Beer Cheese, is an indigenous product to Central Kentucky. Howard’s Creek Authentic Beer Cheese is THE original indigenous product. “The Original Kentucky River Valley Delight.”™ The one that has been enjoyed all around the Kentucky Bluegrass since the 1940's is now under the name Howard's Creek Authentic Beer Cheese. It has remained a 2nd place Winner in the Winchester First Contest since its inception in 2009 and 2010 and was voted Best above, Allman's, Hall's, Kentucky Beer Cheese, River Rat, Dave's, Mary Lou's, Hot Mama's, Bruce's, Acre's of Land Winery, Boot-Leg, Orlando's, Nana's, PJ's to name a few, actually over 30 commercial competitors.

Beer cheese, lost its Authenticity in Kentucky several decades ago, until NOW.  Since then and it origins by the restaurants that made it famous in the Howard's Creek or Lower Howard's Creek in the Kentucky River Valley, Clark County, Winchester, Kentucky, people who were introduced to the original Real Beer Cheese, so wanted to recreate that original beer cheese recipe. The result were Beer Cheese dips all of which were spawned off "The Original Kentucky River Valley Delight,"(TM). 

Preserving the heritage of "The Original Kentucky River Valley Delight"(TM), Beer Cheese has been passed down through our family who kept it alive for decades, personally.   For those people that didn't have that privilege, they tried to make what they thought was beer cheese, trying to remember what real beer cheese tasted like and as it turned out; they made it into a beer ''flavored'' cheese dip, ''NOT'' a Cheese that had Beer as an ingredient along with other spices and garlic, which in Kentucky is called "Beer Cheese," It's A Cheese, not a dip. It was given to you when you sat down at the bar or table, then the bartender would take your drink order. By the time your drinks came back, you were ready to order more drinks. Original Beer Cheese was made to create thrist because of the cayenne pepper kick it has in it, which in turn you ordered more to drink and that's boosted more drink sales.

Today, restaurants can't offer this, they can sell it as an appetizer, but they can't give it away, as a compliment for coming to their restaurant. 

Beer flavored cheese, is a cheese dip most commonly found in Central Kentucky grocery stores made by various individuals and mass producers alike who had to settle for a beer flavored cheese dip since the original beer cheese recipes' heritage was preserved and protected. Similar beer flavored cheese dips can be found in other regions of the United States, but the original or authentic beer cheese itself is not widely distributed. Despite this fact, the beer flavored cheese dip and its' original is nearly indigenous to Central Kentucky. There are a number of different brands that are popular, most are similar in taste and texture. Fans of the beer flavored cheese dip or snack usually have their "favorite" brand, and there are many homemade versions which use a wide variety of ingredients to add personalization.

THE DIFFERENCE
Beer Flavored Cheese, (the cheese dip) VS the Original Authentic Beer Cheese (the cheese).

Commercially produced Beer Flavored Cheese usually consists of a processed cheese or processed cheese food base with a sharp cheddar flavor, other cheeses, like American and Cream Cheese 10 pounds at a time with up to 10 cans of beer and a variety of personal spices then mixed in large commercial mixers in a short amount of time for quick turnaround.  Homemade beer flavored cheese varieties almost always start with cheddar cheese or sharp cheddar cheese, sometimes it can be a mix of a real cheese and a cheese food, cream cheese or processed cheese food with a cheddar cheese flavor. To this, they add enough beer to provide flavor and texture, as well as garlic, a variety of spices including, mustard seed or dry mustard, horseradish, mayonaise and cayenne pepper, anchovies, american cheese, vinegar, water to mention a few.  Most varieties come in "mild" and "hot" versions, but all tend to have a strong beer, garlic or other flavor that stands out before the cheese itself.  Beer flavored cheese is traditionally served with saltine crackers, though it can be found served with various other crackers and served most often as an appetizer.