An Illinois Brewery Really Made A Cicada-Infused Liqueur

Summer 2024 will go down as the Cicadapocalypse.

As predicted, cicadas are taking over the world (or at least the Midwest) right now. It's the double brood emergence that only happens every few (hundred) years and it's resulted in cicada-based recipes (I'm not kidding).

Cicadas are loud, they squirt pee if they're mad, and they're all over the place right now and probably will be for a while. So an Illinois brewery is just embracing it in the most Chicago way possible.

Cicada-Infused Drink

As NBC Chicago reports, Noon Whistle Brewing has created a spirit reflective of Cicadapocalypse 2024 that's available at Lombard Brewpub outside of Chicago.

The drink?

Cicada-Infused Malört.

I don't think it's possible to make Malört any worse so I can get behind this idea. Cicadas have a nutty flavor and according to the brewery, they bring a lobster-like flavor to the Malört.

Don't eat cicadas if you're allergic to shellfish (they contain the same protein). But as the post notes, cicadas have a lot of protein and they're low in fat. I just don't think I could get past the crunchy exoskeleton. Ew.

If you're really going to go for it, the brewery invites you to bring some cicada husks of your own to put in your drink. Then you can get more of a "personalized alcoholic cicada broth experience".

This may be one of the only cicada foods I could remotely be on board with. Remember, the Chicago-born liqueur Malört is already awful. Maybe something like a nutty flavor could make it better? Good even?