Beer Brine Refrigerator Pickle Recipe (2024)

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February 27, 2024

Karen Solomon – Editor, Writer, On-page SEO, Content Marketing

Oh, and cookbooks. I've got those, too.

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Food Writing / recipes

I’m teaching a class tonight at food and art community space 18 Reasons on Curious and Peculiar Pickles – whey pickles, Kool Aid pickles, rice bran pickles; pickles made with soy sauce, miso, and nothing but salt. In short, the unsung pickling alternatives to our beloved ‘kraut and dills. I have really been digging working on these pickle recipes, and I will likely turn this into a blog series. What other odd birds do you like to pack into a pint jar?

Lucky me, the class is sold out! But if you’re an unlucky you who was not able to sign up, I present to you your next pickling challenge: Beer Brine Pickles. The beer adds a nice malty, bitter edge to these robust pickles. And I won’t even tell you what drink pairs with these well….:>

If you live in San Francisco, there are also two upcoming classes on lactofermented pickles and pickling with fruit that I highly recommend.

Enjoy!

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Beer Brine Refrigerator Pickle Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 12 oz. bottles Anchor Steam beer (or another medium- to full-bodied beer)
  • 2 lbs. small pickling cucumbers (Persians, Kirby’s, etc.
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 3 dried chili peppers
  • 1 T each yellow mustard seeds, black peppercorns, and kosher salt, divided
  • Distilled white vinegar

Instructions

  1. Gather three clean pint-sized canning jars with lids. If you’re planning to can these pickles, sterilize your jars and lids. Note that canning these pickles is not necessary.
  2. Pour the beer into a large saucepan - larger than you think, as it will foam quite a bit. Set over high heat until boiling and foaming, stirring occasionally to reduce the foam. When it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low and let the beer simmer for about 15 minutes, until it reduces by about a third.
  3. Meanwhile, scrub the cucumbers really well (especially the ends). Quarter them lengthwise and, if needed, trim them to fit into the jars.
  4. In the bottom of each jar, place one clove of garlic (with an X cut into it), one chili pepper, and one teaspoon each of the mustard seed, peppercorns, and salt. Tilt the jar on its side and stack the pickles into the jar as tightly as possible.
  5. Fill each jar halfway with the hot beer, and then top it off with vinegar until the vegetables are fully submerged. Cap tightly and shake to combine.
  6. If you’re canning these pickles, use only sterilized jars and lids. Loosen the cap to fingertip-tight and then process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes. If you’re making refrigerator pickles, let the pickles sit at room temperature for 24 hours, then move them to the fridge. The flavor of the pickles will be at its best after 3 days.

Notes

Makes 3 pints. Time: About 3 days

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Beer Brine Refrigerator Pickle Recipe (10)

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8 Comments on “Beer Brine Pickle Recipe”

  1. Ms. Solomon, thank you for this wonderrful recipe! I’m a home brewer that makes sauerkraut and pickles, but have never seen this approach before. I can’t wait to try!

    Reply

    1. Good luck, Jason! Hope you like it.

      Reply

  2. Do you think this would work for asparagus? We’re huge fans of your refrigerator green bean recipe, but I was trying to find something similar for asparagus.

    Reply

    1. I have not tried it myself, but if i were to give it a whirl, i would probably blanch the asparagus for 3 minutes or so before dunking in the brine. My guess is that this would be great! Let me know how it goes.

      Reply

  3. I like your thinking on pickling

    Reply

  4. This sounds delicious – going to make it with some homebrew that turned out a little too sweet but the flavor should be just fine with a vinegar brine. One question though: the recipe doesn’t call for any salt. Is it possible to make shelf-stable/water-bathed pickles without salt?

    Reply

    1. Misread the recipe, my fault!

      Reply

    2. Salt is included in the recipe with the other spices. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.

      Reply

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Beer Brine Refrigerator Pickle Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long does homemade pickle brine last in the fridge? ›

But does pickle brine ever go bad? The short answer is yes, pickle brine will eventually go bad. “All items have a shelf life," Bec says. "So I would not hold onto it for more than one to two months after consuming the pickled product."

