Burger & Beer Pairing Guide: What to Drink With Your Burger | BB52
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Pairings

Burger & Beer Pairing Guide

Burgers and beer is the easiest great pairing in the world — but a little intention makes it noticeably better. Here's a no-snobbery guide.

Short answer

As a rule: match intensity and let the beer cut the richness. A crisp lager or pale ale suits almost any burger; an IPA stands up to a big, smashed, cheesy burger and tames spice; a malty amber loves caramelized onion and bacon; a stout is a fun match for a rich double. Cold, carbonated and a little bitter is what cuts through beef fat.

You don't need to be a beer nerd to pair well. The whole game is two ideas: match the intensity (don't drown a delicate burger or get steamrolled by a big one), and use the beer to cut the richness (bubbles and a little bitterness reset your palate against all that beef and cheese). Here's how that plays out.

Crisp lager or pilsner — the safe genius

Clean, cold, carbonated. A good lager refreshes between bites and never fights the food. If you only learn one pairing, it's this: a crisp lager goes with literally any burger on the menu. Great with the classic Cheeseburger or a chicken burger like the Holy Chick.

Pale ale — the everyday upgrade

A touch more hop character and citrus lift than a lager, still easy-drinking. Pale ale is the all-rounder for craft drinkers — it brightens the beef without overpowering it. A solid match for The O.G.

IPA — for the big, bold burgers

Hoppy, bitter, aromatic. That bitterness slices straight through a rich double or a heavily-cheesed smash burger, and the hops cool down chilli heat. Reach for an IPA with the Big M or the Smashy Burger — and especially with anything spicy like the Jalapeño Pop.

Amber / malty ales — for sweet, smoky notes

Caramel-malt beers echo caramelized onion, bacon and smoky BBQ. If your burger leans sweet-savoury — think the BB52 with its smoky BBQ and caramelized onion — a malty amber is a lovely match.

Stout — the fun one

Roasty, rich, a little chocolatey. It sounds heavy but it's a brilliant foil for a big, beefy double, the same way a rich sauce works on rich meat. Save it for the indulgent order.

Quick cheat sheet

  • Cheeseburger / chicken burger → crisp lager or pilsner
  • The O.G. / classic → pale ale
  • Smashy / Big M / spicy → IPA
  • Smoky-sweet (the BB52) → malty amber
  • Rich double / indulgent → stout
  • Vegan Earth Burger → pale ale or a light wheat beer
At BB52

We lean into Bali's craft beer scene, with cold options to match every burger on the menu. Not drinking beer? Our house kombucha does a similar job — fizzy and a little tart, it cuts the richness beautifully. Ask the team what's pouring, and see the menu.

Frequently asked

What beer goes best with a burger?
A crisp lager or pilsner is the safest great match — cold and carbonated, it refreshes between bites and suits any burger. For bigger, cheesier or spicy burgers, an IPA's bitterness cuts the richness better.
What beer pairs with a smash burger?
A hoppy pale ale or IPA. The smash burger's crispy, rich, cheesy crust stands up to hop bitterness, and the carbonation cuts through the beef fat. A crisp lager also works if you want something cleaner.
What should I drink with a spicy burger?
An IPA — the hop bitterness and cold carbonation help tame chilli heat. Avoid very high-alcohol beers, which can amplify the burn. A crisp lager is a gentler alternative.
What if I don't drink beer with my burger?
BB52's house-made kombucha is a great non-alcoholic match — it's fizzy and slightly tart, so it cuts through rich beef and cheese much like a beer does. A cold soda or iced matcha works too.
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