cut oats would completely change the end result of this brown bread recipe.

    🥣 Kitchen tools and equipment

    baked Irish brown bread

    For this Guinness beer bread recipe, you just need a few basic kitchen tools:

    Loaf pan - You'll need an 8 x 5 loaf pan to bake the bread.

    Parchment paper - Parchment paper helps keep the bread from sticking to the loaf pan.

    Mixing bowls - You'll need two large mixing bowls.

    Whisk - Use a sturdy whisk to mix all of the ingredients together.

    Spatula - use a silicone spatula to fold in the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and create the final batter.

    🍽 How to serve Irish brown bread

    Guinness Brown Bread with Irish Lamb Stew

    This Irish bread is absolutely delicious on its own - all it needs is a generous pat of smooth Irish butter.

    But it's also amazing when served with our Instant Pot Irish Lamb Stew.

    Or serve it with other soups like a classic Beef Bourguignon or Instant Pot Beef Stew. Simply break off pieces of the bread to scoop up some of the tasty soup!

    😉 Best drink pairings for brown bread

    loaf of Irish brown bread with a Guinness beer

    I'm sure you can guess which beer would pair well with this bread... ;)

    In addition to enjoying a slice of this Guinness Brown Bread with a pint of Guinness, it's also delicious with this Rosemary Citrus Old Fashioned.

    For a fun, NOT authentically Irish ;) non-alcoholic drink, try my McDonald's copycat Shamrock Shake recipe!

    More bread recipes to try

    • garlic rosemary focaccia bread in a baking sheet on bright blue background.
      Garlic Rosemary Focaccia Bread
    • pineapple bread
      Pineapple Bread
    • stack of sliced chocolate chip banana bread with loaded chocolate chips.
      Easy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
    • colorful plate with baked Filipino Pandesal rolls
      Filipino Pandesal Recipe

    Ireland Travel Articles

    Curious about the inspiration behind this recipe? Read all about my travels to Ireland:

    • Downpatrick Head
      Top 12 Things to Do in Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way
    • pictures of four plates of food with title text that reads "Best Places to Eat in Dublin, Ireland."
      Best Places to Eat in Dublin, Ireland
    • pint of Guinness beer at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin Ireland.
      Top 10 Tips for Visiting the Guinness Storehouse (Dublin, Ireland)
    • bed at Wilder Townhouse
      Where to Stay in Dublin, Ireland: Wilder Townhouse

    Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

    guinness brown bread with two dabs of butter.

    Guinness Brown Bread

    5 from 9 votes
    Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 45 minutes mins
    Total Time: 1 hour hr
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    This Irish brown bread is rich and comforting. Perfect on its own with a pat of Irish butter, or with a bowl of hot Irish stew.
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 242kcal
    PRINT PIN RATE 🤍 SAVESaved!

    Equipment

    • Loaf Pan

    Ingredients

    • 2¼ cup whole wheat flour
    • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup packed dark brown sugar
    • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
    • 2¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
    • 1 can (12 ounces) Guinness or other stout beer, at room temperature
    • 1 cup buttermilk
    • 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line an 8x5 loaf pan with parchment paper.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, dark brown sugar, oats, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
    • In a separate large bowl, whisk together the beer, buttermilk, melted & cooled butter, and vanilla.
    • Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, stirring to combine.
    • Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Lower the temperature to 400°F then bake for 45 minutes.

    Notes

    Makes: 1 loaf, which results in 10 to 12 slices, depending on how thickly you slice the bread. Nutritional value for each slice is based on 10 slices. 
    You can spread a dab of butter or lightly spray the inside of the loaf pan with baking/cooking spray before lining it with parchment paper. The butter or spray helps keep the parchment paper in place.
    Oven temp: Preheating the oven to a higher heat then turning the temperature down when it's time to bake the bread helps give the rising agents in the batter some extra lift. This helps create a taller bread. 
    Storage: Store in an airtight container or bread box at room temperature for up to five days. You can also refrigerate the bread for up to one week. 
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 784mg | Potassium: 180mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 217IU | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

    Pin it

    loaf of Irish brown bread with a Guinness beer and text overlay

    « Rosmarino Osteria
    The Setting Inn - Willamette Valley »
    72 shares

    Get recipes, travel tips, deals and more delivered to your inbox!

