Patrick Oconnell
Pub cheese, also known as beer cheese, is a creamy, spreadable cheese often served at bars and casual eateries. It is a quintessential American pub grub that is easy to make and is typically served cold. The best pub cheese has a soft, creamy consistency and a good balance of flavours. It is usually served with crackers, crostini, pretzels, pita chips, breadsticks, veggie sticks, or even fruits like grapes and apple slices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Consistency | Spreadable, mousse-like, soft, creamy |
| Temperature | Cold |
| Taste | Salty, cheesy, tangy |
| Serving suggestions | Crackers, pretzels, crostini, pita chips, bread sticks, veggie sticks, tortilla chips, grapes, apple slices |
| Customization | Vary the cheese, beer style, and spices |
| Storage | Tightly covered in the fridge for up to 10 days |
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What You'll Learn
What to serve pub cheese with
Pub cheese, also known as beer cheese, is a creamy spreadable cheese often served in bars and casual eateries. It is a quintessential American pub grub that is usually served cold. It is typically accompanied by crackers, breadsticks, veggie sticks, or pretzels.
Pub cheese is a highly customizable dip that can be paired with a variety of foods. It can be served with hard or soft pretzels, pretzel bites, pita chips, or even honey pretzel sticks. For a healthier option, it can be paired with carrots, celery, or other vegetable sticks. It can also be served with crackers, crostini, or breadsticks.
Some creative ways to serve pub cheese include spreading it on toast or a hot dog, or using it as a topping for burgers. It can also be paired with salami, tortilla chips, or salsa. For a more indulgent option, pub cheese can be paired with garlic naan crackers or everything bagel crackers.
When serving pub cheese, it is important to consider the type of beer used in the recipe, as a strong beer may overpower the cheese's flavor. The best pub cheese has a soft, creamy consistency and a good balance of flavors. It is a simple and versatile dish that can be easily customized to suit different tastes and preferences.
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How to make pub cheese
Pub cheese is a spreadable, creamy cheese dip that is traditionally served with pita chips, tortilla chips, bread, crackers, pretzels, or fresh vegetables. It is typically made with a combination of cheeses, beer, and spices. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make pub cheese at home:
Ingredients
- Cheddar cheese
- Cream cheese
- Beer (a lighter beer such as Harp is recommended to avoid overpowering the cheese)
- Garlic (fresh or powder)
- Mustard (ground or powder)
- Hot sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: Worcestershire sauce, paprika, onion powder, cayenne pepper powder, and chopped chives
Instructions
- Flatten the beer by pouring it into a bowl and whisking it well for 5-10 minutes. This step helps to remove excess carbonation from the beer, ensuring a smooth and creamy pub cheese dip.
- Grate your own cheese at home for the smoothest, creamiest texture. You can use a food processor to grate the cheese into small pieces.
- Place the grated cheese, cream cheese, garlic, mustard, hot sauce, and any desired spices into a food processor.
- With the processor running, slowly stream in the flattened beer until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Add more beer if the mixture is too thick, adjusting to your desired consistency.
- Transfer the pub cheese to a serving bowl and sprinkle with chopped chives, if desired.
- Serve with your choice of pita chips, crackers, pretzels, or fresh vegetables.
Tips
- Allow the cheese to come to room temperature before mixing for the best texture.
- If making ahead, let the dip sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving to ensure a spreadable consistency.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days.
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How to store pub cheese
Pub cheese is a soft cheese spread or dip that can be made with or without alcohol. It is typically made with a combination of cheeses, such as cheddar, cream cheese, and gouda, and various seasonings, such as mustard, garlic powder, and onion powder. The key ingredient that distinguishes pub cheese from other cheese spreads is beer, although non-alcoholic versions can be made with dill pickle juice as a substitute.
To store pub cheese, it is important to keep it refrigerated. It can be stored in an airtight container or tightly covered in plastic wrap. Properly stored, pub cheese will stay fresh for about a week to ten days. It is best to use fresh ingredients and to bring them to room temperature before mixing them together. This helps ensure that the pub cheese has an optimal texture and that the flavors are well combined.
