So my buddy just opened up a restaurant. It’s a newer chain called SmashBurger out of Denver, Colorado – apparently they make a pretty damn good burger. So I had to go find out.
SmashBurger corporate has done a pretty good job at localizing their product to the region in which the restaurant exists. For Kansas City, this obviously includes BBQ and such. Even better, SmashBurger will be carrying the newly bottled beers from Free State Brewing Co – Killer beer brewed in Lawrence, KS since 1989.
Unfortunately, those bottles weren’t quite ready for consumption. We’ll give them a few weeks. Fortunately, SmashBurger had some other very decent options, including some from Boulevard Brewing Co in Kansas City, MO. I went with something a little less local – Red Hook’s ESB. Check out the noise below:
Burger was delicious, and I’d definitely like to try some more of SmashBurger’s food. Fried pickles were downright awesome. I definitely recommend a trip if you haven’t yet eaten at a SmashBurger. I certainly can’t wait until Free State’s beer is available.
This was an exercise in pairing – the beer normally wouldn’t have rated this high, but it really transformed in the wake of the food I was eating. Planets aligned. See, rather than going with a regular American light lager/pilsner, I went with something that, fortunately, has a bit more oomph behind it. The body of the beer backed up the fried onions and bbq sauce, yet carbonation was still present enough to break up the muddiness of what would have otherwise been a heavy burger.
We need to do more of this pairing nonsense. People have generally come to accept wine as a compliment to food – my goal is to get beer to that same place. Who is down for helping me with that? What are your favorite beer pairings to date?
Check out the breakdown below:
- Originality within style (15): A pretty plain, but tasty, ESB and a nice intro to the style.
- Nose (17): Some grain and sweetness, perhaps a hint of raisin. Take my subjectivity with a grain of salt.
- Mouthfeel (19): With this burger? Unbelievable. So so good. A wall of deliciousness.
- Character (17): Comfortable and easy to drink, this ESB isn’t, as the name would suggest, overly bitter.
- Overall Quality (19): I’m a fan of Red Hook – they do quality work in an approachable way.
- Total (87): This brew, paired with the right dish, rates about 7 or 8 points higher than it otherwise would.
Beer: Red Hook ESB
ABV: 5.7%
Brewer: Red Hook Ale Brewery – Washington State
Availability: Year-round, nationwide
Reviewed by: Jameson Huckaba (twitter: @jamesonhuckaba)
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