It’s no lie that I love a good, addictive cheese dip.
It depends who you ask, but in my opinion, pub cheese is the kind of dip you want to put on everything. Sandwiches, wraps, or just every day snacking. My older brother loves this dip. He asked me 5 times in one week if I could make it for our Fourth of July party. Needless to say, there were no leftovers.
Most of my cheese dip recipes are hot cheese dips, but this recipe is a cold, spreadable cheese dip. It is creamy in texture and nutty in flavor. In fact, it is way easier to make than you would think. All you need is a few ingredients and a food processor.

What is pub cheese?
Pub cheese is a type of soft, cheese spread and or dip that uses beer as one of the main ingredients. It is known for being Irish because of the Irish cheddar cheese.
What type of beer should I use to make this dip?
I like to use Newcastle Brown Ale for my pub cheese, but any amber or brown ale would work. Pick a beer that you won’t mind having an extra 5 bottles in your fridge. You could also get a growler from your favorite local brewery and only use what you need.
How should I serve the creamy pub cheese dip?
This dip would be perfect for a St. Patrick’s Day spread of any fall football tailgate party. Serve with assorted pretzels, crackers, pita chips or freshly cut vegetables. I like to use cucumbers, mini sweet peppers, or carrots.
Can I make this dip ahead of time?
Of course!! This dip can be made 1-2 days ahead of time and stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Like many hard cheeses, this dip should not sit out for more than 4 hours. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator up to 1 week.

Tips for making:
- Grate your own cheese. I know it’s more convenient, but don’t buy pre-shredded cheddar cheeses from the grocery store cheese department. Trust me, I’ve been there too. But the fact of the matter is that store bought shredded cheese has additives and extra preservatives in the packages to help keep the cheese fresh. To get a smooth, creamy texture, it is best to grate your own cheese at home.
- Flatten the beer. I know this sounds odd, but the goal is the get as much carbonation out of the beer as possible. We want the flavor, but not the extra bubbles. The best way to flatten beer is to pour the beer into a bowl and whisk it for 5-10 minutes. If you have the time, let it sit on the counter for another 45-50 minutes for it to go flat.
- Serve this dip with pretzels or freshly cut vegetables! I love serving this dip with a variety of different pretzels and vegetables with some added crunch. Add a side beer and you’re all set.
- Sit dip out for 20 minutes before serving. If you make this dip ahead of time, which can absolutely be done, be sure to let this dip sit out on the counter for 20 minutes before serving. This will make the consistency more spreadable… no one wants cracked pretzel remnants in their pub cheese! 🙂

I hope you give this dip a try! You may start spreading it on everything like I do… it’s addictive!

Homemade Creamy Pub Cheese
Equipment
- Food Processor
Ingredients
- 4-5 oz. amber or brown ale
- 16 oz extra sharp cheddar cheese freshly grated
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp cream cheese softened
- 1 tsp ground mustard
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- pinch of salt
- chives for garnish
Instructions
- Flatten beer to remove carbonation. Pour beer into a small bowl and whisk for 5-10 minutes. Let sit for another 5-10 minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
- Using a cheese grater, grate extra sharp cheddar cheese and place into a food processor.
- Add Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, ground mustard, hot sauce, cream cheese in a food processor. Add a pinch of salt and pepper. Fasten lid and slowly add brown ale while pulsing the cheese mixture. Start with 4 oz of flattened beer. For a creamier pub cheese consistence, slowly add a little more beer.
- Transfer pub cheese to a bowl and sprinkle with freshly cut chives. Serve with pretzels or fresh vegetables.
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I’d love to hear from you once you get the chance to make this recipe. Leave a comment below with your review or any modifications you made! And don’t forget to tag @rightbackspatula on Instagram if you take any pictures!
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