This Smoked Amber Ale Pub Cheese is so simple, there’s not even any cooking involved. We use a local smoked amber as well as smoked cheddar in this easy dip. Serve with pretzels, crackers, and crudites.

Smoked Amber Ale Pub Cheese Recipe

Easy appetizers are kind of my favorite thing. Sometimes I want to whip something up but just don’t have the time or energy to devote to something super involved. This is the perfect snack for just that situation. Need to bring something to share to a get-together? You’ll be done in just a few minutes.

This pub cheese is perfect with crackers, pita chips, pretzels, celery sticks, carrots, and any other vegetables you want to throw at it. If you can’t find the smoked beer, you can use your favorite beer in its place. The smoked cheese will still give you a hint of the fire in the end result.

See my favorite RECIPES USING BEER!

Great pub cheese starts with great beer

The explosion in popularity of the local brewery has been something that I’ve really appreciated over the last several years. Admittedly, beer isn’t my first choice in most circumstances if I’m going to enjoy some adult beverages, but I have a healthy appreciation for beer, and amber ales, in particular, are at the top of my personal favorites list when it comes to beer.

A few weeks back I went to an open mic at the Hood Canal Brewery in Kingston, WA, and when I saw a smoked beer on the menu I was all over it.

They call it the Hood’s Head Smoked Amber and describe it on their site as:

Red Apple. Toasty Malt. Thick. Light ruby color. Medium bodied, smooth with a malted barley. Smoked with applewood and alder by Crimson Cove Smokehouse. Seasonal.
– Hood Canal Brewery Website

Unfortunately, they don’t ship at this time, so you are either going to have to make the trek to the Puget Sound region to get a taste or go on the hunt for a brewery local to you that makes a similar beer. I’ve never seen one before, but I’m sure they exist.

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Smoked Pub Cheese Shopping List

Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here’s the list of items you’ll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

smoked amber ale
smoked cheddar
horseradish
mustard powder
garlic
chives

See my Easy Smoker Recipes here

How to make Pub Cheese

This is just the overview so you can see what you’re actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

Shred, whisk, and rest

Your cheese needs to be shredded and left out, covered until it comes to room temperature. Likewise, your beer should be flat AND room temperature, so give it some whisks and let it sit out with the cheese.

Pulse

Put all of the ingredients, minus the beer, into a food processor and pulse until everything is in small pieces and evenly distributed. Slowly add in the beer while pulsing. Continue to pulse and add beer until everything comes together and the dip is the consistency that you prefer. If it is too thin, add some more cheese. Too thick? Add a little more beer.

Serve

Serve with crackers, pretzels, and vegetables. Can be refrigerated and made in advance. Best served room temperature!

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Yield: 8 servings

Smoked Amber Ale Pub Cheese

Name: Smoked Amber Ale Pub Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 16 ounces smoked cheddar cheese, shredded and room temp; 1 teaspoon granulated garlic; 1 teaspoon White Tuxedo Blend; 1 teaspoon Colman’s mustard powder; 1 teaspoon Truff hot sauce (or your favorite brand); 6 ounces smoked amber ale, flat and room temp; 2 green onions, chopped

Simple pub cheese that's made with smoked cheese and smoked amber ale!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Rest Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

16 ounces smoked cheddar cheese, shredded and room temp
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 teaspoon White Tuxedo Blend
1 teaspoon Colman’s mustard powder
1 teaspoon Truff hot sauce (or your favorite brand)
6 ounces smoked amber ale, flat and room temp
2 green onions, chopped

Instructions

Shred the cheese and cover. Let it sit out on the counter and come to room temp. Likewise, take your beer and pour it into a bowl. Whisk to get rid of as much carbonation as you can, and cover and let sit out to come to room temp.
Place the cheese, garlic, tuxedo blend, mustard powder, and hot sauce into a food processor. Pulse until everything is chopped up and mixed together.
Slowly add in the beer, while pulsing, and let the mixture come together. You'll be processing for 3-4 minutes. Stop when it reaches the consistency that you prefer. If it is too thick, add a little more beer. Too thin? Add some more shredded cheese.
Top with green onions, and serve with pretzels, chips, and vegetables.

Smoked Amber Ale Pub Cheese