I bought some Mt. Olive brand bread and butter pickles awhile back. I have
bought that brand before but not sure that I bought the bread and butter
ones. I was jonahing for them so opened the jar and dished some up only to
discover that they weren't very flavorful and they were mushy.

I put them in the fridge and forgot about them until now. Tried them again.
Once chilled, they taste like they should and they have a nice crunch.

So my question is: Do pickles have to be refrigerated to taste good?

My dad said his grandma always had at least one jar of jam and bread and
butter pickles sitting on her kitchen table. If anyone was hungry between
meals, they would get a slice of bread and eat it with the jam or pickles.
No refrigerator at her house. Only an icebox and those things were never in
it.