Oliphant Pickle Beer 4Pk

Oliphant Pickle Beer 4PK is a brined lager from Oliphant Brewing in Somerset, Wisconsin, arriving at 4% ABV in a four-pack format. This sessionable oddball has carved out a niche among pickle beer enthusiasts, delivering an unmistakable dill-forward punch rarely found in the lager category.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4%  |  Origin: Somerset, Wisconsin, USA  |  Style: Brined Lager  |  Brewery: Oliphant Brewing

Production & Heritage

Oliphant Brewing operates out of Somerset, Wisconsin, a small town in the St. Croix Valley. Their Pickle Beer is categorized as a brined lager made with natural flavors, designed to replicate the experience of drinking pickle juice layered over a clean, light lager base. The brewery markets it unapologetically as "liquid pickle juice for your guzzlement," leaning fully into the novelty without pretending to be anything else. Oliphant earned a Bronze medal at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival in the Brown Ale category, demonstrating range across their lineup beyond this signature quirky release.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose is immediately and intensely pickle-forward. Waves of dill, cucumber, and caraway dominate from the first pour, evoking a freshly opened jar of kosher dills.

Taste: On the palate, pickle brine hits immediately, followed by lemon zest and additional layers of dill and cucumber. A mild adjunct grain character sits underneath, providing just enough malt backbone to remind you this is, in fact, a beer. The carbonation keeps things lively and prevents the brine from becoming heavy.

Finish: The finish is clean and relatively short, with lingering dill and a faint saline quality. The light body and low ABV make it easy to move through a can quickly without palate fatigue.

How to Drink Pickle Beer

Most fans drink it ice cold, straight from the can, treating it like a savory refresher on a hot day. It also works surprisingly well in beer-based cocktails and food pairings.

• Pickleback Boilermaker: Pair a shot of rye whiskey with a chaser of Pickle Beer instead of traditional pickle brine — the carbonation adds a refreshing lift.
• Michelada riff: Substitute Pickle Beer for a standard lager in a Michelada; the brine replaces some of the hot sauce and lime work.
• Shandy twist: Mix half Pickle Beer with half lemonade for a tart, herbaceous summer shandy with serious dill character.

Best For

• Pickle lovers looking for a drinkable way to satisfy their craving
• Backyard barbecues where conversation-starting beers steal the show
• Pairing alongside burgers, hot dogs, and other cookout staples
• Gifting to adventurous beer drinkers who think they've tried everything

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Oliphant Pickle Beer taste like? It tastes unmistakably like pickle juice layered over a light, clean lager, with pronounced dill, cucumber, caraway, and a hint of lemon zest throughout.

How does Oliphant Pickle Beer compare to Donna's Pickle Beer? Both are pickle-forward beers, but Donna's Pickle Beer from Pilot Project Brewery in Milwaukee finishes slightly higher at 4.7% ABV and is often described as having a subtle sweetness that balances the brine. Oliphant's version leans more aggressively into the dill-and-brine character at a lower 4% ABV, making it a touch more sessionable.

Is Oliphant Pickle Beer good for sipping on its own? If you genuinely enjoy pickle juice, it drinks easily at 4% ABV with a light body and solid carbonation that keeps it refreshing rather than overwhelming.

Where is Oliphant Pickle Beer made? It is brewed by Oliphant Brewing in Somerset, Wisconsin, a small town in the St. Croix Valley in the western part of the state near the Minnesota border.

What foods pair well with Oliphant Pickle Beer? Grilled bratwurst benefits from the briny, herbal contrast. Cheeseburgers echo the pickle-on-a-burger combination naturally. Fried fish or fish and chips find a bright, acidic counterpoint in the beer. Sharp cheddar or aged gouda stand up well to the assertive dill notes. Soft pretzels with mustard complement the caraway and saline character.

What sizes does Oliphant Pickle Beer come in? The standard retail format is a four-pack of cans.

Is Oliphant Pickle Beer worth the price? It positions as an affordable novelty beer in the flavored lager segment, priced comparably to other craft four-packs — reasonable for the experience, especially if pickle-flavored beverages are genuinely your thing rather than a one-time curiosity.

Why Pickle Beer?

Pickle beers are a polarizing category, and Oliphant's version commits fully rather than hedging. The 4% ABV keeps it in true session territory, and the brined lager base stays out of the way, letting dill, cucumber, and caraway run the show. Oliphant Brewing has demonstrated legitimate brewing chops — their 2024 GABF Bronze medal in the Brown Ale category confirms this isn't just a gimmick house. For anyone who already reaches for pickle juice after a long run, a spicy meal, or just because, this beer simply puts that impulse in a more socially acceptable package.