Apparently, Putting a Pickle In Cheap Beer Makes It Taste Way Better
Supposedly, putting a pickle into a glass of light, cheap, beer is supposed to make it taste better. We came across this hack from SimpleMost this week, but it's not exactly new. In fact, when Esquire explored the subject back in 2017, Joe McClure of McClure's Pickles explained why this combo works so well. Basically, it's the same reason you love having pretzels or French fries with a can of beer—the vinegar and salt notes complement the flavors in beer perfectly.
In both pieces, the authors recommend lighter, more affordable lagers to try with this trick, versus, say, a fancy IPA. Because Grillo's Pickles recently started a "spear in a beer" campaign with PBR, we decided to go with that one!
The first thing I noticed when I popped the pickle in is how much it foamed up. It would not stop fizzing!
Nevertheless, I gave it a sip before and after, and it definitely made a difference. The beer had a bit of a zip now, similarly to how it would taste if I added a lime, though this was obviously a bit brinier. It just added something a little extra!
The longer you let it sit, the more it will taste like pickles, so unless you're TRULY more of a pickle eater than a beer drinker—or you're prone to chugging—I would remove it after a minute or two. That said, I wouldn't try this if you already don't like pickles. My boyfriend HATES them, and although I didn't think the taste was overly strong, he despised it even though it had only been sitting a few seconds.
So there you have it! If you have an extra pickle laying around and you're bored, give this one a try the next time you crack open a beer!
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