Can you use beer instead of active dry yeast when baking bread?

No, you cannot use beer instead of active dry yeast when baking bread.

Here's why:

* Yeast is the leavening agent: Yeast is a living organism that consumes sugars and produces carbon dioxide, which creates air pockets in the dough, making it rise. Beer, while it contains yeast, does not have the same concentration or type of yeast necessary for baking bread.

* Beer's other ingredients: Beer contains other ingredients like hops, water, and malt, which would not be beneficial for baking bread. They might even affect the taste and texture of the dough in an undesirable way.

Alternatives:

* Active dry yeast: This is the most common type of yeast used in baking. It requires rehydration before use.

* Instant yeast: This type of yeast is designed to be mixed directly into the flour without rehydration.

* Fresh yeast: This is a live yeast that is available in blocks. It needs to be crumbled and mixed with a small amount of warm water before adding to the dough.

If you want to incorporate beer into your baking, you can use it as a liquid ingredient to add flavor to the bread. However, you'll still need to use yeast separately to ensure the bread rises.