Carnitas

Rub the pieces of pork shoulder all over with salt. Refrigerate for 1 to 3 days. (You can skip this step if you salt the pork before searing the meat in the next step.)

Heat the oil in a roasting pan set on the stove top. Cook the pieces of pork shoulder in a single layer until very well-browned turning them as little as possible so they get nice and dark before flipping them around. If your cooking vessel is too small to cook them in a single-layer, cook them in batches.

Once all the pork is browned remove them from the pot and blot away any excess fat with a paper towel then pour in about a cup of water and the beer. Scrape the bottom of the pan with a flat-edged utensil to release all the tasty brown bits.

Heat the oven to 350.

Add the pork back to the pan and add enough water so the pork pieces are 2/3 submerged in liquid. Add the cinnamon stick and stir in the chili powders, bay leaves, cumin and garlic.

Braise in the oven uncovered for 3 1/2 Hrs turning the pork a few times during cooking until much of the liquid is evaporated and the pork is falling apart. Remove the pan from the oven and lift the pork pieces out of the liquid and set them on a platter.

Once the pork pieces are cool enough to handle, shred them into bite-sized pieces about 2 inch. Discard any obvious big chunks of fat if you wish.

Return the pork pieces back to the roasting pan and cook in the oven turning occasionally until the liquid has evaporated and the pork is crispy and caramelized. It will depend on how much liquid the pork gave off and how crackly you want them. I like mine deeply, darkly, crispy brown on the outside.