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With grilling season upon is, there’s no time like the present to consider the perfect beer and burger pairing that’s just for you.
COVID-carryout continues to happen at restaurants across the region. Consider grabbing your beer of choice at the store in advance, get it chilled and have it ready for your burger choice cut.
This list of beers is available at most Kroger, Meijer and Wal-marts as well as other grocers, with most retailing between $8.99-$10.99 and the majority falling at $10 or less.
Between the price point on burgers and the price point on beer, it’s an easy way to take the work out of cooking and makes it easy to relax, sip and savor.
Beer is a great match to pair with food because of its ability to interact and enhance so many different kinds of flavors.
The Beer Sommelier, Matt Simpson, said in an interview with Men’s Journal, “wine may cover up some of the flavors in cheese while the carbonation in beer creates a lighter acidity and lifts the fats in the cheese off the palate.”
The fats in the cheese and the meat.
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Knowing that the chemistry and makeup of beer makes it a great pairing, here’s a look at what style of beer to consider pairing with what flavors.
CHEESY BURGERS
Cheese is the perfect foil to beer, so you really can’t go wrong with any beer, but you may consider something classic to pair with a classic.
Cheddar Jack – Great Lakes Brewing Company Elliot Ness Amber Lager for example is smooth and malty and with 12 world beer championship titles under its belt, it’s an Ohio beer that’s a winner. Fat Tire Amber is another easy-drinking option with caramel notes that will complement the meat and cheese nicely.
For something different, Cincinnati’s Fifty West Brewing Company has a Belgian Witbier called Doom Pedal with hints of coriander and spice that will pair well with cheeses that zing.
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SPICY BURGERS
Bitter hops and spice go hand in hand. A good IPA will accentuate the heat rather than interfere with it or temper it. Both will bring out the best in each other. Founders All Day Session IPA is a light, lower calorie, lower alcohol sipper that is a good option if you are watching your calories. But with big flavors in food consider a bigger beer. Columbus Brewing Company’s Bodhi — a double IPA — is a favorite as is Brew Kettle’s White Rajah. Yellow Springs Brewery’s Boat Show and Rhinegeist TRUTH are also fantastic and worth considering.
GOAT CHEESE BURGERS
Not all cheeses are the same, and we highlight the soft, supple, delicate goat cheese here to drive home that point. For lighter, more tender cheeses, consider thinking outside of the box. Goat cheese for example will pair really well with a fruity, acidic beer like Fifty West Ocean City Gose that also happens to pour out a really beautiful color pink. The more out of the box the burger, the more out of the box you may consider your beer style.
SAVORY BURGERS
When you find your burger topped with something savory — avocado, bacon, smoked cheeses, pastas (think mac and cheese or toasted raviolis), egg, guacamole, additional meats like pork, you might consider going with a simple lager. That’s a lot of flavor and a light, crisp beer will help compliment more heavy, savory burgers. Great Lakes Dortmunder Lager is a great example of something light that will let the flavors of your burger sing without interference.
SWEET BURGERS
These are a more rare breed of burger, but when you cross paths with one you can’t refuse like Burger Week’s Donut Burger, consider a porter. Porters are lighter in mouthfeel and balance out any sugars your burger might be packing. Cigar City’s Muduro Brown Ale and Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter are examples of beer that can help a sweet burger shine.
MEATLESS BURGERS
It really depends on the flavor profile of your sandwich of choice for this category. You won’t have the fat component, so you may want to back off a bit. A good lager or amber will do just fine here, or depending on toppings, ingredients and flavors you can reference ideas above.
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