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Beer cheese soup in bowl with bacon and scallions on dish towel.
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Beer Cheese Soup

Creamy and comforting, beer cheese soup combines rich cheddar cheese, savory broth and the malty depth of your favorite beer.
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 452kcal
Author Ryan Beck

Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
  • ¾ cup carrot, diced
  • ½ red bell pepper, diced
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 (12 oz) beer (preferably pale ale)
  • 1 ½ cups half-and-half
  • 1 lb extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated (aged 2+ years)
  • ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • dash hot sauce
  • toppings - bacon, scallions, croutons, etc...

Instructions

  • Melt butter in large stockpot over medium heat. Add carrots, pepper, salt and black pepper and cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes or until veggies are soft. Add the flour and stir until incorporated, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Add chicken broth, beer and half-and-half and cook at a simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring often.
  • Add cheddar to soup in stages, whisking each batch until smooth. Add the Worcestershire, nutmeg, mustard, lemon juice, hot sauce and ½ teaspoon black pepper and stir to combine.
  • Use an immersion blender and blend soup until smooth. It should take about 2-3 minutes to get everything. You can also puree in a blender in batches.
  • Ladle in bowl and eat with some pretzel bread.

Notes

  • Use a beer you enjoy as it determines the flavor.
  • Don’t use pre-shredded cheese. It doesn’t taste as good and also has additional ingredients that you don’t need.
  • Keep the heat low when adding cheese to prevent curdling. Stir constantly until the cheese melts completely.
  • Use an immersion blender to puree the vegetables. It is much easier than adding to the blender in batches.
  • Experiment with spices like smoked paprika, cayenne or garlic powder for a unique twist.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 452kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 536mg | Potassium: 199mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 3400IU | Vitamin C: 16.5mg | Calcium: 460mg | Iron: 0.7mg