Beer Forum

Anyone know a killer recipe for beer cheese soup? hmmm beer, hmmm cheese.

Mostly from Joy of Cooking...
Melt in soup pot over med heat
3/4 stick butter (6T)
add and cook till tender not brown
1c diced onions
1c diced celery
3/4c diced carrot
sprinkle in 1/4c flour
cook 3-4 more minutes while stirring
whisk in 4c liquid (Joy says chicken stock but sub 50-50 chix and beer)
bring to a boil constant whisking... once boil reduce heat to simmer and cook till thickened (~45min)
pour into blender and puree... return to pot and bring to simmer
stir in 1c heavy cream or half n half
8oz cheddar cheese (grated works best)
1t dry mustard
Reduce heat to low and stir till cheese is melted (if too hot cheese will break down and you will have a nasty mess)
Season to taste with hotsauce and/or worchestershire sauce and/or salt and pepper
If you like it thinner add more beer
garnish with croutons and/or ham

BUB

Recomendations on Beer?

Old milwaukee?
Naa try a gentile (not overly hopped) IPA or general PA to start... perhaps a CAP or Pilsner.
BUB

I know this is an old thread, but I've made beer cheese soup ALOT and wanted to put in my two cents.

I started with this basic recipe from Emeril
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/cheddar-and-beer-soup-with-tempura-broccoli-florets-recipe2/index.html

I don't do the broccoli

Over the years, I've made the several adjustments to the recipe:
-Use better beer - personally I like a full bodied stout (nothing too bitter)
-Use beef stock instead of chicken stock for a richer soup
-caramelize the onions
-Use a variety of cheeses, though some won't melt well
-Use a little more beer and less stock if you like
-Use half and half instead of milk if you want it thicker and creamier


As for technique, it's easy to separate the cheese in this recipe and it will take on a "gritty" consistency. I've never fully understood exactly why, but I guess it has to do with getting it too hot once the cheese is in there. If it happens, I just use my immersion blender and it takes care of the problem in just a few seconds.