Beer cheese is a golden colored spread or dip made with a variety of cheese and beer and is usually infused with a variety of spices predominantly garlic. It goes well with a variety of snacks in United States and there are popular commercial brands of the product available in the market which is usually made of the processed cheddar flavored with enough beer. The cheese may be mild or hot depending on the pairing of the cheese and beer used to make the dish. It is an accompaniment with several crackers and bread snack and can be preserved covered with a wax paper for a couple of days in refrigerators. Both the prime ingredients of the cheese are the by-products of the fermentation process and are the products of the farmhouse which have a direct or an indirect link with grass. The pairing of the variety of available cheese and beer is done on the personal preferences to get the best dip.
Origin of Beer cheese Recipe
Beer cheese is believed to have originated in Kentucky and is a popular spread of United States. Beer and cheese formed the staple of Belgium during the middle age and most restaurants often served bowls of cubed cheese with beer.
Ingredients and Method of Preparing Beer cheese
Beer cheese recipe requires beer and cheese seasoned with a variety of spices. Beer and cheese are first boiled together in a saucepan to a thick smooth consistency and is flavored with garlic and a variety of spices like dry mustard, horseradish and pepper. A soup of beer cheese is also popular which can be made with first melting the butter in a pan and cooking the cooking onions in it. When done carrot, celery, garlic, broccoli, bacon, salt and pepper are added. Later, vegetable stock, beer and macaroni are mixed and the cheese soup is finally seasoned with lots of cheddar and parmesan cheese.
Variations in Beer cheese Recipe
A variety of combinations of beer and cheese can be used to make Beer cheese dip as Fete goes well with wheat beer, Mascarpone cheese with fruit beers, blue cheese with dark beer American cheese with Pilsner and Colby or Gloucester with brown ales. The spice to the spread may be added with red pepper sauce, onion, garlic powder, red pepper powder, dry mustard, Worcestershire sauce, etc depending on the availability and personal flavors.
Serving Suggestions as per Beer cheese Recipe
Beer cheese is cheese spread served usually in room temperature as an appetizer with saltine crackers and variety of bread snack but is believed to be the best with flat bread and English wafer crackers. The cheese dip garnished with green onion and cheddar is delicious with fresh vegetables and pretzels. The soup is served hot topped with lots of parmesan cheese. Sometimes hollow in a loaf bread is filled with the dip or is served with pieces of rye bread.
Some Health Facts Related to Beer cheese Recipe
It is a caloric food with considerable amount of cholesterol, sodium, potassium, carbohydrate and protein. Beer cheese is also infused with a variety of minerals like iron, foliate, magnesium and calcium. Goat and sheep cheeses are creamy but have relatively less calories and saturated fat.