The Ultimate Guide to Pairing Burgers with Sides and Drinks
A juicy burger, fries, and a cold beer; for many people, this is the perfect combo for a comfort meal. If you enjoy having a good burger and are looking for ways to change things up, you’ll be glad to know that you can pair a burger with different beverages and different sides. While we love the good old burger and fries combo at the Alpine Diner, we’re always looking for new ways to enjoy our old-time favorite meals and burgers are no exception. Below, we explore how to pair different drinks and sides with burgers. Read on to discover some of our best tips and tricks.
Why Pairing is Important
Would you attend a performance of an orchestra with only trumpets? While it would be fun at the start, it would soon become bland. It’s no different with food. Finding the right pairing is about finding the right balance and harmony. The sides and drinks are the supporting act that completes the meal. They enhance the textures, flavors, and overall experience of the burger. Your experience of the same burger can change dramatically with different pairings.
Burger Sides Besides Fries
When many people think of a side dish for a burger, fries are the first thing that comes to mind. However, there are many great sides for burgers that aren’t fried. You simply need to find the right balance between contrasting and complementing the main dish. Below are some tips to help you choose the right side:
Contrast texture – is your burger juicy and soft? Onion rings provide the perfect crunch. If your main dish is loaded with crunchy vegetables, a potato salad or soft coleslaw will provide the perfect balance.
Complement flavor – an acidic or tangy side like a pickle makes the perfect side for a savory burger. Cooling cucumber slices offer the perfect balance to a hot and spicy sandwich.
Balance nutrition – if you’re having an indulgent main meal, consider pairing it with a lighter side. A decadent cheeseburger dripping with greasy bacon would be well paired with a fresh salad.
Personal preferences – choose a side dish you will enjoy.
With these factors in mind, you may want to consider the following burger and side pairings for your next dining experience at The Alpine Diner.
The Alpine Burger is a meat lover’s dream. The burger features a patty made from a third-pound of lean ground beef. This is topped with cheese and bacon. This indulgent burger is best paired with burger vegetable sides such as a Caesar salad, Cobb salad, or house salad. They are also great paired with our crispy onion rings served with chipotle dipping sauce.
Our Hickory BBQ burger features a beef patty topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, and a large onion ring. All of this is topped with hickory BBQ sauce. A great side for this would be our tater tots Cobb salad or beer battered cheese curds.
Pairing Your Burger with Beer
Your choice of beverage is vital for your overall burger experience. In general, light beverages or beers go with light burgers and vice versa. For example, a veggie burger which is considered delicate and light would be best paired with a light beer. You would therefore do well to pair our vegan-friendly burger which features a veggie patty, with a light beer such as Coors Light or even Blue Moon.
If you prefer, you may want to go with classic combinations. For example, the good ol’ cheeseburger has often been paired with a light, refreshing larger. The crispness of lagers cuts right through the fatty combination of melted cheese and ground beef. You can experience it for yourself by pairing our Hickory BBQ burger with an all-American classic larger like Coors Banquet.
If you’re more adventurous, you may want to consider trying unconventional combinations. For example, you may want to go for a sweet and savory mix by pairing a fruity beer with a bacon-laden burger. Try pairing our Hickory BBQ burger with Tropic Haze for a start.
Conclusion
Finding the right sides to go with burgers will elevate your meals significantly. You can start by visiting the Alpine Diner. We’d be glad to be part of your journey of discovery.