It's better than you'd think, apparently!
People Are Now Putting Pickles in Beer to Make It Taste Better
Updated on Dec. 26, 2021
As humans, many of us are fond of some…unconventional food combos. As we move through life (especially our college years), people try mixing random things together, only to discover that hey, that tasted pretty good! Sure, milk and Coke or peanut butter as a burger condiment might strike some as strange, but to others, they’re delicacies. We’re not here to judge.
So, with that open-minded spirit, we’re taking a look at another food combo that might raise some eyebrows: beer and pickles. We put pickles in our Bloody Marys, so why not? Here’s why people are experimenting with this unusual mix—and why you might want to try it.
You Need a Special Kind of Beer
And by “special beer” we mean cheap beer. This combo is really only intended to spice up everyday beer and make it more palatable; you probably shouldn’t be trying the pickle method with a small-batch craft beer. You could. But we’re not recommending it.
As you might imagine, this isn’t terribly complicated: pour your cheap beer into a glass, then plunk a pickle into the alcohol the way PBR and Grillo’s Pickles did here. It’ll start foaming right away! You probably don’t want to leave it in longer than two minutes or your beer will go from having “notes of vinegar” to being pickle-flavored. And pretty much no one wants that. (If you do, this pickle-flavored beer is for you.)
Thank the Midwest for This
This isn’t a totally new thing, even if you’re just hearing about it now! Back in 2017, Esquire wrote a story that explained why it works. Basically, the vinegar and salt in the pickle complement the flavor of the beer, which makes drinking a whole new (and better) experience.
Apparently this is a tradition that hails from the Midwest, which makes sense when you think about it—we Midwesterners do love our beer! So if you’re looking for someone to thank (or to blame) for this combo, point a finger at the middle of the U.S. But we bet you love these iconic Midwestern foods, so don’t be too harsh.
Recipes for People Who Love Pickles
Bacon Cheeseburger CasseroleThis casserole has it all: ground beef, bacon, onions and cheese, all baked up in your trusty 9x13 pan. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Also check: What’s sweet, sour, spicy, and red all over? A chamoy pickle, the latest viral recipe taking over TikTok.
Dill Pickle DipMy love for pickles led me to create this dill pickle dip. It's so easy to whip together. But be warned...it's addicting! —April Anderson, Forest Lake, Minnesota
Dill Pickle SoupThis dill pickle soup is made from a century-old Swiss recipe. Traditionally, it is a winter soup, but we serve it year-round because of the demand. —Nancy Ross, Salem, Oregon
Cuban SlidersThese wonderful little rolls are baked until lightly toasted and the cheese melts. The leftover King's Hawaiian ham sliders keep really well in the fridge, and they make a lovely cold snack. Followers of my blog, houseofyumm.com, go nuts for these! —Serene Herrera, Dallas, Texas
Cheeseburger PizzaMy husband's favorite foods are pizza and cheeseburgers, so I combined the two in a pie with mayo and dill pickle juice. People who try this cheeseburger pizza always laugh in surprise because it's so good. —Angie Zimmerman, Eureka, Illinois
Dill Pickle Potato SaladThis creamy dill pickle potato salad makes a flavorful and attractive addition to a Fourth of July picnic or church supper.—Nancy Holland, Morgan Hill, California
Fried Dill PicklesYou may be surprised when you see how easy it is to make a batch of Fried Dill Pickels. Don't be surprised if they get snatched up in a flash! —Eloise Maynor, Scottsboro, AL
Pastrami Roll-UpsFor a book club event, I created pastrami roll-ups with cream cheese and a pickle. Those tasty bites quickly pulled a disappearing act. —Merritt Heinrich, Oswego, Illinois
Dill Bloody MarysWith a nice level of pepper, and just enough dill from the pickle, these Bloody Marys are sure to please. To make Contrary Marys simply leave out the vodka. —Jay Ferkovich, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Dilly Mini Cheese Balls??These mini cheese balls are perfect for any gathering, no matter what time of year it is! Kids love the cheesy, salty flavor, and adults appreciate how easy they are to make. —Carole Lanthier, Courtice, Ontario
Cheeseburger NachosCheeseburger nachos are the perfect game-day graze. Load them up with all the toppings or let everyone claim part of the platter that they can top with their faves. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Chili Dog PizzaMy girls love it when I make this mash-up pizza with hot dogs and chili. It’s a marvelous way to use up leftover chili. —Jennifer Stowell, Smithville, Missouri
Sweet and Hot Chicken with Dill Pickle SauceThis is my low-carb version of Nashville hot chicken. We try to cut carbs as much as possible, so the fried breaded version and the sandwich version of this dish were out. Instead, I make a baked rendition with the same delicious flavors. This is also amazing made with chicken tenders and served in wraps. —Fay A. Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas
Peanut Butter Pickle SandwichCrunchy, tangy, salty and sweet, this open-faced peanut butter pickle sandwich hits all your cravings. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
Pickle MartiniSet the olives aside. This pickle martini is a salty, sippable take on the classic drink. Make your pickletini with vodka or gin.
