Potato Soup With Cheddar

Name: Potato Soup With Cheddar
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 slices bacon, sliced into 6.35mm (1/4") pieces; 1 medium onion, finely chopped; 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped; 5 g (2 tbsp) fresh thyme or 2.5 g (1 tbsp) dried; 118 ml (1 cup) apple cider or dark beer; 1060 g (2.5 lb) starchy potatoes; 900 ml (4 cups) chicken or vegetable broth; 236 ml (1 cup) heavy or whipping cream; 200 g (2 cups) medium or sharp cheddar cheese, grated