Pack the house with new burgers with beer pairings
SUMMARY: A quick guide on how to boost sales and elevate the guest experience with bold burger pairings.
Build bolder burgers
An increasing number of restaurant operators have been experimenting with America’s favorite food, the burger, piling it high with bold and indulgent ingredients.
At McCain, we’ve certainly had fun with it too. Our Huevos Rancheros Burger is a great example. Think beautifully seasoned chorizo charburger topped with a fried egg, smoked bacon and Anchor® Poppers® Breaded Cheddar Cheese & Jalapeño Popper Bites.
Another favorite is our Vampire Burger. It’s made with a beefy patty and topped with Brew City® Beer Battered Thick Onion Rings, garlic mayo and pepper jack.
At the same time, many restaurateurs are finding that the pairing of these increasingly innovative burgers with a complimentary craft beer can often drive customer satisfaction as well as sales.
For operators interested in serving up their own over-the-top burger creations, food companies focused on culinary innovation, like McCain Foods, are delivering creative ingredients designed as burger toppers or complementary side dishes.
Pile on the flavor
Part of the burger's appeal is its customizability. The burger patty is a blank canvas limited only by imagination. Below are some ideas operators might want to try on their own burgers:
Cover with crispy. Add crunch and flavor with beer battered onion rings or a handful of Onion Tanglers.
Flavor with some umami. Topping a burger with mushrooms can add that craveable, often-elusive fifth taste.
Change up the sides. Try something different, such as flavorful and on-trend items like spicy pickle fries. Or, instead of topping the burger, top a fried side, such as McCain® SureCrisp® Seaside Salt, Pepper & Garlic Straight Cut Fries, with a unique sauce.
Pour the perfect pairing
In addition to pairing exciting toppings and sides with burgers, many operators are finding that serving beer as a companion beverage presents another opportunity to grow visits and increase sales.
Beer remains a powerful sales driver, with 30% of adults age 21 and older choosing to enjoy a beer with their restaurant meal.1 Interest goes even further when operators create special experiences. In fact, 76% of consumers say they would participate in a beer‑pairing dinner featuring a curated menu,1 highlighting a major opportunity for restaurants to boost engagement and check averages.
Serve standout moments
Keep these tips in mind to build stronger beer and burger pairings:
Opposites attract. Add a little bit of acidity, like a citrusy American Wheat Ale, to balance out a beefy burger topped with umami-rich ingredients, such as shiitake mushrooms, truffles or aged cheese.
Complementary. Decadent burgers, with unique toppings — like a fried egg or perhaps Anchor® Crafted Beer Battered Jalapeño Bottle Caps — pair well with hoppy Black IPA. The beer’s malts match the savory flavors and cut the richness of fried toppings.
Classic pairings. Pair a rich, meaty burger with a beer that is equally rich and can hold up to it, such as an American IPA.
As burgers continue to evolve and beer culture gains momentum, operators have an opportunity to create memorable experiences that go beyond the basics. By leaning into high‑quality ingredients, inspired burger builds and thoughtful beer pairings, restaurants can stand out in a crowded market while giving guests more reasons to return.
With support from culinary partners like McCain®, operators can experiment confidently, expand their creativity and turn simple ideas into profitable, crave‑worthy menu moments.
SOURCES
1National Restaurant Association; On the Menu: Trends in On- and Off-Premises Beverage Alcohol.
