In the heat of summer, many of us enjoy grilling outside. This week’s recipe comes from Paul Lewis using his go-to burger recipe. Paul enjoys making things from scratch, which is why this recipe comes with instructions for the bun, cheese and patty. The addition of a Lager, in this case Dovetail Brewery’s Helles Lager, brings out a depth of flavor that will take your burger to the next level.

Serving Size: Two 1/2 lb Beer Burgers

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef (recommend 85/15)
• 1/3 cup Dovetail Brewery Helles Lager (or your favorite local Lager)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Beer Cheese Sauce

• 1/4 cup butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons Lager beer
• 4 oz freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese

Beer Bun

• 1 cup bread flour
• 1 envelope rapid rise yeast
• 1/4 cup softened butter 
• 1 cup Lager beer
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons Lager beer
• 4 oz freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

Beer Bun

1. Follow the instructions listed on your yeast in order to pitch the yeast in preparation for the bun dough.
2. Combine the pitched yeast and other ingredients into a food processor and blend until the dough is elastic and doesn’t stick to the side of the food processor.
3. Set dough in a lightly oiled bowl and place a wet towel over the bowl. Let sit for up to four hours until dough doubles in size.
4. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Knead the dough until smooth and form into a large ball. Cut dough into four equal size portions and form each portion into a separate ball.
6. Use a simple egg wash and brush the top of each ball with the wash. Sprinkle sesame seeds on the top of each ball.
7. Place balls on a greased baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown on top. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Burger Patty

1. Add spices and beer to ground beef and mix together.
2. Form ground beef into balls weighing 1/2 lbs each.
3. Preheat grill to 450 degrees. For extra flavor, cut an onion in half and rub the onion on the grill.
4. Place burgers on hot grill for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, or until temperature reaches 150 degrees Fahrenheit (for medium).

Beer Cheese

1. Melt butter in a medium pot.
2. Slowly add remaining ingredients
3. Stir constantly until roux is thick and smooth.
4. Pour into a serving bowl. Let stand for five minutes.

About the What We’re Cooking Series

Beer, with all of its flavors and nuances, can enhance some of your favorite dishes. Many of us at PorchDrinking love to cook, so we’ve rounded up some of our favorite recipes featuring our favorite ingredient: beer.

From beer cheese fondue to easy porter brownies, each week we’ll publish a new recipe for you to enjoy. Make sure to check back often to see our growing collection of recipes curated by PorchDrinking staff. Cheers!

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