With the Super Bowl happening today, kitchens around the nation will be busy preparing food for the big game. This one’s a bit off the beaten path, but if you’re looking for another way to involve alcohol consumption during the game, Mark Bello from Pizza School offers up these recipes for your consideration:

Samuel Adams Boston Lager Infused Pizza Crust

Makes:  Two crusts to be dressed and baked on a cookie sheet or pizza pan. For a thicker crust, stretch to 12” and cook on cookie sheet, pizza pan or pizza screen. For a thinner crust, stretch to 14” and cook on cookie sheet, pizza pan or pizza screen.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Rise time: Between 1-2 hours in a warm spot (about 70ºF-80ºF)
Bake time: 10-15 minutes depending on your oven, toppings and desired doneness
Preheat: Oven to 500ºF

Approx. 3½ cups (20 oz.) unbleached all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
1 packet instant yeast aka highly active or bread machine yeast
1 tablespoon (.65 oz.) fine granulation salt
1 tablespoon (.55 oz.) extra virgin olive oil plus more for greasing your rising container and oiling your cookie sheet, pizza pan or screen
1 bottle of Samuel Adams Boston Lager warmed up to 120ºF-130ºF

1.     Warm the beer to 120ºF-130ºF (warming the beer means your yeast will activate properly). Warm the bottle in a bowl of very warm (not boiling) water or by running it under hot water from the tap. A thermometer insures success – if you don’t have one handy, the beer should feel very warm (not too hot) to the touch.
2.     In a 5 quart or larger bowl, combine flour, yeast, salt and oil.
3.     Add beer to flour mixture, and stir with a fork (not stirring with your hands just yet – it’s too sticky at first) until the dough is lumpy. Then, go in with your hands. The dough will now still be a little sticky, so gradually add flour as you knead* to the point that the finished dough should be just slightly tacky and elastic. To tell when the dough is done, periodically poke it and when the dough gently springs back after you poke it, it is done. Don’t worry if it is not perfectly smooth – don’t overknead it!
*kneading: press down, push, fold, repeat.
4.     Your finished dough, if you have a scale, will weigh right around 2 pounds (30-34 oz.). Break into two equal pieces – use a scale or eyeball it.
5.     Ball each piece up and place each in a separate airtight container lightly greased with olive oil. Each container needs to be at least a quart in size to allow for each dough ball to double in size (deli quart containers work great for this).
6.     Set dough aside to rise in a warm location, about 70ºF-80ºF is good. After dough has expanded up to double in size (about 1-2 hours), gently remove from container and stretch to fit on a lightly greased 12” or 14” cookie sheet, pizza pan or pizza screen.
7.     Dress according to which football team pizza you favor, and bake in a 500ºF preheated oven until your crust and toppings are to your desired doneness (about 10 to 15 minutes).
8.     Out of the oven, allow a few minutes to cool. Then cut, serve and enjoy.

San Fran Spicy Pimento Pesto Pepperoni Pizza

Prep time: 20 minutes
Bake time: 10-15 minutes depending on your oven and desired doneness
Preheat: Oven to 500ºF

1 risen ball of Samuel Adams Boston Lager Infused Dough (approx. 16 oz.)
1 jar diced pimentos (4 oz.) drained
1 clove raw garlic
1 tablespoon Sriracha hot sauce
1 tablespoon pine nuts
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil plus more oiling your cookie sheet, pizza pan or screen
About 1 cup loosely packed (4 oz.) whole milk mozzarella
18 thin slices pepperoni (about 1 oz.)
2 tablespoons (1/2 oz.) grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

1.     In a blender, blend pimentos, garlic, Sriracha hot sauce, pine nuts, olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the grating cheese into a slightly chunky paste. Transfer into a separate bowl, mix in mozzarella and set aside.
2.     Stretch dough to desired diameter (12” thicker, 14” thinner), and lay on a lightly oiled cookie sheet, pizza pan or screen.
3.     Apply an even layer of pimento/mozzarella mixture to about 1/2” from the border of crust.
4.     Evenly distribute pepperoni slices.
5.     Evenly sprinkle second half of the grated cheese to the very border of the crust.
6.     Bake for 10-15 minutes until your toppings are bubbling and the crust is golden brown.
7.     Out of the oven, let rest a few minutes. Then cut, serve and enjoy.