Shorts burger and shine has been well known for their delicious local beef since 2008. Angie and I met Carl and his dad Bernie there on Wednesday, by the time we arrived Carl and Bernie had already snagged a booth in the cozy little joint. The walls were red brick and the tables and booths were a black stained wood. The decor gave the whole place a nice cool feel. Bernie wanted to watch more than participate, so he ordered his own burger and beer. Angie Carl and I however wanted to be daring and we all agreed shorts deserved a real challenge. We asked our waitress for three burgers and three beers to match. She took to the challenge pretty well informing us that shorts performs regular pairing dinners for their employees and distributers.
The food and beers arrived fairly quickly. Our three paired beers a Budweiser from Anheuser Busch Brewery in St Louis Missouri , a Pacifico from Pacifico breweries in Mexico, and the Red Rambler Ale from Peace Tree Brewery in Knoxville Iowa seemed like bold choices. We were all most surprised by the Budweiser, having looked at the beer list we all knew there were much more complex beers that could have been chosen. The burgers were laid out next to their corresponding beers; as soon as the waitress had left we began tasting everything.
First up was the Budweiser, the color was as we expected a light yellow that was very transparent. The decent head stayed around for a while but didn’t stick to the glass very well. The little aroma we could smell consisted mostly of malt and yeast. The flavor was watery near the beginning and end but the beer had a nice wide mouth feel mostly of malt with very little in the way of hops. Paired with the Budweiser was the Dundee a truly all American burger. The Dundee consisted of mushrooms, bacon, garlic aioli, and to top it off a fried egg. The burger had a full rich flavor and the Budweiser did an excellent job of refreshing the pallet after each bite. Overall the pairing was good the burger was excellent and the beer was ok.
Next on the menu we had la cerveca de Pacifico. As it poured we all noticed the lack of head retention. Only seconds after filling the glass the foam was gone. The nose had a very distinct malt character and the color was very light with a hint of gold. The flavor once again was very light and simple, the malt started early with a little hops. There were really no great characteristics to this beer. The Pacifico was paired with a burger called the El Dorado. It had guacamole, sour cream, salsa, and pepper jack cheese. We all had to agree shorts hit the nail on the head with this pair. The burger itself was fantastic and the first sip of Pacifico took the flavor experience to the next level. The savory, spicy flavors of the burger brought out a corn flavor in the malt of the beer and likewise the crisp lager kicked up the spice of the burger. Overall this pair was amazing, truly what pairing is all about. The burger was great and the Pacifico was unexpectedly unique.
The final beer for the night was a favorite of ours, the Red Rambler. Even after sitting for a good twenty minutes it still retained its head nicely. The color was true to the beers name it was a bright ruby red with a slight hint of orange. A multitude of hoppy citrus flavors with hints of orange and rich malt created a very pleasant aroma. This beers taste hit with a mouthful of malt that was spearheaded by a nice hoppy bite. It rolled pleasantly over the tongue and erupted in citrusy and hoppy flavors as it went down. The Rambler was paired with the Baxter, a very meaty burger featuring bacon, provolone cheese, chipotle mayo, and a blackened seasoning. The floral hops and the rich savory flavors melded very well which allowed the burger to calmly back the exciting beer taste. Overall this pair as well was wonderful, the burger was simple but delicious and the beer was very well crafted.
Although at the beginning Carl’s dad was reluctant to participate in our quirky tradition by the end of dinner he was tasting and assessing right along with us. Shorts performed just as we had hoped they would. They had provided us with interesting, bold and unique pairs for some of their famously delicious burgers. If you ever find yourself in the mood for a burger and some shine make your way on down to Shorts where you’re never likely to be disappointed. Until next time beer lovers and market mavens alike. Prost!!
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