The Science behind Bud and Burgers
Legendary chef David Chang has always been a fan of the bud and burger combo.
“Both burgers and beer are experiencing a renaissance of sorts.” said David Chang, who is well-known for elevating classic dishes, and for his love of lagers. “I love that there’s nothing pretentious about the combination – it just works. A full-flavored lager brings out the taste of a savory burger.” – Anheuser-Busch
Chang is 100 percent correct that a full-flavored lager can bring out the taste of a savory burger. Alcohol, and beer specifically, work in magical, chemical ways to heighten the foodie experience. Through evaporation, molecular bonding and penetration the beer is able to maximize the flavor potential of dishes, especially meat options like the classic American burger.
Aroma plays a key part in taste. Alcohol is a volatile chemical and it is this volatility effect that makes the aroma of beer so pungent. When used in food, the alcoholic molecules bond with water and fat molecules before they evaporate and, in doing so, helps to convey the smell of an especially juicy burger to our nose, making our mouths water and resulting in an enhanced flavor experience.
The same molecular bonding is key for bridging flavor gaps. Fat and water molecules that bond to alcohol molecules are able to not only enhance the aroma of the food but assist in creating more flavor by bridging those gaps.
Bonding with fat soluble molecules also creates the perfect situation for these flavor components to be carried into the meat for optimum seasoning. Additionally, alcohol is able to penetrate meat much better than other liquid marinade options, further increasing the opportunity for maximum flavor.
For a stellar bud braised burger, check out this recipe that incorporates onions into the mix for a savory bud and burger experience.
Sources
Cooking with Alcohol The Kitchn.
Alcohol's Role in Cooking. Fine Cooking.
Blog Archive
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- December (17)
- Year in Beer: 2012
- Frankenmuth 150th beer
- Boosting wi-fi with beer
- Beer Christmas Carol
- Holiday Survival Kit
- Sam Adams Beer Dinner Recap
- It's time we talk about barleywine
- Beer Burger
- NB and BV collaboration 2
- Holiday Season: Brooklyn Stout Cookies
- Happy 12/12/12
- Homebrewers Conference announced 2014
- Right Brain's Big Move to a New Home
- Winter Seasonal Beer: Part 2
- Sam Adams December Beer Dinner
- A Beer in History: The First Hopped Beer
- Michigan Winter Beer Festival Tickets Sell Out
- November (1)
- September (1)
- May (2)
- March (1)
- December (17)
- 2011
Tags
- Craft Beer (22)
- Budweiser (19)
- Holiday (16)
- New Belgium (15)
- Bud Light (13)
- Perrin (12)
- Stella Artois (12)
- craft beer (11)
- Oskar Blues (8)
- Beer (8)
- New Release (7)
- Food Pairings (7)
- Samuel Adams (7)
- Right Brain (7)
- holiday (6)
- Arcadia Ales (6)
- Rochester Mills (6)
- Seasonal (6)
- Holidays (6)
- Food Pairing (5)
- IPA (5)
- Stone Brewing Co. (5)
- Goose Island (5)
- Charity (4)
- Recipe (4)
- Perrin Brewing (4)
- Deschutes (4)
- World Cup (4)
- Super Bowl (3)
- Folds of Honor (3)
- Stone Brewing (3)
- Up For Whatever (3)
- Baseball (3)
- Pairings (3)
- Smuttynose (3)
- new releases (3)
- Shock Top (3)
- Cider (2)
- Halloween (2)
- Infographic (2)
- Traveler Beer (2)
- Recipes (2)
- Pairing (2)
- beer education (2)
- Enjoy By (2)
- local (2)
- Spring (2)
- Laughfest (2)
- Clydesdales (2)
- stone brewing (2)
- arcadia ales (2)
- Magic Hat (2)
- food pairings (2)
- Stella Cidre (2)
- Beer School (2)
- food pairing (2)
- Brooklyn Brewery (2)
- Sports (2)
- Angry Orchard (2)
- Frankenmuth (2)
- Valentines Day (2)
- magic hat (1)
- pumpkin (1)
- Pumpkin Beer (1)
- Stone (1)
- Brewing (1)
- oculto (1)
- Redhook Brewery (1)
- Rise As One (1)
- Cask Ale (1)
- Upcycle (1)
- Ratebeer (1)
- Anheuser-Busch (1)
- Thanksgiving (1)
- Wholesalers (1)
- Education (1)
- Sponsorship (1)
- Rita Family (1)
- comedy (1)
- KCCO (1)
- Labatt Blue (1)
- Fall (1)
- Smuttynose Brewing Co. (1)
- smuttynose brewing (1)
- Coffee (1)
- beer pairings (1)
- Blue Point (1)
- stout (1)
- Michigan (1)
- Core Values (1)
- Bud and Burgers (1)
- Holiday Buds (1)
- Magners (1)
- Sam Adams (1)
- Spaten (1)
- DIY (1)
- Homebrew (1)
- cheese (1)
- Shocktop (1)
- petoskey brewing (1)
- Stout Day (1)
- summit brewing (1)
- Murphy's (1)
- Events (1)
- flying dog brewery (1)
- Retro (1)
- angry orchard (1)
- diy (1)
- shiner (1)
- video (1)
- Brewbound (1)
- Arcadia (1)
- Grapefruit (1)
- 2013 (1)
- Traveler (1)
- Christmas (1)
- Tradition (1)
- Mixology (1)
- Hockey (1)
- anchor brewing (1)
- Alcohol Safety (1)
- Soccer (1)
- Grab a Beer (1)
- New Beer (1)
- Shandy (1)
- Murphy's Stout (1)
- Rita (1)
- infographic (1)
- Nonprofit (1)
- glassware (1)
- oktoberfest (1)
- beer (1)
- Belgium (1)
- Beer Week (1)
- Responsible Drinking (1)
- Craftbeer (1)
- Tacos (1)
- Summer (1)
- christmas (1)
- Social Media (1)
- recipes (1)
- bud light (1)
- samuel adams (1)
- Ridge Cider (1)
- homebrewing (1)
- culture (1)
- budlight (1)
- right brain (1)
- anniversary (1)
- Candy (1)
- charity (1)
- Aluminum Bottles (1)
- smuttynose (1)
- blue point brewing (1)
- rochester mills (1)
- Stout (1)
- Superbowl (1)
- Mustaches (1)
- food (1)
- soccer (1)
- craft beer week (1)
- Sessionable (1)
- Trend (1)
- Ritas (1)
- Petoskey Brewing (1)
- Franziskaner (1)
- Straw-ber-rita (1)
- Community (1)
- Release (1)
- Boston Beer (1)
- St Pauli Girl (1)
- right brain brewery (1)
- beer school (1)
- perrin brewing (1)
- recipe (1)
- marketing (1)
- Traveler Beer Co. (1)
- Shiner (1)
- Grand Rapids (1)
- distribution (1)
- cinco de mayo (1)
- budweiser (1)
- stella cidre (1)
- Winter (1)
- prohibition (1)
- GiveBeautifully (1)
- seasonals (1)
- Special Release (1)
- Snow (1)
- New Releases (1)
- Awards (1)
- Yeast (1)
- Alcohol Awareness (1)
- halloween (1)
- brooklyn brewing (1)
Follow Us on Twitter
Contact Us
West Side Beer Distributing
5400 Patterson Avenue SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Call: 616.698.1900
Fax: 616.698.6965