Downtown FargoBest of the Red River Valley 2024
Readers awarded JL Beers with “Best Burger” in this year’s competition for the 14th consecutive year!
Written by News Staff of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | November 29, 2024
In what has become a yearly tradition, how special is to be named Best Burger by the community?
“Ever since we opened, we’ve won this award,” President Lance Thorson said. “We definitely have a loyal following and just great support from everyone in the area.”
What are some customer favorites?
“Our well know ones are the Humpty Dumpty Burger, which has a fried egg on it, and our JL Burger which is a double patty burger,” Thorson said. “We also get into some more fun, unique burgers like our Not Just a Nutter Burger which features fresh ground peanut butter, a little bit of red pepper jelly, jalapenos and shoulder bacon.”
Fargo Monthly’s Flavor Awards 2024
Written by Geneva Nodland of Fargo Monthly | August 2024
Best Burger – JL Burger®
A classic is a classic fora a reason! The JL Burger® from JL Beers is a towering achievement of juicy, sizzling delight. Hearty meets heavenly with each bite of this grilled to perfection double stack, featuring seared onions and speical sacue to make an explosion of delicious. Pair it with JL’s classic crispy potato chips – which are hand-cut, fried, and seasoned in front of you – and, of course, a beer. Burgers are something that are done often, but not so often done well, and it’s no surprise that JL Beers took home the win on this one. With a menu that features crazy creations that the community swoons over, it’s nice to be reminded of a classic!
Locals Love Us 2023-2024
Voted #1 in Burgers and Carry Out!
Best of the Red River Valley 2023
Readers awarded JL Beers with “Best Burger” in this year’s competition for the 13th straight year!
Written by News Staff of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | November 25, 2023
What makes JL Beers unique?
“We’re a Fargo original,” President Lance Thorson said. “We take a lot of pride in what we do. Between our great staff that cooks the burgers and puts everything together, we just really strive to put out a great, quality product at a reasonable price.”
What are some of the more popular burgers?
“We have some staples that we’ve been serving since we opened,” Thorson said. “The Humpty Dumpty Burger® with a fried egg on it is always a favorite. We make fresh peanut butter for a burger called Not Just a Nutter Burger®. We have burgers that satisfy every taste.”
Are there any new burgers people can try?
“We just launched a new burger called the Wham Bam Bacon Jam Burger,” Thorson said. “It features bacon jam, Gouda cheese, crispy fried onions and pickles.”
The Best Places to Eat French Fries in Every State
Written by Chloe Miller of Mashed.com | March 23, 2023
The humble potato is really one of the most versatile crops on Earth, but perhaps no form of the potato is more widespread — and more beloved — than the French fry. The fry is thought to have originated in Belgium in the 1600s, but America has really adopted fries as a central facet of our culture. And we all have our favorites. No, it’s not McDonald’s or Five Guys, although those both showed up repeatedly in our research. There will always be fast food favorites, but there are crispy, pillowy fried potato goodness of all varieties to try.
Some fry facts may surprise you. For example, we all know Idaho produces the most spuds, but it’s actually their neighbor North Dakota that has an annual French fry festival. Whether you like them curly, thick, sweet, truffled, or topped, we’ve rounded up the best spot for french fries in every U.S. state. Who knew your frying liquid of choice, from duck fat to peanut oil, made such a difference?
North Dakota: JL Beers
North Dakota may be the only state on this list to actually host a French fry festival. It’s called the Potato Bowl, and it’s held in Grand Forks every year in conjunction with a big college football game. Tons of hot, fresh fries are served up for free. If you’re not there in September for the Potato Bowl, JL Beers has locations throughout North Dakota, and people say not to sleep on their fries. Again, toppings rule: You can go simple with sea salt, Cajun, jalapeño cheddar, dill pickle, BBQ, or parmesan garlic seasonings. Or dress it up with bleu cheese. You can also get any of these flavorings on their fresh-cut potato chips, which is really just a fry in another form.
Locals Love Us 2022-2023
Voted #1 in Burgers and Carry Out!
Best of the Red River Valley 2022
Readers named JL Beers the “Best Burger” in this year’s competition for the 12th year straight!
Written by News Staff of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | November 25, 2022
What do you recommend customers try? What’s an old favorite and/or new option people should try?
“Our Humpty Dumpty Burger® with a fried egg and cheese has been life-changing for many customers since we first opened,” President Lance Thorson said. “Or if you’d like to try our newest offering – ask for a Chicago Burger featuring giardiniera, red pepper dressing, provolone cheese, tomatoes, & diced red onions.”
What do customers enjoy the most about what you do?
“We consistently make mouth-watering burgers, fresh cut fries and chips,” Thorson said. “Guests rave about our one-of-a-kind burgers, pillow-soft buns, seasonings, dips, fast and friendly service, and impeccably clean locations.”
Locals Love Us 2021-2022
Voted #1 in Burgers and Carry Out!
Best of the Red River Valley 2021
Readers named JL Beers the “Best Burger” in this year’s competition
Written by News Staff of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | November 28, 2021
What makes a JL Beers burger better than the rest?
“Our fresh hamburger is hand-pattied and made to order,” Co-owner Lance Thorson said. “It’s topped off with our own seasonings and
sauces, as well as additional fresh ingredients. Lastly, it’s all happily nestled in our pillow-soft bun.”
What menu item do you think more of us should try?
“Our Humpty Dumpty Burger® has been a staple since the day we opened, but if you’ve never experienced one, now is the time,”
Thorson said. “It’s a simple-but-delicious burger with a fried egg and cheese on it. I recommend adding our fresh ground peanut butter
or bacon to it too.”
The 50 Best Burgers in The United States
BIG 7 Travel
Written by Big 7 Travel Team | August, 2021
The Best Burger in Every State
This list is packed with classic, straight-shooting burgers and the old-school institutions still making them.
Written by David Landsel | July 26, 2021
Locals Love Us 2020-2021
Voted #1 in Burgers and Carry Out!
