Macon Beer Company defeats 14 contenders to go back-to-back as Macon Burger Week champ

For the second year in a row, Macon Beer Company sits atop the Macon burger scene with a narrow victory in over second-place vote-getter, Cashman’s Pub, during the 2021 Macon Burger Week competition.

Macon Beer Company, fresh off its win in 2020 with its Second Street Heat burger, came into this year’s competition looking to go back-to-back.

This year’s entry was the High on the Hog burger which consists of two beef patties with white and yellow American cheddar. It is then topped with beer braised onions, pork belly, applewood-smoked bacon, hot pepper bacon jam, lettuce, pickle slices and burger sauce. Like all burgers at Macon Beer Company it is put between their signature everything bagel bun.

Michael Dean, an operating partner of Macon Beer Company, said the burger will be added to the regular menu alongside the 2020 winner.

“It is a bacon cheeseburger, but it is over the top,” Dean said.” When I do a competition like this, I don’t try to go all the way out of our wheelhouse. I try to sneak in some flavors that may not make sense on paper but make sense on your pallet.”

Macon Beer Company sold more than 2,000 burgers during Burger Week, which is more than 1,000 pounds of beef. Dean said he was extremely proud of what he and his staff were able to accomplish. It is victories like this one that Dean cherishes as it is a nod to how hard everyone at Macon Beer Company works. It is one he and his team will be celebrating for the next year before trying to defend their title once again.

Dean said one of the best things about Burger Week is new customers are exposed to downtown Macon and the atmosphere that has been created over the last few years. He said that he and other restaurants owners were sending encouraging messages to one another through out the week.

“The downtown community is all close-knit,” Dean said. “I think all the restaurants did an incredible job and got showcase it to new customers that historically may not come downtown.”

In addition to Macon Beer Company taking home the top prize, Cashman’s Pub won an award for the most creative burger with the Angry Cow burger. It is a beef burger topped with pepper jack cheese, fried jalapenos, bourbon grilled peppers, onions, sriracha mayo sauce on a brioche bun.

The top five consisted of Macon Beer Company, Cashman’s Pub, Grey Goose Players Club, Ocmulgee Brew Pub and Yollah. The top two were separated by 20 votes. Dean said last year, Macon Beer Company won by 80 votes but this year was much closer but appreciated all the support from the community.

In total, 15 restaurants participated in Burger Week which is put together by the Georgia Beef Board and Visit Macon.

Here is a look back at all the contenders:

• Bearfoot Tavern “Tavern-ghetti burger” — An 8-ounce patty served on garlic toast and topped with mozzarella cheese and spaghetti with a side of marinara sauce.
• Bianca’s Grill “The Mexico Burger” — A 6-ounce patty topped with homemade chorizo, guacamole and queso.
• Buffalo’s Cafe “This Year’s Winner” — A half-pound patty topped with cheddar cheese, homemade mac-and-cheese, bourbon barbecue sauce and fried onion straws.
• Cashman’s Pub “Angry Cow Burger” — A beef burger topped with pepper jack cheese, fried jalapenos, bourbon grilled peppers, onions, siracha mayo sauce on a brioche bun
• Fatty’s Pizza Taco-zone: A calzone made with jalapeno pizza dough stuffed with beef, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, ricotta, feta and mozzarella cheeses, and pepper sauce
• Felicia’s Cake Factory Sweet Burger: A cupcake made with vanilla and chocolate cake, buttercream icing and sugar cookies.
• Grey Goose Player’s Club Goose Hazard: A beef patty topped with with zesty ranch seasoning, special barbecue sauce, smoked cheddar cheese, fried onion straws and jalapeno bacon.
• Lazy Susan Tikka My Breath Away: A smash burger with paneer cheese, tikka masala aioli, arugula, tomatillo and hot Chile salsa on a pita bun.
• Macon Beer Company High on the Hog: Two beef patties with white and yellow American cheddar, beer braised onions, pork belly, applewood smoked bacon, hot pepper bacon jam, lettuce, pickle slices and a burger sauce on an everything bagel bun
• Ocmulgee Brewpub Bourbon Glazed Burger: House-ground beef topped with a bourbon glaze, smoked gouda cheese, feta crumbles, bacon, fresh arugula, and beer-braised onions on a toasted brioche bun
• Parish on Cherry Bleu Bayou Bites: Three burger sliders topped with ham, provolone and spicy mustard on a sweet Hawaiian roll
• Satterfield’s BIG “SATT” Burger: A burger with shredded lettuce, minced onions, house-made pickles and American cheese and a house-made, BBQ thousand island sauce.
• Tommy’s Bakery and Café Fritter Burger: A beef patty, topped with cheddar cheese and bacon between two apple fritters.
• Tzango Cocina The Sloppy Juan: Spicy Chili mini meatball chunks topped with cheddar cheese, diced onion, bread, and butter pickles on a Kaiser roll
• Yollah Social Kitchen and Garden Latin Lover: A beef patty with queso, chorizo, lettuce, poblano, pico de gallo, pickled onions and fried avocado

This story was originally published November 11, 2021 at 1:00 PM.