With only 7 ingredients, this smooth and creamy Beer Cheese Dip is ready in just 20 minutes. You'll want to slather it on everything!
Best beer cheese recipe
Game Day food is my specialty. I love tailgating and all the fanfare that surrounds it. And what goes better with football than beer, snacks and Beer Cheese Dip? Nothing. I've been making this Beer Cheese recipe for years, and it always gets rave reviews.
Like our famous Buffalo Chicken Dip, this creamy cheese dip one of our most requested at parties. The hoppy beer flavor blends perfectly with the sharp creamy cheddar, and it only takes 20 minutes to whip up!
If you like this recipe, you'll love our Beer Cheese Soup.
Jump to:
Ingredients
- BUTTER: salted butter, unsalted butter or margarine
- FLOUR: AP Flour (All Purpose flour) works best
- GARLIC: fresh garlic cloves, chopped (or use minced garlic in jar)
- DARK PAPRIKA: (or smoked paprika) for that extra pop!
- CREAM CHEESE: essential for the creamy texture (full fat cream cheese or low fat Neufchâtel cheese works)
- CHEDDAR CHEESE (shredded): we like extra sharp cheddar cheese. Shred your own for best results.
- BEER: we like a craft style IPA beer for that bitter, hoppy punch of flavor
*see recipe card for quantities.
🔪Top tip
USE IT AS BEER CHEESE SAUCE: There is no milk or heavy cream in the recipe (just cheese) so it is thick and perfect for dipping, not runny! Slather it on burgers , Chicken Tacos, or Pulled Pork Sandwiches.
Instructions
- Melt Butter: In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, melt butter. Then add the flour and whisk. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add Beer: Add bottle of beer and whisk until smooth.
- Add the Cheese: Add cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic and paprika and continue to whisk until all cheese has melted and product is smooth (about 5 minutes).
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Why this recipe works
Sometimes it seems easier to pick up a jar of processed beer cheese at the local market. However, this recipe proves it is worth the time and effort to bypass the store-bought variety and create your own. Its fresh, creamy texture is second to none, and the hoppy IPA flavor really comes through.
🫕 More dip recipes
Storage
- MAKE AHEAD: you can make this dip ahead of time. Store it in the fridge and heat it up in a sauce pan (or microwave) minutes before you are ready to serve.
- STORE: leftover Beer Cheese Dip can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 to 6 days.
- DO NOT FREEZE.
What to serve with beer cheese
- SERVE IT: with pretzel bites, tortilla chips, guacamole, and homemade Pineapple Salsa for a football style fiesta!
- SLATHER IT: on Burgers on Chicken Sandwiches for more cheesy flavor
- DIP IT: serve it as a dipping sauce for Chicken Wings or Loaded Nachos
- WASH IT DOWN: make a pitcher of Iceberg Margaritas for a beer lovers feast!
FAQ
Beer cheese dip is a creamy, savory dip made from a blend of cheeses, beer, and spices. It’s perfect for serving with pretzels, chips, or vegetables.
We prefer a hoppy IPA (craft beer style India Pale Ale). It creates a great depth of flavor. You can substitute a lager, pilsner, or even a non-alcoholic beer, but the flavor profile will be a bit more mild.
We like a sharp cheddar cheese for this recipe. For best results, buy a block of cheese and shred it yourself. You can also mix it with other cheeses like Gouda, mozzarella for a richer texture.
To thicken beer cheese dip, you can add more cheese or flour.
Yes, you can prepare beer cheese dip in advance and reheat it on the stove or in the microwave before serving.
Related recipes
🍅 Making this recipe?
- Please feel free to reach out with questions. We're happy to help.
- If you enjoyed it, please leave us a comment with ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Craft Beer Cheese recipe
With only 7 ingredients, this smooth and creamy Beer Cheese Dip is ready in just 20 minutes. You'll want to slather it on everything!
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 3 cups 1x
Ingredients
- 3 TBSP butter
- 3 TBSP flour
- 1 tsp garlic (chopped)
- 2 tsp dark paprika
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 6 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
- 12 oz of your favorite beer (we used IPA, however it was bitter for some. I liked it alot, but for a more subtle flavor use a lager)
Instructions
- In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, melt butter then add the flour and whisk and cook for 1 minute.
- Add bottle of beer and whisk until smooth.
- Add cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic and paprika and continue to whisk until all cheese has melted and product is smooth (about 5 minutes).
Notes
- USE IT AS BEER CHEESE SAUCE: There is no milk or heavy cream in the recipe (just cheese) so it is thick and perfect for dipping, not runny!
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: German American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ½ C
- Calories: 232
- Sugar: 4.9 g
- Sodium: 217.4 mg
- Fat: 18.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 8.8 g
- Protein: 7.2 g
- Cholesterol: 53.5 mg
Jake says
How much sugar do you add at the beginning for the pretzels? Then how much sugar do you use at the end for the water bath? Also when does the melted butter come in to play for the pretzels?
Keith says
Thanks Jake for reaching out. While we try to be as precise as we can we make mistakes and we appreciate you letting us know. I did edit the recipe in the site. The sugar is not used in the water bath, not sure why I had that in there. Also the butter is used to brush or coat the pretzels as they come out of the oven, optional though.
Jackie says
This is our favorite party dip, hands down! The sharp cheddar blends perfectly with the craft beer for AMAZING flavor.