Hearty Brandied Beef Stew

This stew has been a work in progress for about 3 years, adding to and adjusting my grandmothers simple basic beef stew recipe from the Depression era. It is great served with a fresh garden salad and some thick slabs of crusty, whole grain homemade buttered bread or fresh, hot biscuits for a satisfying meal. If desired, a bottle of the same wine used in stew or mugs of a rich, dark stout or other rich flavored beer are the ideal beverage to serve. For a variation, substitute an equal amount of the same beer being served.