Season the ribs generously with salt and pepper. Heat the vegetable oil in a large heavy pan over high heat (do this step in the dutch oven if you’re not using a slow-cooker). Brown the ribs well on all sides, in batches if necessary. Remove the ribs and pour off all but a tablespoon of the rendered fat.

Return the pot to the stove, lower the heat to medium-low and saute the garlic and ginger for about 3 minutes. Be careful it doesn’t burn. Add one of the beers and the vinegar and scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze any brown bits.

Add the ribs to the slow-cooker (or back to the liquid in the dutch oven). Pour the beer and vinegar over the ribs. The ribs should be about 3/4 of the way submerged in the liquid. If they’re too exposed, add some more beer (or use beef stock or water).

Cook on the high setting in the slow-cooker or gently simmer in the covered dutch oven for 2 1/2 hours.

Pour the hoisin sauce over the ribs, stir and cook, uncovered, for 30 more minutes.

Remove ginger from sauce. If you're serving right away, strain fat from the top of the pot (or use a gravy separator). If you're refrigerating overnight, skim the fat off when it's cold. If you want the sauce to be thicker, make a corn starch slurry (2 teaspoons corn starch stirred into 1 tablespoon cold water). Stir the slurry into the simmering sauce a little at a time until you like the thickness.

Serve with rice, mashed or boiled potatoes, and Asian Cabbage Salad.