Forget Mt. Olive and, dare we say it, Claussen — The Urban Canning Co.’s craft-brew-marinated pickles are where it’s at. Created with Green Bench Brewing Co.’s Surrealist IPA, the pickle spears pack a flavorful kick (spicy and sour) with just the right amount of crunch. Urban Canning founder Illene Sofranko debuted these babies at April 25’s Local Buds late-night market in St. Pete, and developed her signature recipe after reading about a Brooklyn biz’s IPA pickle-making efforts. Since each jar is equipped with one jalapeño, you’re sure to taste the local-to-its-core snack’s additional punch. Available at various farmers’ markets throughout the region, facebook.com/TheUrbanCanningCompany
This article appears in Sep 18-24, 2014.