This recipe is adapted from "Beer Cuisine" by Jay Harlow.

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix the dry ingredients thoroughly in a medium bowl. Cut the butter and shortening into small pieces and add them to the flour mixture. Blend until the mixture resembles coarse meal.

2. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients and pour in the beer. Stir just until mixture is evenly moistened, then turn out onto a lightly floured surface.

3. Knead just until the dough comes together, about 30 seconds. Pat out dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out biscuits with a 2 1/2-inch round cutter dipped in flour. Wiggle rather than twist cutter to loosen the biscuits.

4. Lift away the trimmings and transfer the biscuits to an ungreased baking sheet. Gently press the trimmings together, overlapping them slightly, and roll the dough out again. Cut additional biscuits and discard any trimmings.

5. Bake biscuits until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve hot.