Magically easy 4 ingredient beer cheese dip makes the best fall appetizer ever ~ serve with soft or crunchy pretzels and watch it disappear!
I’ve developed the easiest beer cheese dip for chilly nights and warm gatherings of friends and family. This beer cheese dip is made with the essentials (and only the essentials) making it super convenient and fun to throw together on the spur of the moment. There’s no fussy steps or ingredients, and the results? This hot cheesy dip draped around a crispy salty pretzel is sheer appetizer perfection.
Do you love my mini beer steins? They’re the cutest! And they make sense, too, because you know you’re gonna want to double dip into your beer cheese dip!
RELATED: Cheesy Beer Dip with Pretzel Rolls
what you need ( 4 ingredients!)
My recipe is a little different from many you’ll encounter. I don’t use milk, for instance, just beer. And I don’t add additional spices or seasonings, I don’t see the need. I love the pure flavor of the beer blended together with a great cheese. When something is this perfect, I don’t mess with it.
- beer
- whatever beer you love, use it. (Even non-alcoholic beer!)
- cheese
- cheddar cheese is traditional in beer cheese dip but you can use most any sharp cheese, see my notes below. I used a combination of shredded cheddar and sharp cheddar spreadable cheese for perfect melting texture.
- flour
- salted butter
RELATED: Queso Dip ~ easy foolproof recipe
choosing cheese for cheese dip
First and foremost you want to choose an assertive, sharp cheese, or the flavor will simply get lost in the dip.
Grating your own block of cheese is generally preferable to using pre-grated cheeses, which contain additives that can hinder smooth melting. I have to say, though, that I often use pre-shredded cheeses and have no trouble with them melting.
Processed cheese makes a silky stable sauce. Processed cheese is ultra-meltable, and perfect for a quick dip like this. And Velveeta isn’t the only game in town, either, I went with a sharp cheddar spreadable cheese and the result is fantastic.
what is spreadable cheese?
Spreadable cheese is processed cheese ~ a type of cheese product made by blending natural cheese with emulsifying agents, additional ingredients like milk, salt, and preservatives. This mixture is heated, pasteurized, and then cooled to form a smooth, uniform, and consistent product. Processed cheese is known for its extended shelf life, and easy melting properties. Processed cheese can be very useful in cheese sauces, or for making appetizers like cheese balls, or this beer cheese dip!
Look for cheese packaged in a plastic tub. It might be called cheese spread or spreadable cheese; check your supermarket, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods for choices. You can also find them online. I used a sharp cheddar, like this one.
the easy method
- Whisk melted butter and flour together over medium-low heat in a saucepan for a minute or two. Why do this step? It thickens and helps stabilize the cheese sauce.
- Whisk in the beer and stir constantly until the mixture thickens and just starts to bubble. I know, it’s gross at this stage…but keep the faith!
- Remove from the heat and whisk in the cheese, in batches, mixing until everything is smooth and silky. You can put the pan back over the heat if necessary. Add more beer if needed, to thin out the dip.
- Serve hot with plenty of pretzels (or tortilla chips, or bread…)
serving beer cheese dip
I love to hand everybody their own warm mug of beer cheese dip so they can dip and double dip to their heart’s content. I’ve even served it in individual little beer steins that I picked up online, here. You could use any similar small glasses or mugs you might have, but be sure to use glass or porcelain, not plastic.
If you want to serve it in a single bowl you might consider keeping it warm in a mini crockpot or fondue pot. This will retain heat and keep the dip fluid.
I serve this with crunchy pretzel sticks, either thick or thin. You could serve with soft pretzels as well.
why we love it
We loved this even more than we expected to, please don’t let its simplicity fool you! It’s so smooth and velvety, with a robust cheese flavor and a hint of hops and malt. It was wonderful hot, but kept its smooth texture even after cooling. It miraculously keeps its smooth dip-able texture no matter what its temperature. This is a winner!
beer cheese dip faqs
Yes, you can make beer cheese dip ahead of time. Make the dip as directed and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat it gently over low heat, stirring frequently, when you’re ready to serve. If the dip becomes too thick you can add a splash of beer to thin it out.
It will last 3-4 days.
No, I don’t recommend that.
Yes, it does. The beer flavor goes famously well with cheese. The intensity of the beer flavor will vary according to what kind of beer you use. Guinness Stout, for instance will give you a more intense beer flavor than a light beer or mild ale.
Yes, you can!
Gouda cheese is smooth and creamy with a slightly sweet and nutty taste.
Monterey Jack cheese has a mild, buttery flavor and melts smoothly.
Swiss cheese has a nutty and slightly sweet flavor.
Pepper Jack cheese will give you a bit of heat.
Gruyère cheese has a rich, nutty flavor and excellent melting properties. It can add depth to the taste of your dip.
Tortilla chips, crusty bread, fresh vegetables (like celery and carrots), and even cooked sausages or soft pretzel bites.
Customize your beer cheese dip by adding ingredients like minced garlic, diced jalapeños, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, or hot sauce.
Absolutely! Beer cheese dip can be drizzled over grilled meats, hot dogs, and brats. It can be used as a topping for baked potatoes, fries, or nachos, just to give you a few ideas! (How about a beer cheese mac & cheese??)
Yes, substitute dairy cheese with vegan cheese alternatives and use plant-based butter. Nutritional yeast can also be added to enhance the ‘cheesy’ flavors.
Yes. Make sure you use a gluten free beer (most beers are made with barley, rye, or wheat) and gluten free cheese. Use cornstarch instead of flour to make your roux in step 1.
Easy Beer Cheese Dip
Equipment
- medium saucepan
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp salted butter
- 4 Tbsp all purpose flour
- 12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese. I used 8 ounces of spreadable sharp cheddar cheese and 4 ounces of shredded sharp cheddar*
- 12 ounces beer
Instructions
- In a heavy bottomed saucepan melt the butter over medium heat and add the flour. Whisk for a minute or two, but do not let it brown.
- While whisking, pour in the beer, and continue to whisk or stir as the mixture thickens and just comes to a bubble.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese, in batches. Whisk or stir until all the cheese has been added and the dip is silky. Put the pan back over the heat if necessary. You can add a bit more beer at this point if your dip seems too thick.
- Serve hot with pretzels or bread for dipping.
Notes
Nutrition
more hot cheesy dips!
- Hot Crab Dip
- Queso Dip ~ easy foolproof recipe
- Sweet Vidalia Onion Dip
- Baked Caramelized Onion Dip
- Smokey Spinach Artichoke Dip
why does my dip taste gritty? What any I doing wrong?
I’m not sure what the issue is without knowing more details Cindy, but it could be that you used aged cheddar? That won’t melt as well as a fresh cheddar, and I use cheddar cheese spread, as well, which melts into a super creamy sauce. It’s also possible that you may have over heated your cheese. Make sure to add it, slowly, into the sauce off the heat. Hope this helps!
My family can’t have beer or non-alcoholic beer. Is there anything else you’d suggest in it’s place?
You could use whole milk. In that case I might suggest some kind of added spice or flavoring, but that’s a matter of personal preference.
Why are you looking up beer cheese if you can’t have any form of beer? Weird.
Any suggestions for a beer/non-alcoholic beer substitute?
If you’d like to use a non-alcoholic beer you can use any one you like.
Sue, thank you for the beer dip recipe I was just looking for it. While in college(a million years ago) we made it all the time. We would hallow out a loaf of Italian bread, cut the pulled out pieces into cubes & fill the cavity with the beer cheese dip! So good! I’m loving the mini beer steins now!
College food is the best 😉