Yes, grease or oil the pan. I mix the melted margarine in the bread not on top because it tends to keep the bread fresher after it is baked, if you don't eat it all at once! ;) Our friends own a bar and every so often will buy a specialty beer that isn't a hit with the beer connoisseurs (Bud Lite person myself) he will sell it as the Mystery Beer of the day for a $1.00 a bottle. I buy a bottle "to go" and make beer bread. The best so far was some type of apple ale. Right now I have a bottle of 1554 Enlightened Black Ale to try as soon as the mood strikes me.