The Best Bar Food in Every State
Written by Brittany Natale of Eat This, Not That | April 25, 2021
Throughout history, bars have been an essential place for people to come together in a relaxed setting to enjoy refreshing craft beers, cold beverages, and artisanal cocktails. Of course, all of that drinking and socializing can make one hungry, and this is where good old bar food comes in.
Bar food, the perfect accompaniment to any happy hour, is some of the tastiest, most comforting food out there, and we can understand why. From Knoxville’s duck confit fries to Seattle’s garlic burrata pull-apart bread, this list of some of the best bar food options throughout the States proves that bar food is so much more than just chips and peanuts. Have you been to your state’s top-pick?
NORTH DAKOTA: JL Beers
JL Beers, a neighborhood favorite bar in Fargo, serves such good food that it has won awards! For instance, it has received “Best Burger” in the state of North Dakota for 11 years in a row, and we can see why. Patrons rave about the Humpty Dumpty burger, which comes with a fried egg and melted cheese on a burger patty. Add some ground peanut butter to give it an edge.
www.eatthis.com/best-bar-food-state/
Best of the Red River Valley 2020
Longtime Favorite JL Beers once Again Walks Away with “Best Burger”
Written by Forum Staff of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | November 28, 2020
How does it feel to win? What’s your reaction to winning?
“We are extremely humbled to win this award for the past 11 years,” says president and co-owner Lance Thorson, “ We’d like to thank our incredible customers that have continued to support us since we opened!”
What do you provide that people may not know about? What’s unusual on your menu?
“We’re known for our burgers and extensive selection of craft beer, but we also offer chicken sandwiches that are made with fresh beer-brined chicken,” he says.
What do you love most about this community? How does your business support this community?
“Our community cares about each other and supports one another,” he says. “When times are tough like when COVID-19 restrictions first began and we could only offer takeout we experienced incredible support from the community with all of the orders.”
The Best Burger in Every State
Written by Taylor Rock and Dan Myers of The Daily Meal | July 29, 2020
These burgers are so much more than just meat on a bun
When you think of a food that’s all-American, the first thing that comes to mind is likely the burger. The simple sandwich of (typically) ground beef on a bun allows for considerable creativity. To celebrate this classic, we’ve tracked down the absolute best restaurant for burgers in every state as well as Washington, D.C. In order to assemble our list, we started by taking a look at our annual ranking of the 101 Best Burgers in America, which is compiled via a survey with hundreds of burgers on it given to a panel of noted writers, journalists, bloggers and culinary authorities from across the country to vote on. We also extensively researched beloved burger joints in big cities and small towns alike, dug through online reviews and combed existing best-of lists, both in print and online.
North Dakota: JL Beers
JL Beers offers more than a dozen burgers made with never-frozen beef at several locations in North Dakota. The Original Hamburger Stand Burger, topped with only pickles and special sauce, is definitely enough to satisfy a craving, but you might as well go all-in and try the JL Burger with grilled onions, cheese, special sauce and two patties.
CraftBeer.com Announces Great American Beer Bars 2020
An impressive craft beer menu, a stellar atmosphere, and servers who know their stuff are all the makings of a great beer bar.
With more than 8,000 small and independent breweries in the United States, great beer bars play an important role in the growth of local breweries. Each year, we ask CraftBeer.com readers to tell us about their favorite local beer bars. Our editors tally the nominations on a state-by-state basis–as well as Washington, DC and Puerto Rico–to create the annual Great American Beer Bars list. We hope beer lovers use our list as a guide to explore new bars that support craft breweries.
NORTH DAKOTA – JL BEERS
Year Founded: 2009 JL Beers is locally owned and operated with a staff that is friendly and knowledgeable about craft beer. Pair a local favorite, Drekker Broken Rudder, with one of JL Beers’ burgers made with the freshest of ingredients and hand cut fries for an All-American classic combination.
Best of the Red River Valley 2019
Best Burger
Written by Tracy Briggs of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | November 30, 2019
“It’s an amazing honor to win this award for the 10th straight year! Wow, thank you all for your support! We have really big smiles on our faces right now,” JL Beers co-owner and President Lance Thorson said. Thorson said his job is fun and rewarding because of the people he gets to work with and the customers they all get to meet. “Our focus is on consistently providing great quality food, craft beer, and customer service to all our guests, whether it’s their first time in JL Beers or their 100th time,” he said. He said the “Not Just a Nutter Burger®” made with their fresh-ground peanut butter and topped with red pepper jelly, diced jalapeños, pepperjack cheese and cottage bacon, is a favorite for many guests. He said they also recently started serving breakfast sandwiches. “I enjoy the challenge of developing new ideas, equipment, technology and products to make the JL Beers experience even better. It’s definitely rewarding to be recognized with awards like this, but it’s always rewarding to be able to give back to the community and make an impact as well,” he said.
Best Beer Selection
Written by Melissa Davidson of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | November 30, 2019
What goes perfect with the area’s best burgers? The area’s best beers. JL Beers caters to all beer lovers’ palettes with a wide selection of local, international, specialty and blended brews, from hoppy pale ales, ciders and funky sours to porters, stouts and blends. Many varieties are great on their own, but also pair well with the restaurant’s iconic 13 mouth-watering burgers. While its beer menu can change based on season and location, you’ll often have more than 30 beers on tap to choose from, including JL Beers’ own Berliner Weisse, an easy-drinking, kettle-soured ale. The restaurant also has a diverse menu of bottled and canned varieties. Visitors can get a taste of one of the 16 brews from around the world or sip on one of its eight mixed beers such as the St. Andrea’s Fault, a blend of oatmeal stout, vanilla porter and 1919 root beer. You can also sample a range of brews with one of JL Beers’ flights or take a favorite on-tap variety home in one of their 32-ounce crowlers. In addition to its awesome beers and brews served every day, JL Beers also holds many events throughout the year, including ugly Christmas sweater parties, Ales for ALS and many “tap takeovers,” which are a collection of beers from other breweries.
