The votes are in! Here’s which Macon Burger Week offering won first place

The Berenstain Bear Burger from The Library Taphouse & Kitchen is the 2022 Macon Burger Week People’s Choice Champion.

This double smash burger topped with American cheese, brown sugar peppered bacon, fried onion rings, fried banana peppers and house-made “angry bear” sauce won the annual contest with 1,423 votes.

The Library Taphouse & Kitchen at 1530 Mercer University Drive, Suite 300, is new to Macon, having opened this past summer near Mercer University.

“We’re happy for the staff,” said Ron Whidby, co-owner of The Library Taphouse & Kitchen, on winning the top burger award. “Without them, it wouldn’t have been possible.

“I’m so appreciative of all the customers that came through last week and all of the positive feedback. I’m happy overall about everything.”

Whidby is also the co-owner of the popular Cashman’s Pub at 370 Cherry St. in downtown Macon about two miles from The Library Taphouse & Kitchen. Also, along with his business partners, Whidby is planning to open next year Sophia’s on Second Street, a new restaurant and cocktail bar at 428 Second St. in the former spot of Lazy Susan’s Tapas Bar in downtown Macon.

The Macon Burger Week contest is sponsored by the Georgia Beef Board. Winners were announced Wednesday on Facebook.

Here are the other winners:

The Jugg Vibez Burger from VIBEZ came in second, followed by the Mississippi Mouthful from the Macon Beer Company, then The Goose Green Jacket from Grey Goose Players Club and finally in fifth place, the Beef and Broccoli Smash from Kinjo Kitchen + Cocktails.

Meanwhile, Yollah took home the Cleverly Created Award, which recognizes the restaurant with the most creative and unique entry and was judged by beef producers from around the state.

And Macon Beer Company won the Most Beef Sales Award — having sold 2,421 Mississippi Mouthful burgers. That’s 1,210 pounds of beef — selling the most beef by the pound.

More than 20 restaurants across the city participated in this year’s Macon Burger Week for bragging rights for the best burger in town.

In the 2021 contest, Macon Beer Company captured its second straight Macon Burger Week title with its High on the Hog burger.

The 2022 participating restaurants included Amici, Bearfoot Tavern, Buffalo’s Cafe, Cashman’s Pub, Dua Fish Tank, Fall Line Brewing Co., Felicia’s Cake Factory, Glory Days Grill, Grey Goose Players Club, Just Tap’d, Kinjo Kitchen + Cocktails, Ocmulgee Brewpub, Macon Beer Company, Satterfield’s Barbecue, The Brick, Library Kitchen & Taphouse, The Rookery, Tommy’s, Yollah, VIBEZ, Oh Honey Baking Co., Maries Lounge Mid-Town Daiquiri Bar & Grill, La Bella Morelia and Northside Cheers.