When preparing the pub cheese for storage, it is recommended to line the storage container with plastic wrap, leaving some excess wrap to cover the top of the cheese. This creates an additional barrier to help keep the cheese fresh and prevent it from drying out. If you are using a tub or container with a lid, ensure that it seals tightly before placing it in the refrigerator.
It is also important to note that the type of beer used in the pub cheese can affect its storage. Highly carbonated beers can cause the cheese to become overly fizzy or sour if stored for too long. To avoid this, it is recommended to use flat beer or let the beer sit for a couple of hours to reduce carbonation before mixing it with the cheese.
Additionally, the addition of certain ingredients, such as horseradish, can impact the storage time of pub cheese. Horseradish has a strong flavor and can start to dominate the other flavors in the cheese if stored for extended periods. If you plan on adding horseradish to your pub cheese, it is best to consume it within a few days to enjoy the intended flavor profile.
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The history of pub cheese
Pub cheese is a type of soft cheese spread or dip that is typically made with a hearty dose of cheese, beer, and a medley of spices or horseradish. It is a traditional bar snack in the United States, where it is mass-produced and sold by brands such as Président and Trader Joe's. Many bars, breweries, and restaurants also produce their own versions of pub cheese.
While the origins of pub cheese are not entirely clear, it is widely accepted that it originated in the United States, with roots in New England and Kentucky. Some sources claim that pub cheese was likely invented to encourage patrons in pubs and bars to order more beer, hence the name.
One specific origin story points to a restaurant in Clark County, Kentucky, known as Johnny Allman's, where the cheese spread is said to have first been served in the 1940s. The owner, John Allman, credited the invention to his cousin, Joe Allman, a chef in Phoenix, Arizona, whose Southwestern influence may explain the spread's spicy nature. On February 21, 2013, the Kentucky Legislature decreed Clark County as the birthplace of beer cheese.
Another theory suggests that beer cheese, a similar spread that always contains beer, may have German origins. Some claim that it is similar to Obatzda, a Bavarian spread made from soft cheeses, butter, seasonings, and beer, which gained popularity in the 1920s. Given the significant German immigrant population in the Ohio River valley and the upper Midwest, there may be a connection between the German Obatzda and the development of pub cheese in the United States.
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Variations of pub cheese
Pub cheese is a versatile treat that can be customised in a variety of ways. The basic recipe includes cheese, beer, and spices, but there are many different types of cheese and beer that can be used, and a wide range of additional ingredients that can be added to create different flavours.
The type of cheese used is the most important factor in determining the flavour of the pub cheese. Sharp cheddar is the traditional choice, but Colby, Jack, and Gouda are also popular substitutes. Cream cheese is often added to the mixture to make it softer and easier to spread, but other spreadable cheeses can be used instead. Some recipes call for a mix of processed cheese and pure cheese. Smoked cheeses or liquid smoke can be added to impart a smoky flavour.
The type of beer used will also affect the flavour of the pub cheese. Lagers and ales with malt and herbal hops notes are generally preferred, as well as sweetish bocks, brown ales, porters, or stouts. A hoppy beer will produce a more bitter spread, while a pale lager won't add much flavour at all. For a non-alcoholic version, milk can be used instead of beer.
There are many different ingredients that can be added to pub cheese to create different flavours. Horseradish, Dijon mustard, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce will all add a spicy kick. Chives add a mild onion flavour, while maple syrup can be used to neutralise the bitterness of a strongly hopped pilsner. For an extra savoury flavour, cooked crumbled bacon or sausage, diced jalapeños, or pickles can be stirred into the mixture after blending.
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Frequently asked questions
Pub cheese, also known as beer cheese, is a creamy, spreadable cheese often found at bars and casual eateries. It is a quintessential American pub grub.
Pub cheese is typically served cold. It is served with crackers, crostini, pretzels, pita chips, breadsticks, veggie sticks, or fruits like grapes and apple slices.
Pub cheese can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days.
