Sally Minahan's Maple Baked Beans

These are my wife's favorite beans, made by her mother.

• Ready In: 18 hrs 45 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 2  cups great northern beans (or other med white bean)
• 4  teaspoons dry mustard
• 1⁄2 cup maple syrup
• 1⁄2 cup molasses
• 2 (12 ounce) bottles beer (dark)
• 1⁄2 lb thick slab bacon (smoked) (optional)
• 1  tablespoon salt

Directions

1. Pick through beans and soak overnight in water to cover.
2. Preheat oven to 300F.
3. Combine mustard, maple syrup, molasses and beer. Cut slab bacon in half if using and place both halves in the bottom of a casserole dish. Drain the beans and add them to the casserole. Add the syrup/beer mixture plus sufficient water to cover the beans with one inch of liquid. Cover the casserole and bake for approximately 6 hours. Check periodically and add liquid to cover if necessary.
4. When the beans are tender, remove the bacon and set it aside to cool. Stir salt into the beans.
5. Dice the bacon into 1/2 inch pieces and sprinkle on top of beans. Cover again and bake 30-40 minutes until the bacon is crisp. Stir bacon into beans.
6. Serve either hot or at room temperature.