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Zelmo says

        March 12, 2022 at 9:39 pm

        5 stars
        Tried this incredibly easy to follow recipe tonite and results were fantastic! I would say it actually takes two beers...one for the bread and one for the baker!

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          March 28, 2022 at 12:48 pm

          5 stars
          So glad you loved it, Zelmo! And I like your beer math 😉

      2. Irena says

        February 23, 2022 at 6:11 pm

        5 stars
        I have never had beer bread although I know it's a thing. Now, add to it Guinness beer and I am totally obsessed with this recipe. I love Guinness cake and stew so it's right up my alley.

        Reply
      3. Tavo says

        February 23, 2022 at 5:18 pm

        5 stars
        The bread came out so rich! I loved the idea as soon as I saw it and had all the ingredients! The recipe is now part of my recipe's arsenal!

        Reply
      4. Sara says

        February 23, 2022 at 5:05 pm

        5 stars
        Oh my this bread was delicious, so rich! The addition of guinness created such an interesting flavour.

        Reply
      5. Emily says

        February 23, 2022 at 2:53 pm

        5 stars
        I have been obsessed with breads lately, mostly banana and zucchini bread. I can't wait to try this yummy soda bread for a change!

        Reply
      6. Andrea says

        February 23, 2022 at 2:42 pm

        5 stars
        This sounds fabulous! I'm a fan of beer bread and this Guinness Brown bread is calling my name. Yum!

        Reply

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

      Primary Sidebar

      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

      More about me →

      Featured In

      Urban Bliss Life Press Featured In graphic

      Holiday Recipes

      • christmas tree pull-apart bread with marinara sauce and herbs.
        Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread
      • Christmas charcuterie board with meats, cheeses, fruits, veggies, crackers, and Merry Christmas in cheese letters on a cutting board.
        Christmas Charcuterie Board
      • Cranberry Meatballs Recipe
      • plate full of snowflake sugar cookies decorated with royal icing and decorator sugar.
        Snowflake Cookies
      • garlic rosemary sirloin tip roast with potatoes on a platter.
        One-Pan Garlic Rosemary Sirloin Tip Roast and Potatoes
      • Soft Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies on a plate
        Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

      New Recipes

      • bowl of shrimp bisque with shrimp, corn, and carrots surrounded by fresh herbs.
        Shrimp and Corn Bisque
      • cinnamon pie with whipped cream on a pink background.
        Cinnamon Pie
      • Fireball cupcakes, margarita cupcakes, pina colada cupcakes, and chocolate stout cupcakes with title text overlay.
        30 Alcohol Infused Cupcakes
      • chocolate cake lemon cake, raspberry cake, and matcha cake with title text that reads "20 Air Fryer Cake Recipes."
        Air Fryer Cake Recipes

      New Travel Tips

      • exterior of the pan pacific hotel in whistler village centre in whistler bc canada.
        Pan Pacific Village Whistler
      • Oregon highway with title text that reads "Fall Road Trip Essentials."
        Fall Road Trip List of Essentials
      • fish and chips, green curry, cocktail and bar, and charcuterie board with title text that reads "Best Restaurants in Whistler BC."
        Whistler Restaurants
      • Marlynn Jayme Schotland holding a glass of Kazakhstan wine at Arba Winery with the Tian Shan mountains in the background.
        Exploring the Rich Heritage of Kazakhstan Wine: From Ancient Vineyards to Modern Wineries
      • Twitter
      • Facebook
      • Pinterest
      • Instagram
      • YouTube

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      logos of media outlets that have featured urban bliss life.

      Recipes

      • 30-Minute Meals
      • 5-Ingredients
      • Air Fryer
      • Asian
      • Dairy-Free
      • Pasta
      • Seafood

      About

      • About
      • FAQs
      • Privacy & Accessibility Policy
      • Terms & Conditions

      Contact

      • Contact
      • Work with me

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
      Copyright © 2022 Urban Bliss Life

      All rights reserved. You may not use any photos or recipes on this site for any personal or commercial use without my express written permission.