Pairing Pickle Beers with Food
Pickle beers are here, though sometimes hard to find, they are available for purchase wherever you find your rare beers or white whales. While “wildly popular” isn’t how I’d describe the existence of Pickle Beers, I'd rather muse that the Pickle Beer is probably the only beer style that started out as a meme and became a craze... sort of.
Pickle beers are unique in that the first iterations were simply to add pickle juice directly into the beer. Generally seen in the Midwest. "Pickle Backs," or shots of pickle brine chasing a whiskey are also to blame, acting as a gateway drug to the dill forward light beer. Perhaps a pickle beer is how you kick back after a long shift, but for most beer drinkers it's a novelty purchase or a silly bottle to bring to a share. It only took one friend asking what Fort George Brewery's "Hold the Pickle" would pair well with to spawn the creation of this blog post. Below you'll find six favorite food pairings to go with your favorite pickle beer!
Bursting over the Board Charcuterie
A Pickle Beer pairing that is a little bit of a no-brainer! A great charcuterie board has the traditional meats and cheeses, yes. But it also has a swath of pickled vegetables, olives, nuts, and fruits. There's nothing more mouthwatering than a freshly placed board. Ok, there's one thing better: if someone brought a Pickle Beer to share. Pour into a few taster glasses and treat the beer exactly like you would any element on the board. Just like the real pickles hidden beneath the salami, the Pickle Beer will provide a tart taste and dill-forward flavor that cuts through the richness of the meat and the nuts.
Pickle Beer Pairing: 9/10
Thick Sliced Reuben Sandwich
Of course any sammy that comes with a pickle is going to be an excellent companion to a Pickle Beer. Specifically the Reuben has a lot of fatty, umami tastes that are rich and decadent. The harshness of the mustard oftentimes can help cut that umami down, but what really slices through that decadent bite is a pickle beer. Sipping on the pickle beer will compliment the saurkraut bringing the sour pungentess forward, while washing away the pastrami richness.
Pickle Beer Pairing: 10/10
Fully Loaded Bloody Mary
Blood Marys are a staple of a post bottle-share morning. Nothing to get you feeling right as rain like some hair of the dog. A balanced Bloody doesn't overwhelm with Tequila hotness, but does have a tasty hit of capsaicin heat. Add an extra dash of worchestchire sauce, grate some fresh horseradish directly in, and top off with your favorite Pickle Beer to create a full flavor and unique Blood Mary. The flavors of the dill and the crispness of the beer pair perfectly with the full salad loaded on top in various quantities of skewers. You'll want to keep the bottle or can around to top off as you drink down!
Pickle Beer Pairing: 8/10
Chef's Wedge Salad with Bacon
Alright, let's go a more healthy route with our Pickle Beers. The Class Chef's salad complete with bacon, tomatoes, eggs, parsley, chopped onion, and drenched with creamy ranch dressing is ideal for this pairing. The brew provides a tangy crisp finish that balances against the rich dressing and cuts through to clear the palate. The pickle flavor tricks your mouth into thinking this salad has more than meets the eye.
Pickle Beer Pairing: 6/10
Bratwurst with Curry Ketchup
Currywurst, or a bratwurst with curry ketchup is a must have when drinking down classic German Lagers or American Domestics. But I argue that the Pickle Beer brings in just the right amount of tartness, a that hit of dill that contrasts the curry, and a refreshing crispness that rivals the traditional pairings.
Pickle Beer Paring: 9/10
Peanut Butter Sandwich
Ok, an American classic peanut butter sandwich is maybe on the lazy side of beer pairings. But this old reliable pairs just right with a pickle beer. The simplicity of the rich and sweet peanut butter is met up against a contrasting pairing of herbal, crispy, and tart. You can make the sandwich with or without pickles already incorporated - I guess it just depends how much you truly love pickles.
Pickle Beer Pairing: 5/10
