Beer Cheese Dip
This smoky beer cheese dip comes together quickly and is a spicy, smoky, creamy but cheesy appetizer dip. Best when served warm with pretzels.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup half-and-half, or whole milk
- ⅔ cup beer, see note
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder, or Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded smoked gouda cheese
Directions
- Start by shredding 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese and 1 cup smoked gouda cheese and setting them aside.
- In a medium saucepan or braiser pan, melt ¼ cup unsalted butter over medium-low heat. Once melted, add ¼ cup all-purpose flour, a little at a time, and whisk into the melted butter until a roux forms. Continue whisking to cook the flour until a blonde roux forms, about 2 minutes.
- Slowly pour in 1 cup half-and-half and ⅔ cup beer, whisking constantly until a thick but smooth looking sauce forms. Do not let it become hot enough to bubble and simmer.
- Add 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon mustard powder (or Dijon), ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, ⅛ teaspoon cayenne, and ½ teaspoon salt and whisk to combine thoroughly.
- Lower the heat and add in the shredded cheddar and smoked gouda. Whisk or stir together until the cheese has melted, and the beer cheese is fully combined and smooth.
- The beer cheese dip will continue to thicken as it cools. If you would like it a bit thinner, add some more beer or half-and-half. Pour the cheese sauce into a serving bowl for dipping and serve warm. Alternatively, add to a small slow cooker to transport and keep warm while serving.
Notes
1) Cheese – Read the above post for more cheese options. Whatever cheese you use, however, I recommend shredding your own. It tastes and melts better and literally takes about a minute to shred.
2) Beer – The above post has more information on beer options but look for a full-bodied yet mild and crisp beer without strong flavors. Good options include American style pilsners and most lagers. I checked at a local convenience store for decent options that I could buy in a single can.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.25 cupCalories: 308kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 14gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 556mgPotassium: 117mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 2gCalcium: 395mgIron: 0.4mg
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