Wisconsin Beer and Cheese Soup

Are you licking the screen yet? This was an easy good recipe. We really enjoyed it! I made homemade croutons to top it off which were super yummy!

1 can 14.5 ounce chicken broth
1 cup of beer (use a good hearty beer...not a dark beer but a nice medium beer) We use Stella Artois. The captain enjoyed finishing the rest of the bottle at 9am when I started this recipe...Why throw away perfectly good beer?
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 cloves minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried thyme (you must use thyme....it really brings in great flavor)
6 ounces American cheese shredded or diced SMALL
6 ounces of other cheese. I used smoked Gouda and aged cheddar
1 cup of milk
1/2 teaspoon paprika

Combine broth, beer, onion, garlic and thyme and cook on low for 4 hours.
Turn Crock to HIGH and stir in cheese and milk and paprika. cover and cook 45 minutes to an hour or until cheese is melted and blended. You will need to stir a few times during the 45 minutes.

CROUTONS
preheat oven to 425degrees slice pempernickel or rye bread into 1/2 inch cubes, brush top with olive oil, place on sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes flipping half way through.

Laddle into bowls and serve with brats during football game!

Captain loved this. Princess ate it but not the whole thing and Little Man hated it.