Beer and cheese together is golden, and in Kentucky, you’ll find a city where the combination is celebrated. So much so, it was named the official “Beer Cheese Capital of the World.” Winchester isn’t just the holder of this title, it’s also the birthplace of this unique type of cheese. Okay, so it’s a cheese spread, but no complaints here.
As the legend goes, beer cheese was created in the 1930s by chef Joe Allman for his cousin to serve at his local restaurant. The goal was to give people something tasty but salty enough to keep drinking beer. And the rest is, as they say, history. Since that time, beer cheese has evolved and become part of Winchester’s identity. The city has been hosting an annual Beer Cheese Festival honoring this snack every year since 2009, and visitors who come for the festival find themselves in a city full of personality and Bluegrass charm — and plenty more good eats than just beer cheese.
In Winchester, the word Bluegrass isn’t just tossed around because of the location — it’s in Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region where the culture and history have helped make Kentucky what it is today. Walking around the historic downtown you can’t help but feel that cultural heritage. There are Victorian era homes, boutique shops for spending some cash, and restaurants that serve local favorites like the beer cheese it is famous for. Getting there is fairly simple — it’s just under 30 miles east of Blue Grass Airport (LEX), which works with major airlines like Delta, United, American, and Allegiant to service several major airports around the country.
Beer cheese is just the beginning of good eats in Winchester
If you want to take a deep dive into the local specialty, just follow the Beer Cheese Trail. Like Loretto, a scenic city along Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail, Winchester has great local spots that either serve or sell beer cheese. Ther’s even a digital passport known as the Cheese Log that guides you to places like Abettor Brewing Company and Hall’s on the River, where you can try many different versions, each made from coveted secret recipes…