Way back in the days even before Kim matriculated to the University of Louisville Lanny made many a run with his fraternity brothers from Lexington to a restaurant in a shack on the bank of the Kentucky River close to Boonesborough called Johnnie Allman’s. Johnnie gave his Snappy Cheese out free, along with crackers to spike his beer sales. Allman’s burned down in the ‘70’s and although there are several brands of beer cheese around none ever came close to his. A Weekend Edition of The Wall Street Journal in 2015 unbelievably had a feature written by a Kentucky transplant in Brooklyn that I stumbled upon with the story of Johnnie Allman’s and his recipe. It is “spot on” and tough to beat for an appetizer or watching UK beat U of L at football and basketball on TV. .
Lanny writes, “Kim – attached is a recipe that is fantastic, and I have made many times for guests since I fell over it in the Wall Street of all places. It tastes exactly as I remember it in the mid-late late 60’s. I am forwarding a picture of the joint on the Kentucky River before it burned down in the 70’s taking what everyone who knew the place believing the secret formula of its beer cheese with it forever.”
12-ounce bottle or can of flat lager beer
1 ½ pounds shredded sharp cheddar cheese
¼ small thinly sliced onion
1 or 2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 peeled cloves of garlic
IMPORTANT: The beer in this recipe must be flat. Open the beer 24 hours prior to making the recipe to prevent it from foaming up in the food processor!
Add all ingredients to the bowl of a food processor.
Puree until well combined and very smooth. Add kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper and more Tabasco to taste, and pulse to incorporate.
Serve with pretzels, crackers, celery, radishes, carrots etc.
Serves 8-10
Appetizers & Beverages, 2024