Literally, every day of the year is now some sort of Instagram-friendly, short-enough-for-a-hashtag holiday of ambiguous origin. And so, on this December the 8th, we reverently gather to celebrate the joyous day of the brownie.

Yes, most people will simply google "brownie recipe" and end up on the blog of some lady named Judy. She owns a DSLR, and she's never met a handwritten font she didn't like. Those people will scroll through her 28-paragraph epic about buying the wrong craft fabric for her son Chesney's 2nd birthday party. Fatigued and hungry, they'll fail to realize that Judy only uses egg whites in her brownies, and she bakes them IN A FUCKING LOAF PAN.

Thankfully, you've ended up on our blog, so you will be spared the terror of Judy's trash brownies.

Make these Gonzo brownies instead:

Brownies:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup Gonzo Imperial Porter

Frosting:
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar (bump this up to 2 cups if you like your frosting extra sweet)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon Gonzo reduction

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 8in x 8in pan.

Heat beer in a small saucepan at medium temperature. Boil until reduced to about 1/3 cup (about 20 minutes). Remove from heat and allow to come to room temperature. 

Place butter in large microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 20-second intervals until melted. Cool for about a minute before stirring in sugar, eggs, vanilla, and 2 tablespoons of the beer reduction. Beat in cocoa, flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan.

Bake in oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

To make frosting:  Mix softened butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla, and Gonzo reduction until fully combined and smooth. Allow brownies to cool for at least 20 minutes before frosting. 

STFU, Judy.