Beer is great. But what if beer were pink? That is the question California brewers asked themselves. With countless dye options on the market, Melanie Pierce and Bakofsky could have gone with a more traditional route. Instead they chose to dye their beer with Dactylopius Coccus. The good news is that it’s not a dinosaur. The bad news is that it’s a bug.
These bugs have been used for years to dye textiles, so Pierce and Bakofsky hadn’t completely lost their minds when they came up with the idea. The bugs are even used in sausages, candy, and juice. You’ve probably eaten them before without even realizing! Does that make you feel better? Yeah, doesn’t help us much either.
The Dactylopius Coccus is native to Central and South America, but a quick online shopping spree will send them right to your door.
The product of mixing bugs with beer was the Beetlegesit Stout which debuted last May at Session Fest. Tasters described it as a dry Irish stout with a subtle metallic quality, courtesy of the bugs. The color was the real draw to the drink. With a head reminiscent of a strawberry milkshake and a dark-as-night black base, a tall pour is a sight to see. A small spill reveals a blood red coloring. If nothing else, this is a fun beer to look at.