Smoked Bratwurst & Beer Cheese

Fall is the best time to break out your favourite comfort food recipes. As the weather gets cooler outside and everybody starts craving those warmer, heavier, more comforting dishes, I find myself thinking up my most creative recipes. I'm a firm believer that fall opens up a whole different chapter of bbq season and that's where these smoked Bratwurst sausages and beer cheese come in. I missed the boat on having this recipe up for Oktoberfest this year, but this recipe is good to make any time. The Bratwurst are smoked to perfection in the Alchemy smoker compartment, with that perfect snap of the casing and then thrown onto the plancha for a quick sear. The Bratwursts are then topped with grilled summer sausage, pickles, chopped onion and creamy, buttery, beer cheese, all in a salty pretzel bun. I might have created the perfect bite. If you want to know how to make my Smoked Bratwurst & Beer Cheese recipe, keep reading or jump to the full recipe.

Set smoker to 300F. Place the sausages in the smoker and smoke for 15 minutes, or until just cooked through.

While the sausage smoked, make the beer cheese. Place a cast iron pan on the elevated grill rack. Cut the butter into cubes and add to the pan once hot.

Whisk the butter to melt and once melted add in the flour, and whisk until incorporated.

Add the cream and whisk. Pour in the beer slowly and whisk.

Add in the cheese, a handful at a time, whisking in between each one, until melted.

Once the cheese is completely melted and you have a smooth cheese sauce, remove from the heat.

Remove the sausages from the smoker and place on the diamond patterned grill to sear on both sides. Before you build your sandwich, put the beer cheese back on the heat and warm up for a minute or two, making sure to mix it.

Place the sliced summer sausage on the grill, flipping once, and cook until crispy or desired doneness.

Finely dice the onion and slice the pickles in half.

To build, add two slices of grilled summer sausage to each bun, half a pickle, and a sausage.

Top with chopped onions and a healthy portion of the beer cheese.

And now for the full recipe...

Smoked Bratwurst & Beer Cheese

Makes 5 sausages

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

5 bratwurst sausages

1/2 cup butter

2-3 tbsp flour

3-4 tbsp cream

½ - ¾ cup blonde beer or lager

2 cups shredded marble cheddar cheese

5 pretzel sausage buns

10 thin slices summer sausage

¼ white onion

3 pickles

How to Make Smoked Bratwurst and Beer Cheese

Set smoker to 300F.

Place the sausages in the smoker and smoke for 15 minutes, or until just cooked through.

While the sausage smoked, make the beer cheese. Place a cast iron pan on the elevated grill rack. Cut the butter into cubes and add to the pan once hot. Whisk to melt, once melted add in the flour, and whisk until incorporated, add the cream and whisk. Pour in the beer slowly and whisk. Add in the cheese, a handful at a time, whisking in between each one, until melted. Remove from heat once smooth.

Finely dice the onion and slice the pickles in half. Put the beer cheese back on the heat and warm up for a minute or two, making sure to mix it.

Remove the sausages from the smoker and place on the diamond patterned grill to sear on both sides. Place the sliced summer sausage on the plancha grill, flipping once until crispy or desired doneness.

To build, add two slices of grilled summer sausage to each bun, half a pickle, a sausage, top with chopped onions and beer cheese.

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