I LOVE to grill!! Year-round I will pull out the grill, even in the cold winter weather. I, like many people, tend to default to standard grilling options, steak, burgers, chicken, shrimp…. All DELICIOUS options but sometimes I want to try something different. Be Adventurous! So I made a grilled cheese sandwich. Not a standard grilled cheese though but a beer cheese sandwich on the grill!
Since beer is a prominent flavor make sure you use one you like to drink but make sure to use one with a stronger flavor. I prefer something like an Amber or Nut Brown Ale. In the fall I use an Oktoberfest beer: my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!!!
Cheese is also an important component of this grilled sandwich. I tried this recipe with a couple of different kinds of cheese but found ones with a strong flavor that overtook the taste of the beer. I found sharp cheddar matched the flavor of the beer nicely but I will always encourage you to use a kind you like.
The bread you select also makes a big difference. Since the heat of the grill is higher than a frying pan you need bread that can not only withstand the heat but also the open flame. Use something like a sourdough, crusty french, or rustic loaf.
The key to a good sandwich on the grill is to make sure the grill is hot enough! Shoot for about 500° F. This will give the cheese time to melt and the bread time to get crispy. If you find the bread getting toasted before the cheese melts, move the sandwiches to the indirect heat side of the grill until the cheese melts.
You will notice this recipe leaves a little beer left over for you to enjoy! For some reason, an ice-cold beer tastes much better next to a hot grill. Enjoy and never be afraid to experiment and be adventurous in the kitchen or at the grill!
Happy Gilling!
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