Beer Cheese

This beer cheese dip recipe is perfect for snacking! Made with just 5 ingredients in 10 minutes or less. A real crowd-pleaser at parties!

Hey, hey, we’re winding down towards the end of January, and that can only mean one thing: Superbowl Recipes!

I have said it before and I’ll say it again: I may not be a fan of football, but I’m DEFINITELY a fan of football food.

And I’m especially a fan of this mouthwatering beer cheese recipe!

I’m used to seeing plenty of pizza, nachos, and buffalo wings at the superbowl parties I’ve been to, but I honestly haven’t seen beer cheese on the table much!

I think I may have to introduce this to my friends! It could be the next top favorite!

I wouldn’t be surprised if it was. After all, it’s a real flavor bomb. Sharp, tangy cheddar cheese blended with a robust brew and the perfect blend of hearty seasonings… what’s not to love?

WHAT IS BEER CHEESE?

If you haven’t heard of beer cheese before, allow me to introduce you to your new favorite snack.

It’s cheesy and hearty and full of so much incredible flavor. You can serve it warm for dipping (like a fondue), or chill it like a spread. It can be a sauce, a topping, a dip, or even a soup!

It’s made with just 5 ingredients, and it only takes about 10 minutes to whip up.

Beer cheese dip tastes sharp and cheesy, yet creamy at the same time. There’s a noticeable beer flavor. Depending upon the kind of beer you use, it might taste a little bitter and hoppy, or it might be more roasty, sweet, and malty. And there’s a hint of garlic and mustard, which tie together all the flavors and bring out the best in them!

HOW TO SERVE IT

My favorite way to serve this is as a warm dip, along with homemade soft pretzels. I like to make my soft pretzels with beer in the dough, so pairing them with beer cheese dip is really a match made in heaven!

Here’s a link to my recipe, if you want to give it a try: Homemade Soft Pretzel Recipe.

This also works great chilled as a spread. You can spread it on hard pretzels or on a hearty, crunchy cracker- maybe something whole grain would be good.

I’ve also used this as a topping for cooked veggies, a crudite dip, or as a sauce on cooked macaroni.

You could even dilute it with chicken or vegetable stock and serve it as a soup!

HOW TO MAKE BEER CHEESE

This recipe is so simple you’ll find yourself making it often.

Start by placing a block of cream cheese in a small pot, and pouring in about half a beer.

Warm these two ingredients together over very low heat, until the cream cheese is soft.

Break it up into smaller pieces first, then whisk it vigorously until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Next comes the cheddar cheese. I love the punch of flavor you get with extra-sharp chedddar, but honestly any kind of cheese would work. You could use pepper jack, or swiss, gouda, or even Velveeta!

Make sure it’s shredded and just add in a handful at a time, whisking each addition in until melted and smooth before adding the next.

Along with the last handful of cheese, pop in some dry mustard and garlic powder to bring all the savory flavors together.

And that’s all there is to it!

WHAT KIND OF BEER TO USE

You can use any kind of beer you have on hand for this recipe.

I happened to use one of my favorites: Yard’s Brawler. It’s a local brew in the English mild ale style; very malt-forward (which I love!), with hints of caramel and toast (source: Yard’s Brewing).

I really like the flavor of this beer along with the sharp cheddar cheese and other seasonings.

But I can think of a few other styles of beer that would be fantastic in this recipe.