By 12 Tomatoes Contributor, Claudia Cooper

In Wisconsin, our staples are very simple- beer and cheese. When you think beer cheese, you may think of that warm and sharp beer cheese dip that goes great with a soft pretzel or maybe in its liquidy soup form. But this beer dip is a little different. This dip is served cold with, you guessed it, cream cheese!

I ate this dip all the time growing up in Wisconsin, whether it was a family barbeque or watching the Sunday night Green Bay Packer game. I caught myself too many times just standing at my grandma’s counter with a bag of pretzels devouring this dip.

The best part is that this dip is quick and done in one bowl, so this can easily be whipped up if your stuck on a snack to serve for your next gathering.

First, make sure your cream cheese is softened so it can easily be mixed up. To give this dip a little more tanginess and extra creaminess, I also added in some sour cream.

Then for the shredded cheese, I used a sharp cheddar to combat the mild cream cheese flavor. Best to use orange cheddar for some color!

I spiced mine up by adding a few other seasonings like paprika and minced onion along with the ranch dressing packet. Feel free to get creative with your seasonings like cayenne or even some chives. But you can never go wrong with just a packet of Hidden Valley!

I used Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, founded and brewed in the great city of Milwaukee. But the liquid in this dip can absolutely be substituted for non-alcoholic light beer or even water, just something that is going to thin out the cream cheese. The beer definely adds a deep and hoppy taste that separates the cheesy flavors that are strong in this dip. Then, it’s time to mix it all together!

This dip is creamy, simple and so delicious! It’s best served with pretzels or some vegetables on the side. Creamy Wisconsin Beer Dip is the perfect homage to The Dairy State!