This Beer Cheese Dip yields a delicious and thick pub style cheese that makes the perfect dip for soft pretzels, crackers and veggies. Pub cheese is very easy to make and it is the perfect appetizer to serve for Oktoberfest or as an appetizer when entertaining.
This beer cheese recipe is a must-try if you love delicious cheesy dips!
What is Beer Cheese
Beer cheese is a pub cheese that is made with beer and is believed to have originated in the Kentucky region of the U.S. Beer cheese dip is usually made with beer, shredded cheddar, spices (usually cayenne, salt, onion and garlic) and served cold.
This cheese dip is perfect for dipping soft homemade Pretzel Knots into it but you can also use this cheese dip to go alongside crackers and veggies that need a dip.
Many people think this pub-style cheese dip is often served in bars and restaurants in Germany. There is a German beer cheese dip called Obatzda and it is very similar to this beer cheese dip recipe, except instead of cheddar it uses a soft spreadable Bavarian cheese.
It is probably not the one you are familiar with though 🙂 This cheese dip is so common that it is actually served in many German beer gardens in the U.S.
This easy beer cheese dip recipe comes from a local beer garden in my area called Easy Tiger Bakery. It is very popular here and everyone always loves this dip.
For authentic purposes, this is more of a pub cheese recipe with beer in it and it goes so well with pretzels or spread on top of bread.
Ingredients
- Cheddar Cheese: This is the optimal kind of cheese to use for a nice sharp cheesy flavor. You can also combine it with other types of cheese like pepper jack or Swiss cheese
- Cream Cheese: Ensures your beer cheese is rich and creamy.
- Beer: Preferably a lager. Just make sure that you do not use a strong beer because it can overpower the other ingredients.
- Garlic and Onion: Provide additional savory flavor and make for a classic pairing of tastes.
- Kosher Salt and Pepper: Use these to taste. Give this beer cheese dip recipe a little taste before serving and adjust as needed.
- Cayenne pepper: Gives your pub cheese a kick, but can be left out or replaced with something milder like paprika.
- Mustard powder: Aids in deepening the flavor profile and conjures the classic combination of pretzels and mustard.
- Worcestershire sauce: Provides a distinct umami flavor.
- Tabasco sauce: For some added heat. This ingredient can also be omitted if you don't want a bit of spiciness.
I know it seems like a lot of ingredients but it is just a little of this and a little of that with the spices. The bulk of the recipe is beer and cheese.
The extra spice ingredients in this recipe help add to the depth of flavor in the recipe. Try not to skip adding these since they make all the difference in the taste.
How to Make Beer Cheese
- Making this pub style cheese is as simple as mixing all of the ingredients together in a bowl. If you have made my pimento cheese dip, it is just as easy as that!
The key to making this traditional pub cheese at home is making sure to make it ahead of time. One reason is you need to pour the beer into a container and allow the carbonation to fizzle out.
This step can take about 1-2 hours. Another reason you want to make this pub cheese dip ahead of time is it needs a good 24 hours to set up in the fridge.
This gives the cheese spread time to firm up and it allows the flavors to blend together.
What to Eat with Beer Cheese Dip
When you are looking for ways to serve this pub style cheese dip, the best and my favorite way to use it is alongside soft pretzels. The other very traditional way to serve this cheese dip is to spread it over bread.
I like cutting up good quality sourdough bread slices into small bite-sized pieces and serving those alongside the dip.
You can also serve grilled kielbasa or vegetables to dip in for a more hearty meal.
FAQs
Yes. When you make beer cheese, the beer is not cooked out so the flavor of beer that you use will be noticeable. That is why I prefer using a lager or lighter-flavored beer when making this dip.
I like to store the beer cheese in the fridge for no more than 5 days.
Yes. Alcohol is present in the beer cheese dip. If you are unable to have alcohol you may want to use a non-alcoholic beer for this recipe.
Beer cheese and pub cheese often refer to the same thing. Pub cheese can have beer and it can also not have beer.
Pairing Ideas
More Easy Appetizers For You
- Pimento Cheese Sandwiches
- Goat Cheese Crostini
- Avocado Dip
- Savory Ricotta Palmiers
- Strawberry and Goat Cheese Crostini
- Baked Brie en Croute with Jam
- Ham and Ricotta Puff Pastry Calzones
- Roasted Salsa
- Sheet Pan Nachos
- Pizza Dough Pretzels
- Queso Fundido
- Whipped Cottage Cheese
- Cottage Cheese Dip
Easy Beer Cheese Dip
Tried the Recipe? We Would Love To Hear From You In The Comments Below!
Ingredients
- ½ lb Shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup Beer I prefer a lager
- ¼ Onion minced
- 2 ounces Cream Cheese softened
- 1 Clove of garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon Tabasco Sauce
- ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon Mustard powder
- â…› teaspoon Cayenne pepper
- â…› teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
- Pour beer into a small bowl or glass to allow the effervescence to escape.½ cup Beer
- Add all of the ingredients except the beer into a food processor and pulse on low until all the ingredients are incorporated.½ lb Shredded cheddar cheese, ¼ Onion, 2 ounces Cream Cheese, 1 Clove of garlic, ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon Tabasco Sauce, ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, ¼ teaspoon Mustard powder, ⅛ teaspoon Cayenne pepper, ⅛ teaspoon Black pepper
- Once mixed together, pour the beer down the chute of the food processor and pulse a few more times on low until the beer is worked through the dip evenly.
- Pour into a medium bowl, cover and chill overnight.
- Serve with pretzels, sliced veggies or bread.
Nutrition
Nutrition Values are estimates only.
See full nutrition disclaimer here
Bill says
Very easy to make and so full of flavor!
Jan says
This was exactly what I was looking for. It tastes just like beer cheese I grew up eating.
Ella says
It was perfect with the soft pretzels we bought.