“Snappy
Cheese,” is what Kentucky refers to as Beer Cheese. Originally made
near the confluence of the Kentucky River and Howard's Creek, now
known as Lower
Howard's Creek,
in Clark County, Kentucky over 80 years ago. It
is indigenous to the Central Kentucky area called Boonesboro. Made
by the head Chef of Turf Catering Joe Allman in the late 1930's for
his cousin Johnny Allman to give to his patrons at his restaurant on
the Kentucky River. When patrons sat down at the bar or table at The
Diftwood Inn or later at Allman's on the River they were greeted with
a small plate that had a container of "Snappy Cheese" served with
carrots, radishes, celery and crackers. The waiter/waitress would
take their drink order. The sharp cheddar cheese with a cayenne
finish created thirst. So by the time the drinks came the patrons
would typically order a pitcher of what they were drinking. Drinks have the most profit margin for the restaurant, much like today.
After
the restaurant burned down for the third time, it was never rebuilt.
By that time a restaurant across the road that faces the Kentucky
River, called Hall's on the River and sits on Howard's Creek, had
made their version of Beer Cheese. The tradition continued for a
while. In the 1980's the Hall's decided to sell their recipe and the
rights to their name to J. Peterman, he then turned to a company in
Louisville, Kentucky which bought those rights and name from him.
That company put Hall's on the River Beer Cheese on the retail
market, but used a completely different recipe under the label. For 25 years it
was sold throughout Kentucky in Kroger. That Louisville company went out of
business January 2012.
People
who knew what Real Beer Cheese tasted like knew this was not Hall's
original recipe. Those that had worked at Allman's and Hall's had
been around the beer cheese making process, and as a result several
companies around the Central Kentucky Area now make and distribute
their versions of Beer Cheese.
The
original beer cheese recipes' heritage was preserved, protected
and passed down through our family who has kept it alive for decades.
The Original Kentucky River Valley Delight(TM) is
now under the name Howard's Creek Authentic Beer Cheese. Since its
come back in 2006, it has remained a winner of awards throughout
Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, North and South Carolina.
There
is a difference in many of the beer cheeses on the market today.
Variations
can consist of processed cheese food and cream cheese mixed with a
variety of ingredients including Worcestershire Sauce, Mustard
Powder, Anchovies which were never intended to be in the Authentic
“Snappy Cheese.”
Howard's Creek Authentic
Beer Cheese consists of REAL sharp cheddar cheeses, beer, spices and
garlic. It does not have a strong beer influence. Its creamy spicy taste peaks out in heat and flavor after a few days and has only
ONE heat. It's not too mild, it's not too hot, it's just
right. We make
beer cheese in small 20 lb batches. It's an Artisan cheese, Kentucky Proud and Certified by the REAL Seal Company. ANYTHING MORE OR LESS, IS
NOT AUTHENTIC.
We
offer our product in many areas from Boone
Tavern in
Berea, KY to Hilton
Head Island, SC at Captain
Woody's, Huntington
Beach, California, Donnybrook Bar, New York, NY many retailers along with shipping all over the USA & Canada 52 weeks of the year.