Locations: Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, Grand Forks with additional locations in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota
The Single Greatest Burger in Every State
Written by April Benshosan of EatThis.com | August 6, 2019
Our friends at Yelp helped us find which burger joint reigns supreme in your home state. Sure, you can pull through the McDonald’s drive-thru when you’re craving a beef patty on a bun. But there’s something special about eating a gourmet burger—one that has fancy condiments, a special bun, or a slice of artisanal cheese. For those occasions, you’ll want to head to a local restaurant. And lucky for you, we have plenty of recommendations. We’ve partnered with Yelp to bring you the best burger in every state. To come up with this list, Yelp went through the “burgers” category and found the best burger restaurant in each state. In this case, “best” is defined by both Yelp’s star ratings and by how many reviews each restaurant has. Using Yelp’s list of best burger restaurants, we looked through the reviews to find the individual burgers that stood out at each establishment.
The Totally Slawesome Burger at JL Beers (Fargo, North Dakota) Sure, you can get a bacon cheeseburger plenty of places. But how many of them will serve a bacon cheeseburger that’s also topped with coleslaw? JL Beers does!
MSN.com – The Best Burger in Every State
Written by Dan Myers | May 29, 2019
When you think of a food that’s all-American, nothing comes to mind before the burger. The simple sandwich of ground beef on a bun allows for considerable creativity from the chef or home cook who’s making it, and there are thousands of variations out there, each more delicious than the last. To celebrate this all-American dish, we’ve tracked down the absolute best restaurant for burgers in every state as well as Washington, D.C.
On our hunt for the best burger in every state, we took into account the fact that there are three main burger styles out there these days: the inch-or-so-thick patties that drip juice down your arm; the “smash burgers,” sometimes called fast food-style burgers, thin patties cooked on a griddle that get an ample crust; and the high-end burgers, usually served in steakhouses and made with scraps of aged beef and other premium cuts, that elevate the burger to fine dining status. All of these styles are represented in our list.
In order to assemble our list, we started by taking a look at our annual ranking of the 101 Best Burgers in America, which is compiled by creating a survey with hundreds of burgers on it and asking a panel of noted writers, journalists, bloggers and culinary authorities from across the country to place their votes. For the remaining states, we extensively researched beloved burger joints in big cities and small towns alike and dug through online reviews and combed existing best-of lists, both in print and online. Even though each of the burgers we found was unique, certain qualities were universal must-haves: high-quality beef (you’ll find no non-beef burgers in our ranking), proper seasoning, well-proportioned components and an overall attention to detail.
North Dakota: JL Beers
JL Beers is a beloved local chain, with seven locations in North Dakota along with three in Minnesota and two in South Dakota. And with 40 beers on tap, a fun and welcoming vibe, and some truly great burgers, it’s not surprising to see why it’s so popular. More than a dozen burgers are available, made with never-frozen beef; The Original Hamburger Stand Burger, topped with only pickles and special sauce, is definitely enough to satisfy a craving, but you might as well go all-in and try the JL Burger (topped with grilled onions, cheese, special sauce and two patties); the Rajun Cajun (pepper jack, Cajun lime sauce, grilled onions and Cajun seasoning); or the Not Just a Nutter Burger® (fresh peanut butter, red pepper jelly, diced jalapeños, raw onions and lettuce).
The Best Burgers in Fargo-Moorhead, According to Locals
Written by Danni of the Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau | June 16, 2019
Photo credit @prairiestylefile
We polled locals on Facebook and asked them where to find the best burgers in Fargo. The response was huge. Apparently, people love their burgers. Below we compiled the ones that received the most love, in order:
1. Humpty Dumpty Burger at JL Beers
This burger was overwhelmingly the top choice among locals. Basically, it’s a freshly pattied burger with a fried egg and cheese on top… on one of the best buns in the league. JL Beers is a local chain with four locations in the area. They’re constantly voted as the Best of the Red River Valley and HPR’s Best of the Best as the best burger and fries in town. Each location has cozy (small) seating area indoors with a long bar serving up regional beers.
OTHER HONORABLE MENTIONS AT JL BEERS The 13th Avenue Burger (also called the 1st Ave Burger, 32nd Ave Burger, etc.), the Not Just a Nutter Burger, and the Totally Slawesome Burger.
CraftBeer.com Announces Great American Beer Bars 2019
Written by Andy Sparhawk | February 28, 2019
It is no secret that America is home to perhaps the largest variety of beers in the world. More than 7,000 small and independent craft brewers call the United States home, and they have great beer bars to thank for helping educate beer lovers about what makes their beers so special. CraftBeer.com’s Great American Beer Bars 2019 highlights dozens of the unique, passionate and community-focused beer bars that work in partnership with brewers to serve the nation. Each of these beer retailers brings a unique approach to our favorite beverage.
CraftBeer.com is proud to present you this year’s list of beer bars to seek out on your beer travels. Congratulations to this year’s winners of CraftBeer.com’s Great American Beer Bars 2019.
NORTH DAKOTA – JL BEERS
Year Founded: 2009 JL Beers is locally owned and operated with a staff that is friendly and knowledgeable about craft beer. Pair a local favorite, Drekker Broken Rudder, with one of JL Beers’ burgers made with the freshest of ingredients and hand cut fries for an All-American classic combination.
www.craftbeer.com/craft-beer-muses/great-american-beer-bars-2019-announced
MSN.com – The Absolute Best Burger in Every State
Written by April Benshosan | December 5, 2018
JL Beers (Fargo, North Dakota)
While JL Beers won the title of best burger joint in ND, the shack serves up a mean brew, too. The impressive beer selection ranges from robust Belgians to a hot beer cheese dip accompanied by crunchy chips. We’ll take another round of both, please.
Best of the Red River Valley 2018
Written by Lis Beam of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | November 25, 2018
Best Burger & Best Fries
What makes JL Beers burgers the best? “I really think it’s the time and effort that we put into our food,” said General Manager Caitlin Hedberg. “It’s all freshly made and we really try and take our time to prepare everything with as much flavor as possible.”
