Beer Cheese Dip

This cheese dip made with your favorite beer is the perfect recipe for hosting friends and can be ready in just 15 minutes.

While you can use whatever beer you like, I’m all about Guinness, from Guinness beef stew to Guinness chocolate cake, it is just so versatile.

I don’t know about you, but I feel like Guinness beer is the most used beer out there when it comes to cooking. And no it doesn’t need to be St. Patrick’s Day to use it, although it doesn’t hurt.

And that’s where this beer cheese dip recipe comes into play. A few years back, my wife and I went to the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot and got some beer cheese dip from the Ireland section. Every since having it, I had wanted to recreate it.

Well I was in luck, as I had some leftover Guinness beer from another recipe. Before you ask, no you don’t need Guinness for beer cheese dip. You can use whatever beer you like and whatever cheese you happen to have. That’s what makes this dip so great.

That and it is super easy to whip up. And if you follow this blog at all, you might have noticed I just shared some pretzel bites. Yes those were made specifically for this Guinness cheese dip, but you can use your favorite dippers for this recipe.

What Ingredients are in this Beer Cheese Dip Recipe?

• Unsalted butter – works with the flour to form a roux.
• All-purpose flour – makes the roux to help thicken this beer cheese dip recipe.
• Whole milk – whole milk is best for a rich and creamy dip.
• Beer – feel free to use your favorite beer.
• Worcestershire sauce – adds a slight umami flavor.
• Dijon mustard – can’t have a dip without a little mustard.
• Garlic powder, paprika, salt, black pepper – enhances the flavor.
• Sharp cheddar cheese – use your favorite cheese or a combination of cheeses.

How to Make Guinness Cheese Dip

1. Heat butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until combined and cooked through, about 1 minute.
2. Slowly add the milk, beer, mustard, garlic powder, paprika, salt and black pepper, whisking until everything is combined.
3. Stirring constantly, cook until mixture has thickened slightly, about 3-5 minutes. Add cheese and whisk until smooth. Taste for seasoning and serve warm.

Best Beer for Cheese Dip

It really just depends on the kind of beer you like as that is what you should use.

• Dark beers – stouts and malts produce a deep and slightly bitter flavor that goes well with pretzels.
• Light beers – ales and IPA’s typically have a lighter or hoppier flavor and goes well with chips and veggies.
• Non-alcoholic – you could always go with a non-alcoholic beer and it will still taste great.

Variations

As with anything, you can change up your flavor depending on what you add to this beer cheese dip recipe.

• Spice – step up the heat by adding a pinch of cayenne or some hot sauce.
• More Queso-Like – if you want a queso dip, add some drained diced tomatoes and green chilis.
• Garlic – if you love garlic, then add 1-2 cloves and sauté  in the butter for 30 seconds before adding the flour.

Dipping Options

I associate beer cheese dip with soft, warm pretzels but there are plenty of possibilities.

• Bread – soft pretzels, French bread, pita bread, sourdough bread or no-knead Dutch oven bread.
• Chips – pita chips, tortilla chips, pretzel chips.
• Fruits – apples, grapes, pears.
• Veggies – broccoli, celery, cauliflower, mushrooms, carrots.

Pro Tips/Recipes Notes

• Don’t use pre-shredded cheese. It doesn’t taste as good and also has additional ingredients that you don’t need.
• If the dip seems a too thick, whisk in some milk 1 tbsp at a time and if it is too thin, just add some more cheese.
• Keep the beer cheese dip warm on a cheese fondue warmer or in a mini slow cooker.

Other Appetizer Recipes

• Classic Cheese Fondue
• Crispy Green Beans
• Beer Bread
• Pepperoni Bread

If you’ve tried this beer cheese dip recipe or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I’m up to.