Sunny's German Party Cheese

Name: Sunny's German Party Cheese
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H15M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT4H15M0.000S
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
Ingredients: 16 ounces ripe Camembert or Brie; 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature; 4 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature; 1 teaspoon hot/spicy Hungarian paprika; 1 teaspoon sweet paprika; Pinch caraway seeds, crushed with back of a spoon; Freshly ground black pepper; 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup pilsner beer; 1/4 cup finely chopped white onion; 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh chives; Warm soft pretzels (I like Auntie Anne's or SuperPretzel here); Whole radishes; Thick red onion slices; German cured meats

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Level: Easy

Total: 4 hr 15 min (includes chilling time)
Active: 15 min

Yield: 8 to 10 servings

It's not Oktoberfest or a party in Germany without this cheese dip that is usually the appetizer to a larger meal. Think charcuterie board with beer, not wine, as the anchor. Speaking of, if you don't want to, there's no need to use beer to soften the cheese. It's perfectly fine as a formed chunk of cheese and is served that way as well with various items to dip, but radishes and pretzels are the first stop to make this uber authentic.