What to drink with your burger

Just as burgers have become more inventive, so have burger and beverage pairings, says Mickey Martin, wine, beer and spirits manager for LeBlanc’s Food Stores. Find your burger’s match using Martin’s tips.

Classic burger

Pair it with: Tin Roof’s Voodoo Bengal Pale Ale
Martin likes this brew for its hoppy qualities, which marry well with a classic burger. “The carbonation and bitterness will scrub your palate and get you ready for those fries,” he says.

Burger topped with mushrooms and Swiss cheese

Pair it with: Tin Roof’s Parade Ground Coffee Porter
The coffee notes play nicely with earthy, nutty ingredients.

Burger topped with onion, pickles, mustard, ketchup and jalapeño

Pair it with: 2012 Artezin Mendocino County Zinfandel
This wine’s intense red fruit makes it hardy enough to stand up to lots of burger fixings.

Sweeter burger with toppings like caramelized onions or fig preserves

Pair it with: 2009 Barr Estates Petite Sirah
Go with a jammy, fruit forward, stain-your-teeth-purple selection like this Petite Sirah.

Rich burger on Hawaiian bread gilded with a fried egg, avocado and candied bacon

Pair it with: Tawny Port
“If you were to go crazy like this, you would absolutely have to open a bottle of fine port, like Dow’s 30-year-old Tawny Port,” Martin says.

Lamb burger with sharp cheddar, grilled onions and bacon

Pair it with: New York Sour
Martin says the New York Sour is a go-to cocktail for burger pairings. Like the original Whiskey Sour, it features whiskey, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup, but in this version, red wine is floated on the top—creating two layers of flavor that can take on bold burgers.

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This story was published as part of our March 2015 issue’s “Extreme Burgers of the Capital City” cover story. Read more here.