3/4 cup sugar 1/3 cup rice vinegar 4 12 - ounce bottles amber ale 3/4 cup
thin soy sauce 3 ounces ginger, thinly sliced 6 dried whole red chilies or fresh red Thai chilies 8 scallions, trimmed and lightly crushed 1 garlic head, cloves peeled and lightly crushed 6 whole star anise 1 teaspoon five - spice powder 4 pounds beef short ribs, or 4 pounds pork butt, cut into large chunks 1 pound green beans, trimmed 1 pound fresh or 8 to 10 ounces dried udon, or 12 ounces fresh Chinese
wheat noodles