What’s new for JL Beers or coming up? “Our downtown location is now serving breakfast, which is going really well. We’ve got some super tasty sandwiches on the breakfast menu that are definitely worth trying out,” Hedberg recommended. “If breakfast stays popular at the downtown location over time, we’ll try bringing it to all of our stores.”
What’s a great burger and beer pair to try? “My favorite is the Ragin Cajun burger with our Bell’s Two Hearted Ale,” Hedberg said.
How does it feel to keep winning best fries? “It obviously feels awesome,” said General Manager Caitlin Hedberg, “and is just super encouraging to know that we have the support of our customers behind us.”
What’s the best thing to put on or drink with your fries? “We’ve got a ton of different seasonings that you can choose from, but my personal favorite is the Cajun seasoning,” Hedberg said. “My favorite IPA to drink with fries — or anything really — is the Bell’s Two Hearted Ale.”
Why are JL Beer customers the best? “Our customers are always in such a good mood and really create the positive, fun atmosphere that we try and go for here. We always want to have a good time and make sure everyone is in a good mood,” Hedberg said.
The Absolute Best Burgers in Every Midwestern State
Written by Zach Johnston of UPROXX | July 11, 2018
Is there a region of the United States more in love with the burger than the Midwest? The endless, snowy winters mixed with summers that demand plenty of “make hay while the sun shines” indulgence combine to create the perfect year-round atmosphere for burgers to dominate the scene. The Midwest is where burgers met their crazy, overblown, and delectable potential as a medium for getting calories into the body at the highest rates possible. As a result, the region is home to some of the cheesiest, heart-stoppingest, gargantuann riffs on the genre ever created. So let’s dive headfirst into a whole pile of great burgers where the blasphemous words “too much” are never uttered. These are our picks for the best burgers in the Midwest.
NORTH DAKOTA: JL Beers, Fargo, Minot, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Watford City
Okay, we know JL Beers is a chain with spots in Minnesota and South Dakota too. But, goddamn if their burgers aren’t the best around in their home state of North Dakota. Pillory us for choosing a chain all you want but we dare you not to love the burgers at JL Beers.
JL prides itself that “all of our ingredients come from someone’s backyard.” That care and localvore attitude translates to a great burger. The meat is freshly ground. The buns are a house recipe. The bacon comes from around the corner.
The Humpty Dumpty® burger is their award winner — with an excellently cooked runny egg on the classic cheeseburger. The real star, for us anyway, is the Not Just A Nutter Burger® with a healthy smear of peanut butter accompanied by local red pepper jelly, diced jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, and locally smoked bacon. It’s a spicy, umami, cheesy, crunchy mess of a burger that hits you deep in the far-reaches of your burger-loving soul.
uproxx.com/life/best-burgers-in-america-every-state/
HPR’s Best of the Best 2018
May 23, 2018
JL Beers Awarded – Best Burger!
Best of the Red River Valley 2017
Best Burger & Best Fries
Written by Kris Kerzman of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | November 24, 2017
What do you do that makes you stand out from other restaurants? “Our open kitchen behind the bar allows guests to see how their food is prepared and also the cleanliness of our kitchen,” said Lance Thorson, a co-owner of JL Beers.
What does it take to consistently make good burgers? “It takes great people that genuinely care about each and every burger that is made,” Thorson said.
Besides your burgers, what should people try on your menu? “We are best known for our burgers, but we also offer terrific beer-brined chicken sandwiches as well,” Thorson said. “Our name is JL Beers, so make sure to check out our extensive beer selection too.”
What makes for a good french fry? “We source all of our own potatoes, cut them fresh to order, and cook them in cholesterol free soybean oil,” said JL Beers co-owner Lance Thorson. “Once cooked, they are a beautiful white french fry packed with flavor.”
What sets you apart from your competitors? “We have a lot of our own proprietary products and ingredients that you simply can’t get anywhere else,” Thorson said. “All of our hamburgers and French Fries are fresh and made to order.”
Besides ketchup, what should people try on their fries? “First off, we have a wide assortment of seasonings that can be added for no additional cost — sea salt, Cajun, jalapeño cheddar, BBQ or parmesan garlic,” Thorson said. “Secondly, we make all of our own dips including ‘R’ Dip, cajun lime, ranch, BBQ ranch, chipotle, jalapeño ranch, and most notably our famous beer cheese dip. With all of these seasonings and dips, our guests have numerous options to take their taste buds on a little trip.”
HPR’s Best of the Best 2017
July 17, 2017
JL Beers Awarded – Best Burger & Best Restaurant Service!
Fargo Monthly’s Flavor Awards 2017
Written by Erica Rapp of Fargo Monthly | May 2017
Best Burger – Humpty Dumpty®
Back-to-Back Winner! The Humpty Dumpty® burger has been a staple menu item at JL Beers since day one, and has created somewhat of a legacy for itself when it comes to local burger lovers. With just a fried egg and cheese stacked amidst perfect buns and a patty, this burger proves that less really can be more when it comes to great flavor. You can also add bacon or even substitute the beef for a black bean, wild rice and quinoa patty if you’re not a meat-eater.
Food Network’s 51 Top Burgers from Coast to Coast
JL Beers – Fargo, ND
Written by Sara Ventiera
This Fargo hole in the wall is known for its beer and burgers. This outpost of the Upper Midwest mini chain has just 24 seats in the house, which means it regularly sees customers lining up out the doors. Don’t worry, though. The crowds move quickly through this joint, as it takes less than three minutes to cook and serve each burger. The Humpty Dumpty® Burger is the one to order. It’s like a lunchtime and dinnertime breakfast sandwich, with fresh ground beef, a fried egg and American cheese, all served on a featherweight signature bun.
Best of the Red River Valley 2016
Best Burger & Best Fries
Written by Tracy Briggs of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | October 29, 2016
What is your reaction to your follow-up win? “We try to put out the best burgers and beer everyday and we’re just glad people seem to appreciate what we do,” said Brandon Nilson, general manager of JL Beers in downtown Fargo.
