Have You Ever Tried A Pickle Beer

Pickle Beer—it's a thing. I have never had one, but I am admittedly intrigued. So, I decided to look into this sour phenomenon and report back!

Let's face it, pickles are having their moment. Sure, they've always been there. A chip or two on top of your burger. Trying to disguise themselves as "relish" on your hot dog. That lonely spear sitting on your sandwich plate, next to the mystery coleslaw, hoping he looks just fresh enough for you to take a bite. Pickles are American as well, cucumbers!

Also, they can be quite divisive. I love pickles. However, I know many friends and family members that can't stand them. That hasn't seemed to deter the pickle from having their moment. Nowadays, we are seeing pickles used in all sorts of ways. Fried pickle chips and spears are almost as common a bar food now as mozzarella sticks. Pickles are making their way onto pizzas.

Meanwhile, the famous Elsie's Sub Shop in Red Bank offers giant pickle halves instead of bread on sandwiches, and don't get me started on Pickle Ball! No pickles are really having a moment. But Pickle Beer?

According to the website ISTHMUS, Pickle beers are not an entirely new thing. But their increased presence is an indication of a trend among craft beer hunters. They are akin to sour beers, provoking strong likes and dislikes, with few neutral opinions. Some drinkers find the mere thought of briny beer revolting, yet many who love them swear by how refreshing the crisp dill tartness can be in a beer.

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Pickle beers come in a wide range of dill intensities. Most often they are made with brine or pickle juice. The result may give a beer the subtle accent of cucumber. Sometimes, in extreme beers, it’s the eye-watering sourness of vinegar. Salt, dill, and other spices — it’s all up to the brewer and how much pickle character is preferred.

So wait, you're telling me there's science involved? I thought they just poured pickle juice into a lager! 

The website goes on to say that Pickle Beer can be more than just enjoyed on its own. For example, with a cheeseburger on the grill. They can also be a sidecar to a Bloody Mary, especially those with some pepper heat. Their sharp dill and vinegar sourness can be just the beer for a michelada that also mixes in tomato, limes, chili spice and salt.

Locally, Source Brewing in Colts Neck offers Pickle Margarita, and Pickle Boi,  4.5 avb gose style ales. I've heard it packs a vinegary punch. I'm on a mission to try this, and find other pickle beer in our area! Like I said, I'll report back. Cause you know, it's a big dill. 

The 2024 Chatsworth Cranberry Festival was held on October 19th and 20th in the tiny Pinelands town of Chatsworth. My wife and I make it part of our October festival tour every year. It's so cool!

Part street fair, part food fest, part flea market, this is a must visit for any New Jersian or lover of Autumn. Of course if you are a fan of cranberries, well that helps too! As I wrote about before last year's festival, they have EVERYTHING cranberry! From wine, to hot sauce (my favorite), to cakes. pies, and breads. They even have cranberry chili!

I snapped some photos of this year's Chatsworth Cranberry Festival, along with some of the items I enjoyed.