Founders Porter Macaroni and Cheese

I’m sorry.  I know, this is totally cruel.  We’re just weeks from bathing suit season and this recipe here is no friend to Lycra.  But just when you thought macaroni and cheese couldn't get any better, I went and added beer to it. And it's incredible.  This recipe combines five -- yes, five -- kinds of cheese in a rich base enhanced with a cup of Founders Porter, which is then baked under a crust of panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese to rich, crisp, golden perfection.

For this recipe, you will need:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

1/2 cup flour

1 cup Founders Porter

1 1/2 cups half and half

1/2 pound (8 ounces) Brie

16 ounces (2 packages) cream cheese

1 1/2 cups crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese, divided

1 (16-ounce) box elbow macaroni pasta, cooked and drained

Salt and pepper

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

Heat the oven to 350 degrees.  In a medium, heavy-bottom pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour to form a light roux. 

Slowly whisk in the beer and half and half.

Add the Brie and cream cheese to the sauce, stirring until the cheeses are melted and incorporated. Stir in the Gorgonzola, cheddar and 1 cup Parmesan cheese.

Stir in the pasta, taste and adjust the seasonings as desired with salt and pepper (some of the cheese will be salty and the mixture may need only a little salt, if any).  The mixture will seem very soupy, but a lot of the sauce will be absorbed during baking.  You can add up to another 8 ounces of pasta if desired, but I would recommend starting with a 16 ounce box.  Pour the mixture into a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Top the mixture by sprinkling over the remaining Parmesan cheese and panko crumbs. 

Place the dish in the oven and bake until the sauce is bubbly and the toppings are crisp and golden, about 1 hour.

Cool slightly before serving.  Trust me, it's really hot when it comes out of the oven.

Works great as a main dish or a side dish! Shown here with lamb loin chops topped with basil mint pesto.

Check back soon to see me deep fry this macaroni and cheese in a Founders Pale Ale batter!  Trust me, you won't want to miss it.