QUESTION: I have four cases of beer in my garage that are probably no longer drinkable, but I don't want them to go to waste. I would like to use them in cooking. Is this okay, and what's the best way to use them? Any recipes would be appreciated.ANSWER: If your beer has weathered a few seasons in your garage, it's probably just flat due to excessive temperatures and can be easily used in recipes. However, if you've noticed it's starting to resemble malt vinegar instead of beer, than the best thing to do is get a vinegar starter and finish turning it into malt vinegar. If that is the case, you need to make a lot of fish and chips. Or, you can just have a party with people you don't like that much, and tell them they can have all the beer they can drink!Actually, it makes sense to cook with beer because it is chemically very close to food. Sometimes beer is called liquid bread, and I have also heard bread referred to as "solid beer." Think about it. Beer contains grain, which is barley. It contains herbs, which are the hops. It contains water and yeast. Add a little sugar and you've got bread!Beer comes from the Latin word bibere meaning "to drink" and historians think that it has been brewed for more than 8,000 years. It wasn't always consumed: the ancient Babylonians used it for sacrificial offerings (another thing you could do with your party guests that you don't like much). It was also used for numerous medicinal purposes — some more successful than others. I loved reading about people who tried washing their faces with warm beer to get rid of freckles. Those who tried it eventually found out it didn't work too well. Maybe they drank more than they used for washing and at first their red faces made them think their freckles had disappeared.Honey beer used to be considered an aphrodisiac, and ancient brides would drink it for a month after their wedding ceremony. Talk about getting your date drunk. This month-long ritual was referred to as a "moon" and that's how the word honeymoon came about. Aside from marinating your bride, beer is also makes a great marinade for tough cuts of meat. Beer also adds a unique flavor for glazes and sauces. I personally like to use it in basting sauces for grilling chicken and pork chops. And if you've ever wondered why beer batter is so popular, the yeast in the batter acts as a leavening agent allowing the batter to puff up. As mentioned, it's great in making breads and other baked items. When using beer in baked products you will not only give them more moisture, but you will also give them a longer shelf-life. Before you start cracking open all of those cans, here are some basic rules of thumb when using beer in cooking:n Don't forget that beer is naturally bitter. If you are using it in a sauce or a braising liquid, don't reduce it too much or you'll have too much bitterness. That being said, the bitter flavor in beer works well with sugary or sweet vegetables, such as corn, carrots, and onions or in dishes that contain a sweetener like sugar or honey.n Just as you would use a squeeze of lemon or a dash of vinegar you can use beer the same way for a touch of bitter flavor.n Beer will not only tenderize, it will also flavor a marinade. However a marinade needs more acid than beer can give it so don't use it as the sole ingredient.n Beer is perfect for using in battering and baked goods. Think outside the box and use it for items like savory pancakes, fritters, muffins, and the like.n If you'd like to try making beer bread, just replace some or all of the liquid in a bread recipe with beer.I'm not exactly sure how you want to use your beer, but it sounds like you have plenty to experiment with. To get you started, I'm sharing some recipes that I like for chicken wings and sausages. Feel free to manipulate these recipes, just like you would your "B List" guests.