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Glass of beer next to bowl of ranch dressing
Ranch dressing is a popular offering across the United States, but it tends to be treated like a holy elixir in the Midwest. Some of its biggest evangelists would be happy to literally drink it straight from the bottle, and one brewery has dreamed up a slightly different way to consume it in liquid form at the Minnesota State Fair.
One of the best parts of the World Cup was getting to see visitors around the globe get a crash course in American culture. Many foreigners had their minds blown by things we take for granted, including the ones who developed a taste for what most people in the United States would think of as a delicacy: ranch dressing.
In June, the TSA issued a somewhat tongue-in-cheek warning after experiencing a spike in the number of travelers who’d stashed bottles of that tangy concoction in their carry-on. There’s no way to know how much was seized, but it’s safe to assume some of it was successfully transported overseas courtesy of tourists who were determined to spread the good word.
The condiment is a distinctly American innovation that was dreamed up by Steve Henson (the man behind Hidden Valley Ranch, the name of the farmstead in California where he served it up to guests) in the 1950s. He was originally from Nebraska, and for some reason, people from the Midwest seem to be particularly predisposed to having a thing for his creation.
That region includes Minnesota, and ranch lovers will want to track down a beer that’s being served up at its state fair this year.
A brewery in St. Paul whipped up a ranch-inspired beer for the Minnesota State Fair
If you’re one of those people who prefers to dip their wings in ranch dressing, there’s a good chance you’ve washed them down with some beer. However, I doubt there are many drinkers who’ve ever felt the urge to combine those two liquids.
According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the folks at Dual Citizen Brewing Company in the Twin Cities have decided to do exactly that with Old Ranch Hand, which is described as a ” ranch-dressing-flavored cream ale blending smooth malt with hints of buttermilk, herbs and spices.”
The beer clocks in at 5% ABV, and it will be poured into a glass that features a “savory ranch-seasoned salt rim” when it’s served up at a couple of food stands (specifically Sabino’s Pizza Pies and Rooted & Wild by Snack House) at the Minnesota State Fair, the nearly two-week affair that will unfold between August 27 and September 7th this year.
Dual Citizen is not the first brewery to draw inspiration from ranch; Martin House Brewing Company in Fort Worth tried a similar approach a few years back, but it was not exactly a hit based on the reviews it garnered.
Here’s to hoping this one goes over a bit better.