Beer & Cheese Soup

When the sun sets in the west a little sooner and the night autumn and winter temperatures begin to dip, nothing warms the body and soul like a little comfort food.

In the fall and winter seasons, a warm bowl of Beer & Cheese soup is always welcomed. Who doesn’t like a steaming bowl of liquid cheese with a cool glass of malty beer?

This delicious and congenial soup is great for autumn weekend days and game-watching parties. Serve it in a crock pot to keep it warm, and you and your guests can serve themselves.

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 chopped medium-sized yellow onion
• 1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
• 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 12 ounces Beer (I like an Oktoberfest, but any amber beer will do, but avoid hoppy beers)
• 2 cups shredded Allgäuer Emmentaler cheese
• 2 cups shredded Tilsiter cheese
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Note – If you cannot locate the cheeses, feel free to use a sharp cheddar and Swiss-style cheese. The important thing is to use two or more different cheeses to create a more complex flavor.

Melt butter in a heavy pot over medium heat, and then add chopped onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté vegetables until soft and then spoon on the flour. Cook for about five minutes, stirring often. Add chicken broth and beer, stirring with some vigor to incorporate it properly. Heat until it comes to a soft boil, then drop the heat to a simmer. Add half-and-half salt, dry mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Slowly add cheese, a handful at a time, and stir in until smooth. Reduce heat to low and cook until soup has thickened.

At this point, you can consider add-ons. Pieces of smoked sausages browned in another pan are a favorite addition, as are large croutons (I like dark bread croutons).

Serve with a cool glass of malty beer. Of course, you could go with wine. A cool glass of Riesling or Gewürztraminer would be a great choice. However, this is BEER & cheese soup, so beer is preferred.