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.