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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 dish along 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'.
Quick Video Demonstration
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.
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
- 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 sauce or 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 traditional fondue set or use an electric fondue pot to 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.
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.
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.
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 an immersion blender or transfer the entire broken mess into a blender 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.
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 shishitos), 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 frikadellen and the like.
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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Recipe
Beer Cheese Fondue
Ingredients
- 4 cups shredded cheese* Gruyere, Emmenthaler, raclette, cheddar or other good melting cheese
- ¼ cup flour substitute with corn starch
- 1 cup flavorful low bitterness beer**
- ⅓ cup heavy cream fresh, at room temperature
- grated garlic or onion to taste, optional
- fresh or dry herbs to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl toss the grated cheese with the flour until well coated. Set aside.
- 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 ½ teaspoon of grated garlic or 1 teaspoon of grated onion and/or any herbs (½ to 1 tsp) add them to the beer.)
- After the beer has simmered for a minute or two, add the heavy cream, stir and simmer for another couple of minutes.
- 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.
- Transfer to a heated fondue pot and serve***.
Video
Notes
- 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.
Jamie
This was hands down the easiest fondue I have ever made. I used a Doppelbock which was just magical against the Gouda cheese I shredded myself. The fondue kept its consistency for a long time over three tea lights under our cast iron pot. We all enjoyed it had it all in one seating.
janet
first time making beer cheese fondue . family review and i qoate" from my daughter "mom this is the best fondue you have ever made " (mind you my first beer cheese fondue. i followed the recipe to yours with a few of my secrets..I will not tell..my son and husband loved it too.
Milena Perrine
Janet, this sounds great:) Thank you for sharing such a positive experience. Love it!
Anna
This recipe gives great results EVERY TIME! We make beer cheese fondue for New Year's Eve every year and just love how simple and flavorful it turns out. Thanks for sharing!
Doug
I just left a review. One more point. I used sharp cheddar because someone else is going to bring a more traditional fondue. Is it possible that my problem was because it was cheddar?
Milena Perrine
When the cheese lumps it is almost always due to too hot of a liquid base. But assuming this was not your issue - what kind of cheddar were you using? Did it have sufficient oil content or was it a bit on the dry side? Dry does not melt easy. Cheddar is typically well suited for melting. For any cheese sauce that breaks there is only one way to fix it: All you need to do is transfer the mixture to a food processor or use a hand held immersion blender and blend it to a smooth perfection. Then you can strain it and heat it up very gently, on low, with a couple of tablespoons of heavy cream.
Ony adding liquids cannot undo the protein lumps.
Ronda
Hi , I'd really like to make this , is there a substitute I can use ( nonalcohol ) for this cheese fondue ? Thanks we can't wait to try it
Milena Perrine
Ronda, seek out a non-alcoholic beer. Most liquor stores will carry several options. That way you will have a bit of the flavor and no alcohol at all.
Rosana Edmonton
Never thought of using beer in a fondue recipe but was great!
Deidre Sue
Anyone ever try this in a chafing dish for tailgating?
Craft Beering
Deidre, I would caution against too shallow of a dish (simply due to the large surface relative to its depth allowing the cheese to heat too much) and the typical chafing dish lighters as they tend to be a bit strong and can also overheat the beer cheese.
Jackie Alvarado
Where can I find a cast iron fondue set like the one you have pictured.
CraftBeering
Jackie, wish they were still available... We had found it almost ten years ago at a local kitchen gadget store in a small town in the Rockies, I believe in Dillon or Frisco.
Becki
Looks so yummy! Question...do you have to have a fondue pot, or could you keep this in a small crockpot?
CraftBeering
Becki, thank you for the question. You can use a small crock pot to keep the cheese sauce warm, it should work just fine. Stir occasionally:)
Kelsie
Just yesterday I was thinking I want to make fondue soon. This recipe is totally a sign that I need to do it! I just want to do a faceplant into your pics!
Ruth Vet
I am making this as I write this for our vegetarian meal with a big salad! This plus a salad equals an awesome meal! I am using large wheat penne pasta, mini red potatoes, carrots, broccoli, apples, bread, and soft pretzels! Thanks for a great recipe!!
Katie
Do you cook any of the veggies (minus potatoes)? Most recipes I’ve seen say they steam their veggies.
CraftBeering
Hi, Katie,
It is a matter of personal choice really. For asparagus we like to peel the lower asparagus stalks then blanche in boiling salted water for about 2 minutes and shock in ice bath after. Carrot sticks we like raw, brocolli/brocollini blanche, and so on. Just really depends on your individual preference.
Brittany
Just curious for some ideas on the best beer to add? Something common that can be found at most liquor stores.
Thank you!
CraftBeering
Hi Brittany, within the body of the post there is a section about the best beer styles to use. They are all pretty easy to find at liquor stores. Generally you want to find a style that has low bitterness, herbal/floral hop aromas and good malty backbone with bready/biscuity notes. Our favorites are balanced lagers such as Czech Pilsner, Munich helles, American craft lagers. Hope this helps!
Nicole
I love beer cheese! Im pinning this so I can try this recipe later
Kerryanne
Oh yes, beer cheese fondue.... don't mind if I do!! Yum.
Kerryanne
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
I want to be sitting in front of this right now! Fondue is so fun, not to mention delicious and beer cheese is the perfect thing for dipping 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
It's been a little while since I've had fondue, so this is just the reminder I need. You probably know how much I love cheese so I could easily make a meal out of this all by itself. Pinned! Hope you had a lovely weekend 🙂
CraftBeering
Thank you, Dawn! Weekend was great:) Get on that fondue and cheers!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
Very little makes me as excited as a big pot of fondue, and I love your beer version! Just hand me a loaf of crusty bread and I'm a happy camper :).
CraftBeering
I can very much echo your sentiments, Kelsie!