Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (2024)

Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (1)

Written by Leela Published on in Appetizers, Snacks

If y’all know anything about me, you know I love cheese. All kinds of cheese. Did you know there is such a thing as Kentucky beer cheese? I grew up eating this delicious dip pretty much every day as an after school snack. It wasn’t until I went to college in Alabama that I realized it was a Kentucky specialty. Beer cheese is a creamy, spicy dip made with, well, beer and cheese. You’re likely to find it at any UK football or Keeneland tailgate.

Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (2)

I got a recipe for Hall’s beer cheese, my favorite brand and a staple in Lexington, years ago from my grandmother. I’ve tweaked it a bit and toned down the spice a tad. The great thing about this recipe is that it’s entirely made in the food processor, so there’s very little manual labor! Just throw everything in and press a button. Check out the recipe below.

Kentucky Beer Cheese

2017-04-30 09:06:08

Yields 2

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Prep Time

20 min

Total Time

20 min

Ingredients

  1. 1 pound block of sharp cheddar cheese
  2. 1/2 yellow onion, roughly chopped
  3. 2 tsp minced garlic
  4. 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  5. 1/2 - 1 tsp Cayenne pepper
  6. 1/2 tsp salt
  7. 1 bottle full-flavored beer*

Instructions

  1. At least one hour before you're ready to start making your dip, open beer and let sit on counter (weird, I know, but stale beer works better!)
  2. Add onion to food processor and pulse until finely minced.
  3. Add all spices to processor.
  4. Chop cheese into two inch cubes; add one cube to processor at a time while pulsing.
  5. Slowly pour in beer while pulsing until you reach a creamy consistency and no chunks of cheese remain. I usually use about half a bottle of beer or a little less.
  6. Serve with crackers, pretzels, carrots and celery sticks. I'm a Wheat Thins gal! Store leftovers in fridge.

Notes

  1. *I would avoid using a light beer. Since it's almost Cinco de Mayo, I used Modelo this time, but also love Kentucky Ale. A good old Budweiser works too.

Lex Eats https://lexeats.com/

Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (3)

Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (4)

Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (5)

Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (6)

Are you a convert yet? Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Biscuits & blessings,

Leels

Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (7)

Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (8)

8 Comments

  1. Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (9)

    Jill

    November 21, 2019 at 2:42 pm ·Reply

    We love the beer cheese from Hall’s!! Would you consider sending me that recipe? Not to take away from your recipe at all, I just know my husband loves the stuff from Hall’s! Thanks!!

    • Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (10)

      Leela

      December 4, 2019 at 4:27 pm ·Reply

      Hi Jill! This recipe is the alleged recipe from Hall’s!

  2. Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (11)

    Stewart Brashear

    June 7, 2020 at 1:26 am ·Reply

    Never was onion in Halls (Allmans’) beer cheese! First I ate was back in the 50’s. The original recipe contained beer,garlic powder,red pepper, Worcestershire sauce and Old Dover Cheese food which was bought at Kings Food on Manchester St. in Lexington Ky. Doubt if you can find that cheese now. Beer back then had a totally different taste than it does now. Ate a ton on deep fried Banana peppers. The original recipe came from a man with the last name of Lily. That was many many moons ago.

    • Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (12)

      Leela

      July 16, 2020 at 1:31 am ·Reply

      Thanks for sharing Stewart! I’ll have to ask my grandmother about that!

  3. Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (13)

    Stewart brashear

    March 8, 2021 at 7:30 pm ·Reply

    Halls absolutely did not have onions in it.. I’m 75+ And visited Johnny Allmans restaurant many many times. MOF I was in there a couple of nights before it burnt.
    Johnnies brother Joe was given credit for the recipe to begin with but a few people know who came up with it. It was a Mr. Lily who originally gave the recipe to Joe. I will post the original ingredients but I won’t post the amounts.

    Old Dover processed cheese food ( no longer available) from Kings Food in Lexington
    Stale full strength beer
    Garlic powder
    Worchestershire sauce
    Cayenne pepper
    That’s it,nothing fancy. I can tell you one thing for sure,the stuff they’re marketing now for Halls ain’t even close to what it used to be. Way too much garlic and even the texture is wrong .

  4. Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (14)

    Stewart brashear

    March 8, 2021 at 8:33 pm ·Reply

    Original recipe given to Joe Allman many many moons ago by a fellow by the name of Mr. Lily. He gave it to Johnny who served it at his restaurants until it burned in the late 70s and then on to Halls. MOF I made the fire at the restaurant when I was on the Fire dept in Lexington. The original recipe has not that many ingredients. I will tell you what they are but not the amounts.
    Old Dover Sharp processed cheese food …it was bought from Kings Food in Lexington
    Full strength stale beer
    Garlic powder
    Worchestershire sauce
    Cayenne pepper
    I still make it occasionally and it’s pretty much dead on what Halls used to be not the stuff now,too much garlic. I use Gordon’s Food sharp processed cheese because Dover isn’t available anymore. Regular cheese has too much butterfat in it and will seperate after a while

  5. Pingback: Southern Pig Taters ⋆ That One Mom

    • Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (15)

      Leela

      March 21, 2023 at 8:36 pm ·Reply

      Yum, great idea!

