One of the more unique and savory takes on the cheese sauce is beer cheese dip. A staple of the pub, this beer cheese combines the sharpness of a good English cheddar with the malted taste of a dark beer to create the perfect complement to fries, tater tots, chips, and big soft pretzels.
Melt the butter in a small saucepan at medium heat. Whisk in the flour.
2 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons flour
Take the pan off of the heat and whisk in 2 tablespoons of the milk, until smooth (it will be thick).
Add half of the remaining milk and whisk until smooth, followed by the rest of the milk. Stir in the beer, Dijon, garlic powder and a pinch of salt.
½ cup beer , 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Return the pan to medium heat and stir until the sauce thickens and is bubbling (about 2-3 minutes). Remove from heat.
Add the cheese in small handfuls and mix, letting it melt into the sauce before adding more, until all of the cheese is used. Add more salt, to taste, if needed.
3 cups orange cheddar cheese
Garnish with a pinch of paprika and thyme leaves. Serve!
Notes
Yield: This recipe yields about 2 cups beer cheese dip.
Fridge Storage: It can be refrigerated for up to a week. I do not recommend freezing.
Reheating: To reheat, put it back on the stove and heat on low, stirring frequently. You may need to whisk in a little bit of milk to thin it out. You can also reheat it in a mini food warmer if you have one.
Dipping Options:
Pretzel Bread - my absolute favorite!
tortilla chips, chunks of artisan bread, crackers and breadsticks
celery sticks or roasted vegetables like fingerling potatoes and broccoli
tater tots
fries
use it as a sauce in Mexican dishes like tacos, burritos, enchiladas, crunch wraps and nachos