What makes your burgers different? “We use the best possible ingredients because we know that’s how you get the best products,” Nilson said. “There isn’t a bad burger on the menu.”
What’s your favorite burger? “I’d have to say the Humpty Dumpty® burger. It’s just a burger with a fried egg and American cheese on it. That’s it. But it’s really good,” he said.
What makes your fries different? “They’re ours,” Nilson said. “We don’t pre-cut our fries and chips. We cut them after you order them. You can’t get more fresh than that!”
What would you say to someone who has never been to JL Beers? “We’re in our seventh year in Fargo-Moorhead,” Nilson said. “I’d invite them to come out and try it.”
Fargo Monthly’s Flavor Awards 2016
Written by Erica Rapp of Fargo Monthly | June 2016
Photography by Paul Flessland
Best Burger – Humpty Dumpty®
As the winner of many burger awards, including some of our own, the Humpty Dumpty burger has been a staple menu item at JL Beers since day one. With just a fried egg and American cheese amidst a perfect bun and patty, this burger proves that less can really be more when it comes to great flavor. You can also add bacon or substitute the beef for a black bean, wild rice and quinoa patty as your heart desires.
issuu.com/fmspotlight/docs/fm_june16
HPR’s Best of the Best 2016
June 5, 2016
JL Beers Awarded – Best Burger & Best Craft Beer Selection!
The Best Bar in Every State
Written by Talia Avakian of Business Insider | March 4, 2016
America is home to some incredible drinking spots. We teamed up with Foursquare, the city-guide app for discovering new places, to put together a list of the top-rated bars in each state and Washington, DC, based on user ratings on the app. The list ranges from upscale cocktail bars to wine joints to craft beer bars.
NORTH DAKOTA: JL Beers
JL Beers is famous for its outstanding beer and burger selection. It has imported bottles from around the globe, mixed brew selections, and “beertails” like the Oatmeal Cookie — an oatmeal stout mixed with a splash of Lindemans Framboise (Raspberry) Lambic.
Best of the Red River Valley 2015
Best Burger & Best Fries
Written by John Lamb of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | October 31, 2015
What’s the appeal of the JL burgers? “Honestly, it’s the simplicity. We don’t overcomplicate it. It’s straight-forward. Because we keep our menu simple, we keep our products fresh,” says Lane Johnson, assistant manager at the downtown Fargo location.
What about the fries? “It’s a fun thing to watch, people trying to see how that works. They see that pressurized fry-cutter and every time they hear that noise they look over and say, ‘Oh cool. That’s how they do it.’ It’s kind of entertaining to them. It gives them a show. They can see everything that’s being made for them. There’s no curtain.”
How many potatoes do you go through in a day? “It depends on the day, but we can go through 250 pounds.”
HPR’s Best Bets 2015
May 28, 2015
JL Beers Awarded – Best Burger, Best Craft Beer Selection, and Best Lunch!
The Best Craft Beer Bar in Every State – North Dakota
Cool Material | April 2015
JL BEERS
Vintage Abyss? You have our attention, JL Beers. Actually, that’s just one of the interesting brews the burger joint has offered recently. Besides the old Deschutes, you’ll find rarities from Surly, taps dedicated to Fargo Brewing Co., and really clever selections from all over the United States. It feels like a throwback burger joint that just happened to get clued in on the beers of the future.
MSN.com – The Best Burger in Every State
MSN Food & Drink – February 2015
We conducted painstaking journalistic research to figure out the very best burger in every state, from mom-and-pop joints to celebrity-chef restaurants and everything in between.
NORTH DAKOTA: JL BEERS
For less than five bucks, you can get JL Beers’ delicious Humpty Dumpty®, which comes with cheese and a fried egg on a soft bun. This regional chain, which originated in North Dakota, recently won best burger by High Plains Reader and other publications.
2014 Best of the Red River Valley
Best Burger, Best Fries, and Best Beer Selection
Written by Dave Olson of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | November 22, 2014
Locations: 518 1st Ave. N., Fargo, (701) 492-3377; 4240 32nd Ave. S. Fargo, (701) 356-4240; 2902 Highway 10 E., Moorhead, (218) 422-4400; 810 13th Ave. E., West Fargo, (701) 373-8484
Reaction to winning: “We’re excited to be recognized again. We’ve won those same awards the last couple of years, and it really means a lot to us for our customers to vote and show their appreciation continually in those categories,” said Lance Thorson, co-founder of JL Beers.
Secret to your success: “I think just having a love for what we do and having a true passion for craft beer. As far as the food portion of it, we don’t have a huge menu, so items we do have – hamburgers, fresh-cut fries and chips – we try to do the best we can to maintain a quality and a value people enjoy.”
Something people don’t know about your business: “We are continuing to expand. We have a franchise in Minot that will be opening in February, and we’re looking at another location in Sioux Falls, S.D.”
Fargo’s 10 Best Restaurants: From Local Eats to Fine Dining
Written by Chloe Hay of The Culture Trip | September 15, 2014
As North Dakota’s largest city, Fargo is recognized as the cultural centre of the state. Home to a plethora of exquisite restaurants specializing in everything from seafood to pizzas, and steaks to sushi; Fargo has a restaurant to suit every fancy. With so many to choose from and new ones opening every day, we have updated our previous city restaurant guide to include some new eateries worthy of praise.
JL Beers
Living by the mottos ‘red meat is good for you and potatoes are vegetables’, and ‘the problem with the world is that everyone else is a few beers behind’, JL Beers specializes in homemade freshly ground beef burgers served on signature buns with a side of crispy fries. Diners can choose from an array of tasty toppings to add to their burger including grilled onions, jalapeños and slaw. As the name would suggest, JL Beers also has a huge array of beers to choose from including those on tap, imported bottles, domestic cans, mixed brews and beertails.
Best Burgers in Fargo
Written by Andrew Jason of Fargo Monthly | June 12, 2014
Photography by J. Alan Paul Photography
Of all the food groups, burgers might be our favorite. What other food says summer like a juicy, thick and succulent burger topped with unique toppings. We took a poll to find out your favorite burger in town. Welcome to Fargo Monthly’s first annual best burger competition.
