Beer Cheese Fondue Recipe (Delicious & Easy) - Craft Beering (2024)

Beer cheese fondue recipe so easy that you might add it to your regular appetizers rotation. Tips on good melting cheeses and compatible beer styles.

Beer Cheese Fondue Recipe (Delicious & Easy) - Craft Beering (1)

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Read on for relevant information and tips with step-by-step pictures (2 mins total).

A Cozy Melting Pot Beer Sauce

Cheese fondue is a melted cheese sauce with origins in French speaking Switzerland. Many regard it as a quintessential Swiss dishalong with raclette and rosti.

It started as a way for Swiss peasants to make the most of stale bread, aged cheese and dry white wine during the cold winter months. To soften the former they dipped it in a heated sauce-like combination of the latter two.

The word fondue (literally ‘melted’) is derived from the French verb ‘fondre’ which means ‘to melt’.

Beer Cheese Fondue Ingredients

Our cheese fondue recipe with beer is as simple as it gets, with only four main ingredients.

Good melting cheese and flavorful, low bitterness beer are a given while flour and cream are facilitators of the melting process.

Any seasonings and/or flavoring agents such as minced garlic or shallots, Worcestershire sauce or mustard (in the style of beer cheese soup) are up to you and can boost the overall flavor.

TIP: To simplify things select a cheese that has already been flavored – with herbs, bacon bits, chives, garlic etc.

Beer Cheese Fondue Recipe (Delicious & Easy) - Craft Beering (2)

Best Melting Cheeses for Beer Cheese Fondue

The Swiss commonly use two different cheeses in fondue. For a time Chris used to work at a resort in Vail where one of the restaurants, The Swiss Chalet serves a fondue made with no less than four imported Swiss cheeses. We love this tradition and use it with the beer cheese fondue concept.

You can use any combination of the most popular Swiss cheeses in the beer version of the dish. You can also go with a number of alternatives, as long as they are good melting cheeses. This is a list of suitable options:

  • Swiss cheeses like Gruyere, Emmenthaler and Vacherin
  • Raclette
  • Gouda (especially smoked Gouda)
  • Fontina
  • Cheddar/white cheddar (sharp cheddar cheese goes very well with lager beer)
  • Colby
  • Jarlsberg
  • Less traditional options such as the Gloucester cheese (with chives) we used for this post
  • Cheeses from the Brie family (such as the Vacherin noted above) – these ones you will not be able to grate and will need to piece with a fork/knife

Read these practical tips on the process of transforming cheese into a beer cheese sauceor check out our feta cheese fondue recipe with beer.

Best Beer Styles to Use for Cheese Fondue

Styles with low bitterness, bready/biscuity notes and herbal, earthy aromas (Noble hops or traditional English varieties) make the best candidates to use. To that end we recommend:

  • Pilsner lagers (like Bohemian (Czech) and Munich Helles)
  • Dunkel and bock lagers
  • Doppelbock lagers (especially well suited with more aged cheeses)
  • Saisons and strong Belgian ales (nothing sour)
  • Wheat ales, especially if fermented with clean American yeast (not fruit flavored of course and nothing sour)
  • English pale ales, English mild
  • Amber and brown ales (low bitterness, mostly aroma hops)

Avoid sour beers (including kettle sours) as their higher acidity may cause the heavy cream to curdle, especially if it is not fresh heavy cream and has already began to sour in the carton.

Step-by-Step Process

You can make the fondue on the stove top and transfer it to the (preheated) pot of a traditionalfondue setor use anelectric fondue potto make and keep the beer cheese fondue warm.

For the second option be sure to use the appropriate settings – consult the instructions for your specific brand and model electric fondue pot.

Before you begin to make the beer cheese fondue prepare all of your dipping foods (see below for ideas) and set the table. Open a beer for yourself and get to work.

Step 1. To start – shred enough cheese to have about four cups worth. In a bowl coat it well with flour or cornstarch (this will facilitate the melting process). Set aside.

Beer Cheese Fondue Recipe (Delicious & Easy) - Craft Beering (3)Beer Cheese Fondue Recipe (Delicious & Easy) - Craft Beering (4)

TIP: Shred cheese while still cold from the fridge (it is easier) and let it come to room temperature before you toss it in flour.

Step 2. Next, pour the beer into a cold pot or sauce pan, turn the heat to medium and bring to simmer to cook off the alcohol. After the beer has simmered for a couple of minutes, add the cream and simmer for a few more minutes.

TIPS: 1. If you add beer to a hot pan/pot it will foam excessively. 2. If you’d like to add a bit of grated garlic or grated onion and/or any dry or fresh herbs such as picked fresh thyme leaves, add them to the beer to infuse with their flavor.

