# How do you... cucumber? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ingredients\ **Created:** [July 18, 2014, 1:27pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177 "2014-07-18T13:27:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AmandaK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@AmandaK](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/AmandaK)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 1:27pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/1 "2014-07-18T13:27:15Z")
I am wanting to ‘cucumber’ a saison, but would like a bit of direction before I screw this up. How **exactly** would you cucumber a beer? Dry-cucumbering? Juice it and blend? Do I remove the skin? What about the seeds? I would imagine that one or both of those would be bitter/unpleasant. I’ve come across several threads on this forum and others about cucumber saisons, but they just generally say “add cucumber” - which is unhelpful. I have a bumper crop of cucumbers (3-8 a day) and need to do something with them - help! ---
**Author:** ![jonhughey\_att.net](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/jonhughey_att.net/32/6277_2.png) [@jonhughey\_att.net](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/jonhughey_att.net)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 1:29pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/2 "2014-07-18T13:29:32Z")
I would remove the skin and seeds, puree, and add the puree to secondary. I think one of the commercial breweries that makes one does it that way. EDIT - Actually, you could strain the puree through a strainer or cheesecloth to remove most of the ‘pulpy’ matter and be left with a cleaner product in your secondary. Though standard fruit purees never cause me any issue. ---
**Author:** ![skatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/skatz/32/6982_2.png) [@skatz](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/skatz)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 1:42pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/3 "2014-07-18T13:42:49Z")
Cucumber is nearly all water. I would just slice it up and toss it in. Not sure about the skin. I personally don’t mind it, but I know others that don’t. I guess sanitation would be easier if you peel it. ---
**Author:** ![fejjgw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/fejjgw/32/4173_2.png) [@fejjgw](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/fejjgw)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 1:54pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/4 "2014-07-18T13:54:14Z")
There was an article in the latest Zymurgy That mentioned Cucumber Saison.  THe dude in the wacked out suit said he removes the skins because it can cause a chlorophyll note and then juices them.  I would think using part cuke juice part water for your beer would be the way to go. Maybe treat an AG batch like an extract batch(brew a concentrated wort with corrected IBus) and “top up” with the cuke juice to save the gentle flavors that is cucumber. Might work, probably wont:D Jeff ---
**Author:** ![AmandaK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@AmandaK](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/AmandaK)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/5 "2014-07-18T16:57:14Z")
Hmm… I have a over-what-I-wanted-original-gravity saison that I may be able to ‘back add’ cuke juice to… I may try this when I get home in a glass of saison and see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![jonhughey\_att.net](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/jonhughey_att.net/32/6277_2.png) [@jonhughey\_att.net](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/jonhughey_att.net)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/6 "2014-07-18T17:18:11Z")
I might even keg with a bit of the juice to bring out more of the flavor. Never having brewed one, I don’t know what the threshold is to get cucumber flavor to be apparent. I know I use double the amount of a milder fruit like peach to get the same level of presence as using something like cherry or raspberry. I’ll be curious to hear how it comes out ! ---
**Author:** ![hjack](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/hjack/32/4692_2.png) [@hjack](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/hjack)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 5:24pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/7 "2014-07-18T17:24:40Z")
Amanda, do you have a nice cucumber sauce recipe you might share.  Greek like! ---
**Author:** ![morticaixavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@morticaixavier](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/morticaixavier)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/8 "2014-07-18T17:27:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Amanda, do you have a nice cucumber sauce recipe you might share.  Greek like! I just made falafel the other day and put together some cuke sauce to go with it. ~1 cup greek style yogurt ~4 inches of english cuke shredded on the box grater and squeezed of as much moisture as I could ~ .25 tsp lemon juice ~2 tablespoons of chopped fresh dill Cumin, corriander, salt, and black pepper to taste. ---
**Author:** ![hjack](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/hjack/32/4692_2.png) [@hjack](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/hjack)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/9 "2014-07-18T17:33:37Z")
Morticai, that is wonderful.  Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![AmandaK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@AmandaK](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/AmandaK)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/10 "2014-07-18T18:04:03Z")
