I’m going to warn you right now that I do not have many pictures from the event, it was dark and super busy. Most of the ones that I have J took and he admits that they aren’t the best since he doesn’t really know how to use my camera. But check out some professional pics here: http://www.ironcupcakemilwaukee.com
After I had signed up for the challenge, I began the pursuit of finding the perfect beer. J had taken me shopping a few times but it was fruitless. I knew that I needed to get something different, and on a random store audit with a coworker, we decided to peruse the beer section and happened to come across this:
Yes, a crème brulee stout. I will tell you this, not something I would ever want to drink but it was very vanilla-y. From this, came the idea of crème brulee cupcakes, playing off the vanilla of the beer.
Alison had posted a couple weeks earlier a recipe for a caramel sauce using Magic Hat #9, and thought why not make that but with this beer? So into the pan it went and out came a thick, dark colored caramel that was not too sweet and had good flavor. (Thanks for the recipe Alison!!) Using an idea from another cake, I used a chopstick and poked holes into the cupcakes and poured caramel into them to get this:
I topped it with a vanilla cream cheese frosting (which I had to remake 2 hours before the competition!) and a vanilla candy.
I will tell you, I was nervous for the competition. Add in the fact that my car died at work when I was trying to leave, and had to beg a ride home from a friend, having to get gas in the other car to go to Target to get a candy thermometer, making the candy topping and having my frosting go horribly wrong and having to remake it, I was really worried. Plus, I will totally admit, I wasn’t too wild about the cupcakes either, I almost didn’t take them there.
But I made it… and it was busy.
I made 10 dozen minis and was out in quicker than I would have liked, but thanks to a tip from another competitor, I saved two cupcakes, one for each of the special judges, Joe from Blatz Liquor and Michelle Garcia, from Bleeding Heart Bakery.
It was a good thing that I did…
The judging was over, my mom, J, some friends and I were all hanging out, talking. My friends had managed to get their hands on a “Beer and Bratwurst” cupcake and made J try it. I wish I had my camera out, his face was priceless. Let’s just say it was not his favorite.
They began announcing the winners, Michelle’s favorite first. For those of you who don’t know Michelle is a Food Network Challenge veteran and her bakery has won numerous awards, so having her there was a HUGE deal. As I was cleaning up, I heard her call out my letter! I was amazed that I was her favorite cupcake! I got a cool gift basket with some awesome t-shirts and other goodies, including some Cakespy things! Next up was the Partner’s Pick, which was Blatz Liquor’s owner Joe, which much to my surprise, he picked my cupcake again!! I was astounded! I was amazed that I got a few votes for Best Tasting, much less these two awards! Not too shabby for a first timer! 
I was super ecstatic and already have signed up for February’s Challenge, BACON! Let’s just say there are some interesting recipes in the works, and I’ve got my friend Chris signed up as my official taste tester!
) So, I’ve been cleaning up what I can out of the fridge, and in the event that J stays home, making something comforting for the both of us. 
