Beer Cheddar Soup

Beer Cheddar Soup

close up on a bowl of Wisconsin natives beer cheese soup

Ingredients

4 slices thick cut bacon, chopped (Optional)
1 ½ cups diced carrots
1 ½ cups diced yellow onion
1 ½ cups diced celery
2 tablespoons minced garlic (about 6 cloves)
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
⅓ cup unsalted butter
⅓ cup all-purpose flour
1 (12-ounce) bottle pilsner-style beer
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups whole milk or half-and-half
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
12 ounces shredded Mousehouse 1 year sharp cheddar cheese
popped plain or salted popcorn, for garnish

    Directions 

    1. Gather all ingredients.
    2. Heat bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving drippings.
    3. Add carrots, onion, and celery to drippings and increase heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in garlic, salt, pepper, and cayenne; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
    4. Add butter and cook, stirring constantly, until melted. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes.
    5. Stir in beer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 2 minutes.
    6. Stir in broth and half-and-half; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, just until mixture lightly coats the back of a spoon, 12 to 15 minutes.
    7. Stir in Dijon, Worcestershire, dry mustard, and hot sauce until fully incorporated. Remove from heat.
    8. Add cheese, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until melted before adding more.  
    9. Serve hot, topped with popcorn and reserved bacon.
      Enjoy!
      Nutrition Facts
      Servings Per Recipe 8
      Calories 565
      % Daily Value*
      Total Fat 40g 51%
      Saturated Fat 25g 123%
      Cholesterol 119mg 40%
      Sodium 908mg 39%
      Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
      Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
      Total Sugars 9g
      Protein 27g 54%
      Vitamin C 5mg 6%
      Calcium 788mg 61%
      Iron 1 mg 7%
      Potassium 494mg 11%
      {}