Smashburger, the national burger restaurant known for its fresh, smashed-to-order burgers, is sharing its pairing secrets for burger and beer lovers across the nation in celebration of National Burger Day tomorrow, Wednesday, May 28. Smashburger Founder and Chief Concept Officer, Tom Ryan, recently teamed up with Chris Spradley, MasterChef finalist, craft beer consultant, and host of the new food and travel reality show, “Destination Beer,” to create exclusive pairing tips that honor the burger.
Ryan and Spradley offer the following pairing tips to help you create the perfect match up for any meal:
- Spicy flavors: Pilsners and Helles-style lagers will cool the heat, while hoppy IPAs pair well with spicy flavors to accentuate the heat.
- Savory flavors: Porters, Schwarzbiers, nutty brown ales, and amber beers complement mushrooms and some aged cheeses, such as Swiss and Gouda.
- Rich flavors: American wheat beers, Belgian golden ales, hoppy American pale ales, and IPAs cut the richness of avocados, creamy dressings, and goat cheese.
- Crisp, fresh flavors: Clean lagers, such as Kolsch or American blonde ales, pair well with cucumbers, lettuce, and tomato.
- Acidic flavors: Spicy saisons, witbiers, English style pale ales, and American wheat beers work well with pickles, vinaigrettes, citrus, and mustards.
- Smoky flavors: A porter or doppleblock pairs nicely with smoky bacon or other cured meats. In contrast, a sharp IPA will cut the sweetness of maple bacon.
In 2012, Smashburger launched its burger and craft beer pairing menu with Fort Collins, Colorado-based New Belgium Brewing Company, a program that was inspired by the popular local craft beer culture in its home state of Colorado. Today, the company has expanded that program into thirteen markets across the country:
- Denver, Colorado, with New Belgium Brewing Company
- Brooklyn/Long Island, New York, with Sixpoint Brewery
- Miami, Florida, with Holy Mackerel Brewing
- Minneapolis, Minnesota, with Summit Brewing Company
- Houston, Texas, with Saint Arnold Brewing Company
- Dallas, Texas, with Deep Ellum Brewing Company
- Phoenix, Arizona, with Four Peaks Brewing Company
- Cincinnati, Ohio, with Christian Moerlein Brewing Co.
- Chicago, Illinois, with Goose Island Brewery
- Dayton, Ohio, with Great Lakes Brewing Company
- Las Vegas, Nevada, with Joseph James Brewing Company
- San Diego, California, with Stone Brewing Co.
- Austin, Texas, with Real Ale Brewing Company