People Are Now Putting Pickles in Beer to Make It Taste Better

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

1 / 24

Taste of Home

Air-Fryer Pickles Enjoy deep-fried pickles? You’ll love this version even more. Dill pickle slices are coated with panko bread crumbs and spices, then air-fried until crispy. Dip them in ranch dressing for an appetizer you won’t soon forget. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado Also, check what is a pickle all about! Go to Recipe

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

Go to Recipe

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

Go to Recipe

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

Go to Recipe

Cuban Sliders Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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

Go to Recipe

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

Go to Recipe

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

Go to Recipe

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

Go to Recipe

Taste of Home

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

Go to Recipe

Taste of Home

Dilly Turkey MeltThis is a hearty grilled sandwich with a distinctive and delicious combination of ingredients. The pickle slices add a bit of fun, and the barbecue sauce provides a hint of sweetness that's irresistible. —Henry Mujica, North Riverside, Illinois

Go to Recipe

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

Go to Recipe

Taste of Home

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

Go to Recipe

Cheeseburger PieThis cheeseburger pie tastes so much like its namesake—right down to the pickles in it! We home-school our children so I like easy recipes like this that get them involved in cooking. —Rhonda Cannady, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Go to Recipe

Taste of Home

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

Go to Recipe

Moist N Tender Wings Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Moist N Tender WingsHere are some irresistible, fall-off-the-bone chicken wings that everyone will love. Chili sauce and powder give them just a bit of heat, while molasses lends a hint of sweetness. They make a fantastic meal served with rice. –Sharon Morcilio, Joshua Tree, California

Go to Recipe

Cubano Macaroni SaladOne of my favorite sandwiches is a hot Cubano, piled high with juicy pork, layers of ham and melty Swiss cheese. These same ingredients are amazing in a macaroni salad. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California

Go to Recipe

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

Go to Recipe

Cuban Roasted Pork SandwichesFor an incredible hot sandwich, slowly roast pork in a seasoned citrus marinade, then layer slices of the meat with pickles, zippy mustard, ham and cheese. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Go to Recipe

Taste of Home

Ham & Pickle WrapsI decided to try this recipe on my card club, and it was a big success. They loved it. This ham pickle roll up recipe can be swapped around and changed in so many different ways and always turns out as an awesome appetizer or great-looking centerpiece over a hand of cards.

Go to Recipe

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

Go to Recipe

Taste of Home

Garlic-Dill Deviled EggsIn my family, Easter isn't complete without deviled eggs. Fresh dill and garlic perk up the flavor of these irresistible appetizers that you'll want to eat on every occasion. —Kami Horch, Calais, Maine

Go to Recipe

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

Go to Recipe

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

Go to Recipe

One-Pot Bacon Cheeseburger PastaWhen the weather's too chilly to grill, I whip up a big pot of this cheesy pasta. Believe it or not, it tastes just like a bacon cheeseburger, and it's much easier for my young children to enjoy. —Carly Terrell, Granbury Texas

Go to Recipe