Six-Pack Brat Stew

Directions

1. 1
   Divide the six pack in two. Sacrifice two bottles into an 8 quart pot. Reserve the rest for your drinking pleasure
2. 2
   Heat the beer to the temperature of a warm bath, add brats, onions, and potatoes. Careful not to boil. (Boiling, I'm told, causes the sausage casings to burst.)
3. 3
   In a separate pan heat olive oil; add garlic, peppers, fennel and lightly brown
4. 4
   Removed poached brats from beer bath and pat dry (no worries, they will be an unappealing shade of grey)
5. 5
   Braise brats until well browned all-round, slice and add to vegetables
6. 6
   With slotted spoon remove onions and potatoes from the beer bath; deglaze pan used for brats with onion & potato mixture, and sautee until potatoes are browned
7. 7
   Add onions and potatoes to brats and veggies, add herbs, pour about a cup of the remaining beerwash into the stew.