Beer Cheese Fondue Recipe (Delicious & Easy) - Craft Beering (5)Beer Cheese Fondue Recipe (Delicious & Easy) - Craft Beering (6)

Step 3. Remove the saucepan from the heat and fold in the cheese mixture in batches while gently stirring. Once all the cheese has melted, transfer to a pre-heated fondue pot, taste and if needed season with salt & pepper, then serve.

Beer Cheese Fondue Recipe (Delicious & Easy) - Craft Beering (7) Beer Cheese Fondue Recipe (Delicious & Easy) - Craft Beering (8) Beer Cheese Fondue Recipe (Delicious & Easy) - Craft Beering (9)

What to Do If Your Beer Cheese Fondue Breaks

If your beer cheese sauce breaks (most likely due to adding cold cheese to too hot of a liquid base) you might end up with clumps. This is easy to fix!

Simply use animmersion blender or transfer the entire broken mess into ablender and process it until no more clumps are visible. Strain and add a few tablespoons of cream to the cheese sauce and warm it up over very gentle heat while stirring.

Beer Cheese Fondue Recipe (Delicious & Easy) - Craft Beering (10)

Fondue Party Dipping Food

You must have bread cubes as dippers! Soft pretzels bits make a great alternative.

Then of course veggie sticks such as carrots or celery, asparagus spears, cauliflower or broccoli florets, fruit like avocado, mini peppers (even blistered shish*tos), mini tomatoes, apples, steamed new potatoes or roasted thick potato wedges. On and on. Don’t forget mushrooms as a prospect.

As huge meat lovers we always make sure to have at least one tasty protein like grilled steak, sausage bites (even pigs in a blanket), mini meatballs such as frikadellenand the like.

Beer Cheese Fondue Recipe (Delicious & Easy) - Craft Beering (11)

TIP: Cut your dipping foods into bite-sized pieces – cubes, strips, sticks etc.

Finally, I feel obliged to mention that this melted beer cheese dip also doubles as a macaroni and cheese star ingredient. Instead of transferring it to a fondue pot, mix it with cooked elbow macaroni and voila!

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Beer Cheese Fondue Recipe (Delicious & Easy) - Craft Beering (12)

Beer Cheese Fondue

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 7 minutes

Total Time: 12 minutes

Beer cheese fondue recipes and tips on suitable types of cheese and beer styles.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups shredded cheese* (Gruyere, Emmenthaler, raclette, cheddar or other good melting cheese)
  • 1/4 cup flour (substitute with corn starch)
  • 1 cup flavorful, low bitterness beer**
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream (fresh, at room temperature)
  • grated garlic or onion (to taste, optional)
  • fresh or dry herbs (to taste)

Instructions

  1. In a bowl toss the grated cheese with the flour until well coated. Set aside.
  2. Add the beer to a cold small pot/deep sauce pan and bring it to low simmer over medium heat. (If you want to flavor with 1/2 tsp of grated garlic or 1 tsp of grated onion and/or any herbs (1/2 to 1 tsp) add them to the beer.)
  3. After the beer has simmered for a minute or two, add the heavy cream, stir and simmer for another couple of minutes.
  4. Remove from the heat and fold in the cheese, stirring gently and working in batches. You might need to place the pan back on the warm stove (turned off or very low heat) to help the melting along. Do not overheat it.
  5. Transfer to a heated fondue pot and serve***.

Notes

*Generally about 4 oz of semi-hard (good melting) cheese will yield 1 cup of shredded cheese. If you are using a combination of two cheeses (recommended) make sure you have at least 8 oz of each.

**For specific style suggestions consult the relevant section in the body of the post. We highly recommend Czech pilsner, Munich helles, American craft lager, bock.

***Have your dipping foods cut in bite-sized pieces and ready to serve ahead of time. If after awhile the cheese sauce begins to thicken in the fondue pot, add a tablespoon or two of cream and gently stir to thin it out.

IMPORTANT:

Upon adding the heavy cream to the beer in the sauce pan it could curdle even though this is not common. Here is how to avoid curdling:

  • Do not use beer that is too acidic, stick with the recommended styles in the body of this post.
  • Be sure to use heavy cream as it has sufficient fat content and should not curdle.
  • Be sure that the heavy cream is relatively fresh - as it sits some acid will begin to form in the cream which can cause curdling.
  • Do not add the heavy cream to beer that is too hot - know the strength of your stove. Gentle simmer is all you need, do not allow the beer to start boiling.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 4 Servings
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 544Saturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 117mgSodium: 301mgCarbohydrates: 8.9gFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.6gProtein: 34.3g

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Beer Cheese Fondue Recipe (Delicious & Easy) - Craft Beering (2024)

FAQs

What kind of beer is best for beer cheese? ›

I used Fat Tire because that what I had on hand, but Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light, and Miller Lite are all good options. No need to use anything fancy! What brands of cheese do you recommend? For the Cheddar, you can use a good supermarket brand, like Cabot or Tillamook.