Humpty Dumpty® from JL Beers
Shocking, right? Was there even a debate about what the best burger in town was? The Humpty Dumpty® burger is the consensus favorite in Fargo, and for good reason. Not only has JL Beers become a staple burger spot in Fargo, their beef is always memorable and they are always rolling in new beer on tap. Any burger on the JL menu is a winner, but there’s only one that can make you second guess your decision to order anything else. The simplicity of the ingredients makes the Humpty Dumpty burger extremely appealing for any hungry Fargoan. The flexibility that comes with a quarter pound burger patty, one egg and cheese is endless. Bacon is a popular choice among patrons looking to spice up their Humpty Dumpty® experience. Add a shot of Sriracha if you dare to walk the line of deliciousness and mediocrity. Ultimately, like any great burger, it comes down to the burger patty. The quarter pound greatness that comes off the JL grill is juicy and enticing enough to have anyone salivating.
The Chive – Best Burgers in Every State
May 22, 2014
It’s National Hamburger Month for those of you who didn’t know. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m sure there will be much controversy over the burgers which were crowned the “Best” in the state. However, I think that makes for the perfect opportunity for you guys to voice your opinions as to what you think the best burger is in your own state. This list was created based on accolades, reviews, and taste tests according to the good people over at Businessinsider.
NORTH DAKOTA:
For less than five bucks, you can get JL Beers’ delicious Humpty Dumpty®, which comes with cheese and a fried egg on a soft bun. This regional chain, which originated in North Dakota, recently won best burger by High Plains Reader and other publications.
HPR’s Best Bets 2014
May 1, 2014
JL Beers Awarded – Best Burger, Best Craft Beer Selection, and Best Lunch!
JL Beers went home from HPR’s awards event with a triple win, so it must be doing something right. Clearly the extremely fresh and tasty burger selection, fresh-cut fries and variety of dipping sauces have something to do with it
2013 Best of the Red River Valley
Best Burger, Best Fries, and Best Beer Selection
Written by Wendy Reuer of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | November 16, 2013
Reaction to winning: “It’s always exciting to be recognized and honored as the local fans’ favorite in the community,” said Lance Thorson, part-owner of JL Beers. “We greatly appreciate that.”
Secret to your success: “We just love what we do and we’re passionate about craft beer, our burgers and our products,” Thorson said.
Something people don’t know about your business: JL Beers places a priority on using locally produced products as a way to give back. “Our potato products are all North Dakota potatoes, so they’re all grown locally,” he said.
Locations: 518 1st Ave. N., Fargo, (701) 492-3377; 2902 Highway 10 E., Moorhead, (218) 422-4400; 810 13th Ave. E., West Fargo, (701) 373-8484
Clean Plate Award
Reported by Eric Crest of Valley News Live | February 6, 2013
One local restaurant, JL Beers in downtown Fargo hasn’t had a health code violation in over a year! Valley News Live presented them with a Clean Plate Award to proudly display in their window so customers know they’ve kept on the right side of the health inspector for some time.
www.valleynewslive.com/story/20973508/restaurant-report-card
JL Beers Says: ‘Tap That App’
Written by Angie Wieck of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | December 7, 2012
Photography by David Samson
JL Beers is encouraging their customers to “Tap that App!” The bar and restaurant has launched a free mobile app to help customers keep up with JL Beers’ ever-changing selection of tap beers, read, write and share beer reviews, and keep a diary of personal consumption and tasting notes. Co-owner Lance Thorson came up with the idea based on existing beer review websites. He wanted to create a site that concentrated on the beers they serve locally. Because JL Beers brings in several beers every week, it doesn’t print new menus each time a new product is introduced. “This (the app) is the quickest and most informative way for us to get what we have on tap into the hands of our customers,” Thorson said. MacDalton Berns and the team at Absolute Marketing in Moorhead made Thorson’s vision a reality. They designed an app that also allows customers to search beer offerings by state or country of origin, by style of beer and by customer ratings. Berns said the original app was quietly debuted months ago. After making a few enhancements based on customer feedback, a second version was recently launched. The app has now been downloaded more than 1,000 times. The app is an extension of JL Beers’ social media strategy, Thorson said. When customers post a comment through the app, they will be able to post that information to their Facebook page. Friends who see the post may continue a conversation about the beverage through Facebook. “It kind of creates a beer culture and camaraderie,” Thorson said. “It’s just kind of a fun thing for our guests to experience and share with one another.”
To download the app, visit jlbeers.com/apps or search for JL Beers in Google Play or the Apple app store.
JL Beers has locations in Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, Grand Forks, Bismarck and Sioux Falls, S.D.
HPR’s Best Bets 2012
November 16, 2012
JL Beers Awarded – Best Burger, Best Craft Beer Selection, and Best Lunch!
Locals are extremely vocal about their love of JL Beers. My goodness, this burger and beer joint has it figured out. Since opening, the place can hardly keep customers away. For one, JL Beers has a feel-good atmosphere, its menu is simple, its food is full-flavored and its beers selection is far from wimpy.
2012 Best of the Red River Valley
Best Burger and Best Beer Selection
Written by Tracy Frank of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | October 26, 2012
History: JL Beers also won best burger last year. This is the third year in a row the business has won best beer selection.
Reaction to winning: “Woo hoo! We’re always excited to be recognized by our local customer base,” said Lance Thorson, JL Beers part-owner and director of construction development. “We strive to have the best burgers and the best beer selection in the area, so we’re thankful for the recognition.”
Reason for success: “We enjoy what we do, and we make it fun,” Thorson said. “We have a somewhat simple menu with the burgers and fresh-cut chips and fries, but we just strive to be the best at what we offer and offer good-quality products at a reasonable price.”
