Chowda and beer bread

When it's cold outside and you need something warming and hardy, cook up a batch of white bean chowder and beer bread.

White Bean Chowder

1 1/2 cups dried great Northern beans2 slices Soy bacon, crumbled1 onion, chopped3 garlic cloves, minced2 carrots, chopped2 celery stalks, chopped1 16-oz can vegetable broth1 bay leaf2 large potatoes, diced1 14.5-oz can diced tomatoes1/2 tsp salt1/2 tsp