Three Heart Attacks Later
If you’ve been to Wisconsin, you’ve had every major component of this app because it literally is what runs through our veins here! Well, that and a whole lot of LDL and HDL but here I am, 29 years old and have only had 3 heart attacks! I am just lol’ing and jk’ing!
The 3 major components of this bad ass, tasty dish is cheese, brats, and of course, THE BEERS! More specifically, extra sharp Hook’s Cheddar, Usinger’s Fresh Brats, and from Titletown Brewing Company, Johnny Blood Red Ale.
Check Out This Other Wisconsin Style App: Cranberry Brat Burger!
The basic form of beer cheese are these components but there are so many ways to take appetizer to a whole new, ridiculous level. Using top notch ingredients is obviously the best way. But adding things like caramelized onions, and/or brown mustard, and/or dipping some soft, little pretzel bites really take your run-of-the-mill beer cheese to what this is and what beer cheese can be.
Not just a Dip
Another great thing about this appetizer is it can be more than a dip! Let’s say you and your friends are getting down on some burgers for the night. Take that burger to a new level by slathering a scoop of this onto the top of a hot burger. Or, if you’re making some pulled chicken slider on a pretzel bun, once again, top that chicken with this and take those sliders to a whole new level that your friends won’t be expecting.
A couple of things to watch out for when your creating your masterpiece though. Many of the ingredients will lend itself to be a heavy overall app. Now that is something you don’t want to start your day off at your tailgate or getting ready for a couchgate with nothing but heaviness. A great way to break that apart is adding some raw onion into the dish or topping it with chopped green onion. Another thing you can do is add some heat to it by fire roasting some jalapenos and adding it to the dish!
Now for what everyone is waiting for!
Wisconsin Beer Brat Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- 16 oz. Cream Cheese
- 1/2 c. Hook’s Sharp Cheddar (shredded)
- 2 tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tbsp. Dijon Mustard
- 8 oz. Johnny Blood Red Ale (I did all 12 oz.)
- 2 Usinger Fresh Brat’s
- 3 Garlic Cloves (minced)
- 1 Red Onion (1/4 c. minced/1/2 onion sliced)
- 1 tsp. Paprika
- 1 tsp. Sea Salt
- Soft Pretzel Bites
Instructions
- Place Cream Cheese, Sharp Cheddar, Worcestershire, and Dijon into bowl. Mix until evenly incorporated.
- While mixing, place thick bottom pan (cast iron) on burner turned to medium. Once heated up, place oil/butter into pan. Place minced Garlic into pan for 1-2 minutes. Once fragrant, add minced Onion. Remove mixture from pan after 1-2 minutes. Let rest.
- Remove Brat Meat from packing. Once Garlic/Onion mix is done and removed from pan, place brat meat into same pan. Cook meat until done.
- Turn burner down to low. Add 1 tbsp. butter and add sliced Onion. Stir occasionally and pull when brown throughout. Pull and set aside.
- Add Garlic/Onion mixture, 3/4 of cooked Brat Meat, Red Ale, Paprika, and Sea Salt to cheese mixture. Mix until evenly incorporated.
- Place into serving dish (or just eat it out of the bowl!)
- Top with extra cheese, brat meat, and caramelized onions.
- GO HAM ON THIS DISH!
Notes
Mix it up! Use different cheeses.
Add some spice with some peppers.
Use a flavored cream cheese.
Use a different beer (both style and brand).
Use a different type of sausage (chorizo, breakfast sausage, etc. But DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use hot dogs) Seriously, there is so much room for change!