Locations: Three locations in the FM area: 518 1st Ave. N., Fargo, (701) 492-3377; 2902 Highway 10 E., Moorhead, (218) 422-4400; 810 13th Ave. E., West Fargo, (701) 373-8484
123 Ways to LOVE North Dakota on our 123rd birthday!
123 Ways to LOVE North Dakota on our 123rd birthday (Nov. 2nd)!
#11 on the list is Stop in to JL Beers and have a Humpty Dumpty® burger! What’s more American than celebrating a state birthday with a delicious burger? Cheers, North Dakota!!
Fargo-Moorhead Favorites: Best Burger
Written by Danella of Fargo-Moorhead | March 12, 2012
Sometimes a person just craves a good hamburger…nice and juicy…perhaps with some cheese or bacon on it. Recently, via a Facebook post, we asked the good people what their favorite burger place in F-M is. We received many responses and a “winner” was determined. If you’re looking for a good burger joint in F-M, continue reading!
The favorite (by far) among those who responded was….JL BEERS. A fairly new addition to the F-M area, but obviously quite popular. Having tasted their burgers myself, I can vouch that they are indeed delicious! A couple people recommended the “Humpty Dumpty®” specifically. It has a fried egg and cheese…it’s ok, my mouth is watering too. Their menu has lots of interesting stuff! I would also recommend their fresh-cut chips!
JL Beers has locations in both Fargo and Moorhead…the Fargo location is located downtown and the Moorhead location is on Hwy 10/Main Ave. JL Beers also has a location in West Fargo.
Student Creates, Completes Local Beer Tour
Written by Tyler Sorensen of MSUM’s The Advocate | February 29, 2012
Photography by Jessica Fleming
After a failed romance, one can easily sink into a spell of sadness and sluggishness. Not so for Andrew Thomason — he chose to drink a lot of beer. Thomason, a special education major at MSUM, is the first person ever to taste all of the beverages at JL Beers, the beer and burger joint located in downtown Fargo. “All the tops, all the bottoms, all the cans, everything,” bartender Jason Cossette said. On a Friday afternoon, Thomason sat at the end of the bar, nursing a petite glass of Lindeman’s Framboise Lambic. What was left in the bottle before him was what was left of a seven-week-long effort. It was an unusual ending to such a large, personal mission, but Thomason rejected any sentimentality. He would’ve prefered Summit Extra Pale Ale over the Belgian raspberry fruit beer in front of him that afternoon, but a promise is a promise for Thomason, especially to himself. Like a few of Thomason’s other endeavors, the beer tour started in the wake of a breakup. “Whenever I break up with a girl, I always take up a project,” he said. Past projects have varied from learning how to knit to acquiring a conversational knowledge of German. His most recent goal came suddenly on a whim. “I just broke up with a girl, and I was sitting here and I’m like, ‘I bet I can drink every beer in here.’ And so I started it. I didn’t do it for the glory. I just did it to do it. Just to say I did it, you know?” With that firmly decided, Thomason set off on his beer tour the day after Christmas, but not without some semi-strict guidelines. “I had a couple rules,” he said and began to count his fingers. “Every beer I had to drink in here. I had to do a hopper, which is 96 ounces — I had to do one of those by myself. I had to do a growler (64 ounces) by myself. I had to do all the beer cocktails.” Then there was the minor matter of tap beers. While a certain number of JL Beers’ taps always carry the regular domestics, others are subject to seasonal rotations, making Thomason’s ideal goal impractical if not unreachable. This required a creative workaround. “So what I did was assign each tap a number, and I went down tap one, tap two, tap three,” all the way to tap 32: old reliable 1919 Root Beer. When Thomason first mapped out his objective, he resigned himself to drinking every beverage the bar displayed, including the soft drinks. As he neared the end point, the few cans of sugary soda proved to be the most difficult hitch in the journey. “The problem is, I don’t drink much pop,” he said. “A couple times I did break down and have a beer that I wanted, ’cause it’d be like after a long day. I’d be stuck for about a week on pops. You feel like an idiot when you walk in at 11 o’clock at night and say, ‘Can I get a Diet Mountain Dew?’ People will look at you.” Thomason poured the rest of his bottle into his glass that Friday afternoon as the conversation subsided. The bar was well over capacity and the wait staff was buzzing behind the counter. He caught one of them. “What do you know, Vig?” Like friendly colleagues, they launched into easy small talk. Vig mentioned he started exercising regularly and jogging in the unseasonably mild February weather. “You gotta train up for the Fargo half (marathon). It’s only like three months away,” Thomason said. “Oh yeah,” Vig said. “I’ve only had three knee surgeries on my left knee.” The exchange lasted a minute or two before Vig’s obligations pulled him to nearby group of customers. Thomason cradled his glass. “The cool part about a bar is the sense of community,” he said. “People who do yoga believe that you can’t eat at any restaurant unless they’ll go to your funeral. You can’t have food cooked by anyone who doesn’t love you. I like to think that some of the bartenders, if they knew I died, they would attend my funeral, you know, ’cause I’m a good regular customer and everything — a friend.” Thomason finished his 116th unique drink. “Yeah, that’s it,” he said. There was no fanfare, no streamers, no award. Only an honest high-five from Vig. As Thomason promised, he did it to do it. “I think, from now on, I’m only gonna drink hard cider,” he said. “Give beer a rest.”
AdvoEats: JL Beers vs. Smashburger vs. Five Guys
Written by Matt Lech, Meghan Feir, Tyler Sorensen of MSUM’s The Advocate | November 17, 2011
Photography by Jessica Fleming
1st Place: JL Beers
Matt Lech: “JL’s success is well-deserved, with its trendy atmosphere, excellent burgers and excellent selection of beers. The inevitable wait is always worth it.” Meghan Feir: “They were accommodating, kind and gave me quick service. I only had to wait a few minutes to be seated, and after I ordered, it only took six minutes to receive my burger and fries. That’s what I call quality. The only thing I would change is the issue of water. You can get a bottled water, but free water is not offered. Their root beer is delicious, but slightly expensive at $4 a pop.” Tyler Sorensen: “While JL is rightfully known for its wide selection of beer — it’s in the name, after all — for me, their burgers deserve just as much praise. I’ve never had a subpar dining experience. Even during their busiest hours, the wait staff are consistently polite and responsive. One never has to wait too long for their order. The atmosphere inside and outside is pleasant as well. A burger at J.L. Beers should be a rite of passage for everyone waiting to turn 21. It’s hands-down the best local restaurant franchise.”