What is the best cheese to melt in fondue? ›

Best Cheese for Fondue

This fondue recipe calls for Gruyère and Swiss cheeses because they're creamy, buttery, and melt smoothly. Other good choices include Gouda, fontina, and Emmental.

What alcohol is good for fondue? ›

The wine (white, exclusively) must be its complement: acid, refreshing, unctuous and powerful in alcohol.
  • Wines of Savoy: Apremont, Abymes, Roussette and Chapareillan.
  • Wines of the Loire: Savennières and Cheverny.
  • Wines from the Rhone Valley: Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Peray.

Why do you put cornstarch in cheese fondue? ›

Never let fondue boil, which will cause the cheese proteins to curdle and the oil to separate. This recipe also calls for a slurry of kirsch and a little bit of cornstarch, which will also help to prevent the cheese and wine from separating.

What's the difference between beer cheese and pub 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.

Does the beer in beer cheese cook out? ›

Roughly speaking: Beer cheese sauce, bourbon caramel and other sauces brought to a boil and then removed from the heat typically retain about 85 percent of the alcohol.

What is the bottom of a cheese fondue called? ›

A cheese fondue mixture should be kept warm enough to keep the fondue smooth and liquid but not so hot that it burns. If this temperature is held until the fondue is finished there will be a thin crust of toasted (not burnt) cheese at the bottom of the caquelon. This is called la religieuse (French for the nun).

What type of bread is best for fondue? ›

Bread is the most popular dipper for cheese fondue. There are many excellent options to choose from. French bread, breadsticks, and croutons are always favorites, but also consider multigrain bread, rye, sourdough, pumpernickel, and even bagels.

What is the best fuel for cheese fondue? ›

Usually fondue fuel is methyl hydrate, also known as methanol, methyl alcohol, or wood alcohol. Most fondue burners have a fiberglass batting inside them to soak the alcohol up and act like a wick, you do not want to overfill the burner because you do not want to spill burning alcohol and start a fire.

What should you not drink with fondue? ›

Don't drink anything but these 3 beverages: Sip only white wine, kirsch, or a tisane of herbal tea with your fondue meal. According to Swiss lore, any other drink—be it water, juice, or beer—will cause the melted cheese to coagulate and form a giant ball in your stomach, leaving you with debilitating indigestion.

Why do you put lemon juice in fondue? ›

Lemon juice helps stabilize the emulsion of melted cheese and wine, while providing a bright flavor to balance the dairy-fat richness. Keeping the heat low while melting the cheese prevents the fondue from breaking.

What beer goes with fondue? ›

Beer – a light or medium-bodied, low IBU lager beer or kolsch works well for most palates. Fresh garlic clove – it's typical to halve a clove of garlic then rub it all over the inside of the fondue pot. For this recipe, I grate the garlic then add it the beer as it's heating for some punchy garlic flavor.

What additive makes cheese melt better? ›

Here are the most commonly used melting salts: Sodium citrate. A little bit of sodium citrate—the salt of citric acid—will help emulsify the proteins and the fats in cheese, preventing them from splitting and forming a dry, stringy mess.

How to make cheese fondue Jamie Oliver? ›

Add the chopped shallots to the frying pan and cook them gently for around 5 to 10 minutes with a pinch of salt and pepper and the herbs. Once they've softened, but not coloured, add them to the bowl with the cider and all of the cheese. Leave the cheese to slowly melt down, only stirring now and then to help it along.

How much cheese per person in fondue? ›

How Much Cheese Per Person for Fondue? Plan to purchase around eight ounces of cheese per person when serving fondue. An intimate date night meal for two would require about a pound of cheese, while a meal for four would require two pounds, a dinner party with eight guests would need four pounds, and so on.

Which beer goes well with cheese? ›

A full-bodied, matured cheese often goes well with heavier beer types, like pale lager, brown ales or even stouts. You might also give a heavy barley wine a try. Sharp blue cheeses can handle a heavy black stout, which can otherwise easily smother other flavours. Heavy, fruity beers also go well with blue cheeses.

What is the best brand of beer to use for beer bread? ›

Fruity beers, like Saison and Hefewizens will add a hint of fruit and spice to your bread. They are excellent choices for sweeter breads for breakfasts and brunches. Irish beers like Guinness and red ales are perfect when you're serving up Irish Stew or celebrating St.

What beers are best for beer batter? ›

Most are fair game for beer batter (Pilsner Urquell, Stella Artois, Modelo, and Firestone Pivo Pils are particularly nice), with the exception of Bohemian pilsner, which comes with a heavy dose of spices that can change the overall flavor of your dish. In a beer batter, pilsner is one of the more low-key options.

What 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.

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