Pear and Walnut Salad with Wheat Beer Vinaigrette

Vinaigrette

 * ¾ cup wheat beer
 * 2 cloves garlic, minced
 * 1 tbsp wildflower or amber honey
 * 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
 * ½ cup balsamic vinegar
 * ⅓ cup vegetable stock
 * ⅓ cup olive oil

Salad

 * 8 cups assorted greens
 * 3 to 4 ripe red-skinned pears, halved, cored and thinly sliced
 * 6 oz blue cheese or fresh goat cheese, crumbled, optional
 * ½ cup toasted walnut halves

Directions

 * 1) To make vinaigrette: put wheat beer in saucepan, and bring to a boil over high heat.
 * 2) Cook until it has reduced to ¼ cup, about 10 minutes.
 * 3) Remove from heat, and whisk in remaining ingredients. Set aside.
 * 4) To make salad: arrange greens on 8 plates, and arrange pears on greens.
 * 5) Crumble blue cheese on top, if using, scatter with walnuts and drizzle each salad with vinaigrette.