Thank you for posting that Jonathan. I have no idea what to do with all of these cukes, so perhaps I’ll try that as well. KCBM meeting is tonight, so I might not get to this today but I’ll attempt some bench trials in the coming days. ---
**Author:** ![redbeerman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/redbeerman/32/10016_2.png) [@redbeerman](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/redbeerman)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/11 "2014-07-18T18:31:52Z")
Pickles!?! ---
**Author:** ![skatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/skatz/32/6982_2.png) [@skatz](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/skatz)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 6:36pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/12 "2014-07-18T18:36:48Z")
> [@redbeerman](#): > > Pickles!?! That’s what I would do. Not all cucumbers make good pickles. ---
**Author:** ![redbeerman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/redbeerman/32/10016_2.png) [@redbeerman](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/redbeerman)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/13 "2014-07-18T18:38:47Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@redbeerman](#): > > > > Pickles!?! > > That’s what I would do. Not all cucumbers make good pickles. I’ve never met a vegetable that I couldn’t make a good pickle out of.  Must be the kraut in me. ---
**Author:** ![AmandaK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@AmandaK](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/AmandaK)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/14 "2014-07-18T18:38:53Z")
I have quick pickled about 5-6 cukes. I’m wearing thin on those. ---
**Author:** ![redbeerman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/redbeerman/32/10016_2.png) [@redbeerman](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/redbeerman)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/15 "2014-07-18T18:45:33Z")
> [@AmandaK](#): > > I have quick pickled about 5-6 cukes. I’m wearing thin on those. You can always jar some.  They keep forever, so you don’t get burnt out on them.  The cool thing is you don’t have to pressure can them, just a boiling water bath is enough due to the acidity.  of course I have a kid who could live on them.  I did cukes and kohlrabi last weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Kinetic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/77aa72/32.png) [@Kinetic](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Kinetic)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/16 "2014-07-18T18:49:42Z")
Maybe trade a Floridian for some CCB Cucumber Saison before you commit to a batch.  I tried it and won’t be brewing with cucumbers.  YMMV ---
**Author:** ![Kinetic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/77aa72/32.png) [@Kinetic](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Kinetic)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/17 "2014-07-18T19:05:43Z")
Or you can order it from Luekens and pick up a few other CCB beers while you’re at it. [http://www.luekensliquors.com/beer/cigar-city-cucumber-saison-22oz](http://www.luekensliquors.com/beer/cigar-city-cucumber-saison-22oz) ---
**Author:** ![jonhughey\_att.net](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/jonhughey_att.net/32/6277_2.png) [@jonhughey\_att.net](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/jonhughey_att.net)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/18 "2014-07-18T19:15:27Z")
> [@Kinetic](#): > > Maybe trade a Floridian for some CCB Cucumber Saison before you commit to a batch.  I tried it and won’t be brewing with cucumbers.  YMMV Yeah, while I would definitely try one, I can’t ever see brewing one myself, especially in quantity. Never say never though. ---
**Author:** ![Kinetic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/77aa72/32.png) [@Kinetic](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Kinetic)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/19 "2014-07-18T19:27:51Z")
5+ gallons is a large commitment.  1-2 gallons is worth the risk.  Which reminds me, I need to get crackin on my smoked ham on rye with mustard beer! ---
**Author:** ![erockrph](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/erockrph/32/13330_2.png) [@erockrph](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/erockrph)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177/20 "2014-07-18T20:55:32Z")
I’m jealous. My cucumbers didn’t make it this year. Most summers I eat a whole cucumber with lunch at work every day. Cut into sticks with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Cukes are one veggie that I’ve never had too much of. [Next page](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-do-you-cucumber/17177.md?page=2)