What is the ratio of vinegar to water for refrigerator pickles? ›

The basic ratio for quick pickles is 1:1 vinegar to water, and includes some combination of salt and sugar. Another ratio that is commonly followed is the 3:2:1 method, using three parts vinegar, two parts water, and 1 part sugar.

Is cold brine better than hot brine for pickles? ›

The temperature can bring out flavors, which leach into the brine. She recommends using hot brine to pickle opaque vegetables or spices such as root vegetables, kabocha squash and garlic. Cold brines are useful if you're looking to preserve the texture and crunch of a vegetable.

Can you add alcohol to pickle brine? ›

To make boozy pickles, simply open your jar of pickle spears and add your desired amount of alcohol to the brine. Then screw the lid back on, give the jar a good shake, and refrigerate overnight. Here's a closer look at the method on TikTok: Find the best whiskey for boozy pickles (or making co*cktails).

Can bacteria grow in pickle brine? ›

Any exposed pickle or brine becomes a breeding ground for the bad microbes, which can spread to spoil the entire batch. Too hot . . . too cold . . . just right .

How many times can you reuse refrigerator pickle brine? ›

You're only using it to make refrigerator pickles. Once a brine has been used to can something, that's it. You can't do it again because you can't guarantee the acidity level once it has been heated up, hot water processed, absorbed by vegetables and refrigerated for an unknown amount of time.

Why do you boil pickle brine? ›

You take all of your ingredients, apart from the product that is being pickled, and bring them to a boil. The heating process helps activate the flavors in the brine and marry them together. This hot brine is then poured over what is to be pickled and then stored in the refrigerator.

Is it OK to drink pickle brine? ›

While pickle juice offers some health benefits, it may also pose some risks. Most of these risks are tied to the extremely high levels of sodium that pickle juice contains. Those who have or are at risk for hypertension (high blood pressure) should avoid drinking pickle juice.

What are the three types of brine? ›

Classes of brines include chloride brines (calcium and sodium), bromides, and formates. A general term that refers to various salts and salt mixtures dissolved in an aqueous solution. Brine can be used more strictly, however, to refer to solutions of sodium chloride.

What does beer do in a brine? ›

THE ART AND SCIENCE OF BEER-BRINED BEER CAN CHICKEN

The beer can also adds moisture and flavor to the chicken, while the steam created by the beer helps to keep the meat moist and tender.

Why add sugar to pickle brine? ›

Sugar in pickling is used to balance the tartness of the vinegar. Although the sugar can be eliminated from pickle recipes, the pickles are likely to be too sour. Note: Under no circ*mstances should the amount of vinegar be decreased or diluted to compensate for less sugar.

What is whiskey and pickle juice called? ›

The pickleback is a very interesting whiskey shot and a drink you have to experience for yourself. It's incredibly simple—a shot of Jameson chased by a shot of pickle juice—and it is, without a doubt, one of the most popular shots ordered in bars around the world.

Can brined pickles go bad? ›

"Pickles will eventually spoil if given enough time. Some may think the acid will prevent mold from growing, but given enough time, the mold will prevail." Tiner says the pickle brine has a lot to do with pickles lasting up to a year past the "use by date".

Does brine go bad in the fridge? ›

Unused brine can last almost indefinitely in the fridge.

How long does homemade brine last? ›

Unused brine made with salt and water can be stored indefinitely in the refrigerator. If you added any herbs or aromatics like garlic, it will still last up to two weeks. It's not a good idea to reuse brine, though, so toss it after the first use.

How do you preserve pickle brine? ›

I mix up extra brine and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. The brine is simple pickling salt, water and white vinegar. Then I can use it incrementally as my produce comes in. Saves me a few steps by simply reheating premixed brine instead of making it each time.

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