Hopped-Up Gouda Beer Mac & Cheese: Creamy, Sharp, and Loaded With Bold Hop Bite

This Hopped-Up Gouda Beer Mac & Cheese is rich, smooth, and built to punch above its weight — smoked gouda and sharp cheddar bring the creaminess, while a splash of hoppy pale ale cuts through the fat with citrusy zing.

It’s beer geek comfort food: bold, complex, and just edgy enough to make mac & cheese feel like the main event.

Ingredients (Serves 4–6)

For the Cheese Sauce

• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup pale ale or IPA (see beer notes)
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1½ cups shredded smoked gouda
• 1 cup shredded sharp white cheddar
• Optional: ¼ tsp cayenne or splash of hot sauce

For the Pasta

• 12 oz elbow macaroni, cavatappi, or shells
• Salted water for boiling

Optional Toppings

• Buttered panko breadcrumbs
• Crushed pretzels or kettle chips
• Chopped chives, scallions, or pickled jalapeños

Instructions

Boil the Pasta

• Cook pasta in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.

Make the Beer Cheese Sauce

• In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1–2 minutes until golden.
• Slowly whisk in beer, then milk. Simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened — about 4–5 minutes.
• Stir in Dijon, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and optional heat.
• Remove from heat and stir in cheeses a handful at a time until fully melted and smooth.

Combine and Finish

• Fold cooked pasta into the cheese sauce. Stir to coat evenly.
• Serve as-is, or transfer to a baking dish and broil with breadcrumbs or toppings until golden and crisp.

Serving Suggestions

Serve With

• Beer-braised sausages or brats
• Roasted broccoli or blistered cherry tomatoes
• Garlic toast or soft pretzel rolls

Garnish With

• Pickled onions
• Chopped herbs or crispy shallots
• Extra cheese shreds + cracked pepper

Beer Pairing

In the Sauce

• Pale ale for citrusy edge and balance
• Hazy IPA for juicy bitterness with body
• Session IPA or dry-hopped lager if you want lighter hop bite
• Avoid high-IBU double IPAs — they’ll overpower the cheese

In Your Glass

• Same beer as the sauce
• Amber ale for a smoother malt backbone
• Pilsner or kölsch to contrast richness
• Wheat beer with orange peel for a citrus-creamy pairing

Final Thoughts

Hopped-Up Gouda Beer Mac & Cheese is the kind of dish that reclaims mac from the side table and drops it center-stage — bold, creamy, beer-laced comfort food that balances richness with just enough hop bite to keep you going back for another forkful.

It’s cozy, craveable, and best served with a pint and a little crunch on top. Cheers to gouda melt, hop bite, and beer in your mac! 🧀🍺🔥

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