Irish Pub Cream Cheese (2025)

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by Sandyon Mar 7, 2025

Irish Pub Cream Cheese is a delicious party dip that goes especially well with salty snacks like potato chips and pretzels, but is also great with veggie and apple slices. Set it out cold and start dipping. This Irish cheese dip is wonderful for St. Patrick’s Day or on a grazing board.

I love a good dip that you serve with salty snacks! Pub cream cheese is basically the same as beer cheese and we love this served cold. Set it out with knotted soft pretzels or small salty, crunchy pretzels. But I have to say, my favorite for dipping is with a sturdy potato chip. For a sweet snack serve our Bailey’s Chocolate Chip Cookies. We love a mix of sweet and salty!

Why I love this recipe

• This is a crowd-pleaser dip!
• Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any Irish menu (appetizer).
• Spread the dip on wraps, sandwiches, or sliders. (You may have tried pub cheese Trader Joe’s.)

What is pub cheese made of?

• Cream Cheese: optional to use “light” cream cheese
• Guinness Draught Beer: Stout (Guinness Draught) beer from Ireland is known for its creamy texture and dark brown color. Also see notes below if you don’t want to add alcohol.
• Worcestershire sauce
• Garlic
• Dijon mustard
• Irish cheese (we use Dubliner and buy it from Costco)
• Green onions

What is the difference between beer cheese and pub cheese?

Typically a pub cheese can have a brew or not, where a beer cheese definetly does have a draft (beer). Our pub cheese contains beer and it’s very good!

How do you make Irish Pub Cream Cheese?

• Pulse: In a food processor, add the cream cheese and pulse while pouring in the Guinness beer and the Worcestershire sauce.
• Add the garlic, Dijon mustard, and shredded Dubliner cheese; process until smooth.
• Spoon the mixture into a serving bowl; cover. Chill in refrigerator overnight or 8 hours before serving.
• Add finely sliced green onions for garnish.

What to put pub cheese on

Known as a beer cheese, this creamy spreadable cheese is also found in delis or grocery stores, which is a quick option. But it’s not the same as making homemade. You can also find this cheese served in bars as an appetizer with pretzels. We love this presented on a plate with salty snacks, or better yet, serve on our BIG BOARD, charcuterie board or a snack board.

Tips and substitutions:

• What do I substitute the beer with? For a non-alcoholic pub cheese dip, substitute beer with non-alcoholic beer. You can also add milk, half-and-half, or cream.
• Cheese: We love Dubliner (buy a big block at Costco), but you can also use Sharp Cheddar cheese (we like Tillamook’s white Sharp Cheddar). You can even buy extra Sharp Cheddar cheese!
• Wanting to serve a low-cal appetizer? You can use “light” cream cheese, and set this out with veggies slices (celery, carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, and pickled veggies).

What do the Irish serve with cheese?

When we were in Dublin at Paul’s aunt’s house, she set out a plate of pub cheese with pretzels and potato chips. Other serving suggestions areveggie slices, crackers, crostini, or pita chips.

Ultimatley serve it with quality potato chips and pretzels for St. Patrick’s Day for a great appetizer. Then set out our Guinness Pot Roast, Colcannon Mashed Potatoes, and an Irish Pub Salad.

More St. Patrick’s Day appetizer recipes you may want to try:

• Sweet Irish Soda Bread
• What to serve with Cottage Pie
• Cottage Pie Baked Potatoes
• Guinness Shepherd’s Pie

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published on Mar 7, 2025

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