This beer cheese sauce recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! With the combination of beer and cheese, you’ll get an amazing cheesy dip with a delicious hint of hops in every bite. Serve it up as an appetizer for your next dinner party or game day celebration, and you’ll have a winning snack everyone will love!
Adding beer to a cheese sauce creates a unique flavor sensation. The lager provides a subtle richness, while the Cheddar and Gruyere cheese adds a sharp bite. Then, spices like garlic powder and cayenne pepper provide a little heat that lingers in the background.
The result is a creamy, flavorful cheese sauce that’ll have everyone coming back for more!
I specifically chose Cheddar and Gruyere for this recipe as they provide an amazing contrast in flavor. Cheddar melts brilliantly and offers a lovely cheesy taste, whereas Gruyere is slightly nutty and adds an intense creaminess to the sauce. You can use any types of cheese you like – so long as they melt nicely.
Serve this beer cheese sauce with soft pretzel bites, tortilla chips, or veggies for the best dipping experience.
However, there are so many ways to enjoy my yummy beer cheese sauce for pretzels – the skies the limit! I have shared some of my favorite ways to enjoy this beer cheese recipe below, so keep reading for some inspiration.
Why You’ll Love My Beer Cheese Sauce Recipe
- A rich, savory flavor. Beer and cheese are two ingredients that are known for their bold flavors. When you combine the two, it creates the best beer cheese sauce – the combination is truly a match made in heaven!
- Creamy dip. A good cheese sauce should be velvety and smooth, which this sauce definitely provides! The result is a sauce with just the right texture and consistency, perfect for dipping or spreading on your favorite foods.
- Easy to make. Once you know how to make beer cheese sauce, you can whip up this recipe in no time! Sometimes it’s the simplest recipes that can be the most impressive, and this easy beer cheese dip is one of them.
Beer Cheese ingredients
- Butter
- Flour
- Beer
- Half and half
- Sharp Cheddar cheese
- Gruyere cheese
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Dijon mustard
- Worcestershire sauce
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
How to make Beer Cheese
- Melt butter in a 12-inch cast iron skillet.
- Add the flour and cook for 2 minutes on low heat.
- Pour in the beer and whisk until smooth.
- Add the half and half and whisk until smooth.
- Add the cheeses and remaining ingredients and whisk until melted and smooth.
Variations/Substitutions
Can I use non-alcoholic beer in this Beer Cheese Sauce Recipe?
If you’re craving some beer cheese sauce for pretzels but don’t want to use alcoholic beer, you can use a non-alcoholic variety. Look for a good quality non-alcoholic lager; the result should be just as delicious!
Tips for Making Homemade Beer Cheese
Here are some tips to keep in mind when making this beer cheese sauce at home:
- Don’t skip the roux: Melting the butter and adding the flour creates a roux that’ll help thicken the sauce and give it a smooth texture.
- Don’t let it boil: Keep an eye on your sauce while cooking, and avoid letting it come to a boil. This can cause your cheese to separate.
- Consider the type of beer: Any type of beer will work, but a lager or pilsner will give your sauce a lighter taste, while an ale or stout will add more depth and richness. It’s completely up to you and your personal preference!
- Cook on low heat: Cooking on low heat will help prevent the cheese from burning or becoming clumpy. Even if you avoid boiling it, cooking it on low heat (rather than high) will ensure a smooth and creamy texture.
- Experiment with different cheeses: While this recipe calls for sharp cheddar and gruyere, feel free to experiment with other types of cheese to find your perfect flavor combination!
How to serve the Best Beer Cheese Recipe
This recipe creates the most delicious beer cheese sauce for pretzels – but the best thing is you can serve it however you’d like! Here are some great options for serving up this cheesy goodness:
- On burgers, like my jalapeno burger, or grilled cheese sandwiches
- The perfect dip for potato chips, crackers, baguette slices, pretzels or pretzel bites.
- As a twist on the classic cheese fondue. Pour into a fondue pot and dunk fresh dinner rolls, reverse seared steak, and veggies in the sauce as a fun snack for game nights
- Combined with cooked pasta and served as mac n’ cheese
- As a soup base – my broccoli cheddar soup recipe would work great
- Over cauliflower florets as a easy recipe for cauliflower cheese
- Smothered on hot dogs or bratwurst
- In quesadillas, pork tacos, and burritos
- With French fries or roasted potatoes
How to Store This Beer Cheese Recipe
This beer cheese sauce is perfect for making in advance! It lasts well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. To reheat, microwave it for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between until it’s heated through. You can also reheat beer cheese sauce on the stove, stirring constantly over low heat. I wouldn’t recommend freezing it – the texture may change once thawed.
How long does beer cheese sauce last?
Once served, the beer cheese sauce should be enjoyed right away and ideally within two hours. However, any room temperature leftover sauce refrigerated for up to three days in an airtight container.
Reheat your beer cheese sauce in a small pot over medium heat, stirring until it is a warm and creamy sauce again. You may need to add a little extra half-and-half if you find it has become a thicker sauce in the fridge.
FAQs
Broken cheese sauce occurs when the fat and water in the cheese separate from its proteins. This usually happens when you cook it at high heat or add too much liquid.
To prevent your beer cheese sauce from breaking, be sure to add the dairy products slowly and cook the sauce over a medium-low heat. If your sauce does break, don’t worry! Add a little extra half and half and either hand mix (away from heat) or pop it in an immersion blender to re-emulsify it!
Yes, this beer cheese sauce does contain alcohol since it calls for your favorite beer in the recipe (unless you a use non-alcoholic variety). However, most of the alcohol will evaporate off during the cooking process – meaning if there is any alcohol left, it would be a very small amount.
Beer cheese is a type of spread made from cheese, beer, and seasonings. It’s said to have originated in Kentucky in the 1940s and is usually served cold as a dip or spread for crackers, pretzels, or vegetables. Beer cheese sauce, as in this recipe, is similar but with a thinner consistency, making it perfect for dipping hot pretzels or pouring over nachos!
Recipe for Beer Cheese
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 12 ounces beer any kind of lager
- 1/2 cup half and hlaf
- 2 cups cheddar cheese
- 1 cup gruyere cheese swiss can be substiuted
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon worchestershire sauce
Instructions
- In a 12 inch cast iron skillet, melt the butter.
- Add the flour and cook for 2 minutes on low heat.
- Pour in the beer and whisk until smooth.
- Add the half and half and whisk until smooth.
- Add the cheeses and remaining ingredients and whisk until melted and smooth.
Leave a Reply