The Best Beers for Burgers: Our Top Picks
A burger throws fat, char and cheese at you all at once, so the beer has to keep up. These four are the ones I reach for, from a crisp pale ale for a classic patty to a nutty brown ale for a loaded cheeseburger. Stock and pricing move around by area, so check what is available near you below.
| Beer | Style | Our rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Nevada Pale Ale | American Pale Ale | 4.3/5 | A classic beef patty |
| Bell’s Two Hearted Ale | American IPA | 4.8/5 | A loaded burger |
| New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale | Amber Ale | 4.1/5 | A cheeseburger crowd-pleaser |
| Newcastle Brown Ale | English Brown Ale | 4.2/5 | A BBQ burger |
A burger is fat, char and cheese all at once, so reach for a beer with enough hops or malt to keep up. A pale ale or an amber never lets you down.
The Best Beers for Burgers, Reviewed
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
The classic all-rounder for a burger. Piney grapefruit hops cut through a fatty beef patty while the caramel malt matches the char off the grill. Read the full Sierra Nevada Pale Ale review.
- Bright Cascade pine and citrus
- The benchmark pale ale
- Very versatile
- Hop bite is a lot for some
- Not sweet
Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
For a loaded burger. This balanced IPA has the citrus-and-pine punch to stand up to bacon, blue cheese or a spicy jalapeno stack. Read the full Bell’s Two Hearted Ale review.
- Big Centennial citrus hops
- Smooth for its strength
- One of the top-rated IPAs
- Too hoppy for lager fans
- 7% ABV sneaks up on you
New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale
The crowd-pleaser. Toasty biscuit malt is a natural match for a classic cheeseburger, and it is smooth enough that everyone at the cookout will happily drink it. Read the full New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale review.
- Biscuit malt with light hops
- Nicely balanced
- Easy craft option
- Middle of the road
- Less exciting than it once was
Newcastle Brown Ale
For a cheeseburger or BBQ burger. Newcastle’s light caramel and nut malt hugs melted cheese and smoky sauce beautifully. Read the full Newcastle Brown Ale review.
- Nutty caramel malt
- Smooth and easy
- A classic brown ale
- Slightly sweet
- Low hop character
The burger-making kit I would buy
A cast iron smash press is the one bit of kit that turns a home burger into a proper crusty, griddled one. A good spatula and long tongs handle the rest of the cookout.
Burgers and Beer: FAQs
What beer goes best with burgers?
A pale ale or amber ale is the safest bet. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale cuts through a fatty patty, and a bolder Bell\’s Two Hearted IPA stands up to a loaded burger.
What beer goes with a cheeseburger?
A malty amber or brown ale. Fat Tire hugs the melted cheese without any bitterness. The same beers suit a plate off the grill, see our BBQ beer picks.
Related pairings: beer for a BBQ, beer with fried chicken, beer for wings.
