Recently I found a couple of recipes on Leinenkugel's website that I wanted to try and make-Soft Pretzels and Beer Cheese Spread. They sounded so easy to make and, as I learned today, they are (and tasty!) To view the recipes go to their site www.leinie.com , (sorry-I can't link the recipes because they're a beer site, so you have to enter your bday), and on the left side of the page click on "Peg's Kitchen" and then choose "Breads and Breakfasts" and you'll see the soft pretzel recipe. For the cheese spread click on "Appetizers" and you'll see it. Both these recipes call for Leinenkugel beer so I was happy to add that, but when I got to the store today, they didn't have the kind I wanted. Instead I subbed it with Miller Chill (a light lime beer). I also grabbed a couple of limes to throw into the recipe.
For the bread I added, along with the lime beer, the zest from one lime in with the flour, and a half of lime's juice on top of the pretzels to help the salt stick instead of using an egg. When I bit into the warm, soft pretzel it was so fresh tasting because of the lime! Very refreshing!
For the cheese spread (really more a sauce) I added, along with the lime beer, a half of lime's juice instead of the horseradish. It turned out to be a good spread, but ended up being a little tart from the sharp cheddar it calls for along with the lime flavors that I added. I suggest using mild cheddar or a mix of white and yellow cheeses. Enjoy and if the store doesn't have the beer you're looking for, just be clever and mix it up!
