Model Bites: Burgers and Brews

One of the most perfect combinations in food history. Like apple pie and vanilla ice cream or chicken wings and buffalo sauce, a really good hamburger and a beer are a great pair. They can both stand alone without a doubt, but together they're banging! Exactly how did this match made in heaven come to be? The details are a bit fuzzy. I like to imagine some really buff, blond German guys named Sven and Rolf came up with the idea during Oktoberfest after running out of bratwurst and sauerkraut. I could be wrong, but a girl's allowed to fantasize. On the real, finding the right beer to go with your burger isn't easy. There's a method to the madness.

Ok the first thing you need to understand is that every burger isn't the same. To help you get this concept I've come up with PBJ- patty, bun, and junk in the trunk. Fast food places normally give you a thin patty where as your dad probably puts extra thick burgers on the grill. Also take into consideration what goes into a tasty patty. Burgeramt in Berlin puts finely chopped onions in the ground beef to give their hamburgers extra oomph. A number of gourmet restaurants use organic, grass-fed beef to make sure you're eating hormone-free meat. Now... what color do you like your cow? As a kid you probably ate everything well done. But you're a grown-up, it's totally ok to go for pink. A number of great burger spots cook their meat medium rare to medium, and I think the flavor is better that way. Next we've got the bun. Sesame seed, onion, kaiser roll, pretzel bun, hawaiian roll, whole wheat... I can keep going. The bun can either enhance the beef or ruin it. What about the junk in the trunk AKA the fixings. Cheese or no cheese? What kind of cheese? The traditional hamburger comes with lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mustard, and a pickle. I say get fancy with it. I load up my burger with bacon, roasted red peppers, spinach, provolone, and pesto. Talk about delicioso!

Now add beer. Here's where things get tricky. I like to think I can hang with the boys until someone offers me a brewski. If you're not a pro, drinking a beer can be icky like you're drinking urine. Sorry, I'm just keeping it real. To ease yourself in, try a nice cider or go Deutsch and drink a colaweizen or a Diesel, part coke and part beer. Now if you decide to plunge into the world of pale ales and frothy lagers, go for flavors that are familiar. Give me a brown lager that's got a sweet, roasted taste and a clean finish like drinking dark chocolate. Mmm mmm. That might not necessarily go with the burger I want, so it's important to ask an expert. Good burger and beer joints like Stout know their brews and can recommend something that complements the beef and fixings.

My rules of thumb: Lighter colored beers work with almost anything especially fresher ingredients like veggies. It may not add to the flavors of your burger, but it won't destroy it. If you've got a hamburger with some kick, go for a bold brew that's got kick too. Match flavor for flavor to create a symphony of tastiness in your mouth. Don't be afraid to experiment. Your tastebuds may require a challenge, so discover a pairing that no one else has even thought about. Make the beer gods proud. Cheers.