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Kentucky Beer Cheese, an authentic recipe on lexeats.com (2024)

FAQs

Was Beer Cheese invented in Kentucky? ›

Beer cheese has a history as spicy as its flavor. According to legend, it all started in the late 1930s on the banks of the Kentucky River near Winchester.

What is Kentucky cheese? ›

Kentucky Beer Cheese is made with a high quality cheddar cheese and mixed with beer, garlic and spices. No fillers, mayonnaise, or lower quality cheese products are added to Kentucky Beer Cheese.

How long does Beer Cheese last? ›

Beer cheese should be stored in the refrigerator, tightly covered, where it will keep for three to four days. When buying store-bought cheese, simply leave it in its original container. Transfer homemade beer cheese to an airtight container.

Where is Hall's Beer Cheese? ›

Hall's Beer Cheese, is a beer cheese spread made in central Kentucky since the 1960s. The name comes from Hall's on the River, a Winchester, Kentucky restaurant that popularized the item. Halls on the River Restaurant, Winchester, Kentucky, U.S.

What state is known for beer cheese? ›

Beer cheese is a cheese spread most commonly found in Kentucky. Similarly named cheese products can be found in other regions of the United States, but beer cheese spread itself is not widely distributed. Despite this fact, the product is nearly ubiquitous in Kentucky.

What cheese is beer cheese made of? ›

Beer cheese dip is a cheese spread typically made with sharp cheddar, beer, garlic, and spices, served with crackers or crudités as an appetizer.

Why is beer cheese so good? ›

Beer Cheese is one of our Wisconsin Cheeses along with Muenster, Brick, Limburger, and our American Cheeses. It is full flavored, salty and tangy; you won't be missing out on flavor if you try this cheese. Beer Cheese is a semi-soft combination of Limburger Cheese and Brick Cheese.

Is beer cheese a southern thing? ›

Beer cheese is a tasty accompaniment to pretzels and other snacks thanks to its spicy, beer-tinged flavor. While this spreadable cheese (which is an amalgamation of different cheeses) is known far and wide these days, it most likely originated in the southern part of the U.S. nearly a century ago.

Does beer cheese have alcohol? ›

Primarily crafted from milk, butter, and melted cheddar, plus a bit of beer, the dip might lead some to wonder if it includes enough alcohol to feel a booze-induced impact. Rest assured, while beer cheese does contain alcohol, it's typically not enough to give anyone a buzz.

What is the best beer for beer cheese? ›

In general, when making beer cheese, choose a brew with a light body and subtle flavor profile. Beers in the pilsner, blonde ale, and lager families would all be good options.

Do you eat beer cheese hot or cold? ›

The beer should be at room temperature, but the cheese can be cold, which helps to ensure that the mixture stays creamy. Once the beer and cheese are mixed together, the mixture is either served immediately or heated to melt the cheese, depending on the recipe.

What do you eat beer cheese with? ›

Beer Cheese Dip Board
  1. Crusty bread, soft pretzels, bread sticks, or garlic knots.
  2. Apples or pears.
  3. Tortilla chips, croutons, or hard pretzels.
  4. Peppers, celery, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, roasted potatoes, or fries.
  5. Pepperoni, steak bites, salami, sausage links, or meatballs.
Sep 19, 2023

Who invented beer cheese? ›

Kentucky has a unique culinary heritage of innovation that has produced some of the world's most beloved flavors: Kentucky Fried Chicken, bourbon, and beer cheese. Legend has it that this unique snack was developed by Joe Allman for his cousin Johnny Allman to introduce in his various restaurants on the Kentucky River.

Does Costco sell beer cheese? ›

You asked; we listened. Don't delay. Get your Hall's Beer Cheese @Costco today.

Is pub cheese the same as beer cheese? ›

Pub cheese is a type of soft cheese spread or dip prepared using cheese as a primary ingredient and usually with some type of beer or ale added. While beer cheese is made with beer, pub cheese can be made without alcohol. Pub cheese is a traditional bar snack in the United States.

Where did Derby cheese originate? ›

Derby is a traditional British cheese made in Derbyshire, England, since the 16th century. It is England's oldest and most famous cheese made in several varieties, including Sage Derby. Derby is a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk. It has a mild flavour and creamy ivory to a rich yellow pate.

What state is known for its cheese? ›

The top cheese producing U.S. states are Wisconsin and California. Wisconsin's nickname as “America's Dairyland” punctuates the state's leading position within the U.S. dairy industry.

What is the history of Kentucky Common beer? ›

History. An American original, Kentucky Common was almost exclusively produced and sold around Louisville, Kentucky from some time after the Civil War until Prohibition. It was inexpensive and quickly produced, racked into barrels while actively fermenting, and tightly bunged to allow carbonation in the saloon cellar.

What famous cheese was invented in the United States? ›

Colby. Named after the Wisconsin town where it was first made, this traditional creamery cheese is made from whole cow's milk. Often thought of as a type of Cheddar, Colby is actually higher in moisture, with a more elastic, springy texture, and a mildly sweet (rather than savoury) flavour.

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