2011 Best of the Red River Valley
Best Burger & Best Beer Selection Winner: JL Beers
Written by Marino Eccher of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | October 28, 2011
Reaction to winning: “We’re very excited,” said Andrea Williams, manager of the downtown JL Beers. “We were telling people to vote for us. We didn’t get it (Best Burger) last year, so we’re very happy to get it done.”
Secret to your success: “We serve our food really fast, and we serve quality food. I think that’s something a lot of bars can’t offer. We have a really good lunch crowd, and we have a really good dinner crowd.”
One thing people don’t know about your business: “One thing people probably don’t know yet is we actually just got a couple of new burgers on the menu. We’ve got a Philly cheese burger and the coleslaw burger (a burger with coleslaw and barbecue sauce). They’re both really, really good burgers.”
Location: 518 1st Ave. N., Fargo, and 810 13th Ave. E., West Fargo
Contact information: (701) 492-3377 Fargo and (701) 373-8484 West Fargo
JL Beers: Great American Burgers and Delicious Beers
Written by Ryan Buetow of The NDSU Spectrum | October 17, 2011
If you enjoy a good beer and a burger as much as I do, you have to stop at JL Beers. They have a few locations around the area, the closest to campus being the downtown location off Broadway and First Avenue. They boast great burgers and a huge selection of different brews. The bar itself is small but has a very efficient use of space. They joke that they have seating for 1,000, but only 24 at a time. The size of the bar can be a bit of a problem at times, making it hard to be seated during busy meal times. The service is usually great, and the waiter I had was very helpful and knowledgeable when helping my friends and I find a beer on the menu that fit our different taste styles. Chris Hahn, a senior, said about his first time at JL, “I liked it a lot. They had a great selection of beer, and the burgers were really good.” JL Beers has a wide variety of different burgers — all tasting amazing. It is hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to, the JL burger would rank on top with the BLT Blu close behind. The JL burger is two patties with grilled onions and special sauce, while the BLT Blu has bacon, lettuce, tomato and bleu cheese all on top of a delicious beef patty. Another interesting burger they have is the Humpty Dumpty® burger, which is served with a fried egg on top of the patty. The burgers are very reasonably priced for the quality you get with your meal. Along with the burgers comes fresh cut potato chips, but if you want, you can replace those with fries, which I would definitely recommend. The cajun fries are good, but they also have barbecue fries and sea salt fries. JL Beers is a favorite lunchtime place of Michael Schenfisch, a senior majoring in business. “JL Beers is a great place to go if you like great burgers and fantastic beer. They have a wide variety of beers that won’t disappoint,” he explained. Since JL Beers is a bar, you have to be of drinking age to eat there. But for those of us that are of age, next time you are craving a burger and beer, go downtown and check out JL Beers; you will not be disappointed.
Burger Bests
Written by AAA Living North Dakota Magazine | September/October 2011
In a state where ranching reigns, tasty burgers are a menu staple. Enjoy this sampling of some of the best. JL Beers, Fargo
Named after Fargo’s legendary bar owner, Jim Lauerman, this hole-in-the-wall off Broadway Driver serves brugers – and fries – exclusively. Order a traditional Great American Cheese Burger or spice up dinner with the Rajun Cajun – a Louisiana-style wonder of pepperjack cheese, cajun lime sauce, grilled onions and a fresh-baked bun.
HPR’s Best Bets 2011
June 30, 2011
JL Beers Awarded – Best Beer Selection, Best Burger, Best Lunch, Best Meal Under $10, and Best New Restaurant (West Fargo)!
Always a fan favorite, J.L. Beers has once again swept the categories of best burger, beer selection and new restaurant. They have 40 beers on tap, imported beers, mixed brews, beertails (instead of cocktails), over nine burgers, and more, J.L. Beers has exactly what you need for fun!
Lex & Terry Morning Show
April 18, 2011
We’re back from Fargo with a vengeance; it was a great trip once again. Nothing like those people anywhere! They just fed us full of great hamburgers and liquor all weekend. That JL Beers burger joint…pretty damn good. We gotta put it in our top 3 burger places in the country, along with In-And-Out Burger and Fatburger. Thanks to everybody in Fargo once again for a phenomenal weekend. You guys are absolutely the best…you really are. Just genuine nice people. It’s crazy. Friday night we went over to JL Beers and had phenomenal burgers. Awesome burgers. One of the things we loved the most were the chips with the buffalo sauce sprinkled with bleu cheese crumbles, they were just awesome. Everything there was phenomenal. And so much so, that we had to go back on Saturday night to the one in West Fargo.
Great Beers and Burgers at JL Beers
Written by Justin Harken of The NDSU Spectrum | January 21, 2011
It has been said that food is the way to the heart. If that’s the case, then cheap food and great beer is the way to a college student’s heart. JL Beers may be blazing that trail.
JL Beers, located on First Ave. N. about half a block east of the Hotel Donaldson, may look like a hole in the wall from the outside, but while it may only seat 24 people, JL Beers is no dive bar. The inside is outfitted with several flat screen televisions, sure to be showing ESPN, and a bar that runs almost the whole length of the building. What is more important is what is behind the bar. JL Beers offers 32 beers on tap, many bottle beers, and even 1919 Root Beer for those who do not want to drink beer. Of the 32 tap beers most are brews from smaller breweries as well as seasonal beers. For the person unwilling to step outside their comfort zone, three popular beers are offered: Coors Light, Miller Lite and Bud Light. While I am very critical of restaurant service, the staff at JL Beers didn’t leave me with much to complain about. The staff was friendly and helpful. They really seemed to enjoy their jobs and the people they work with. Friendly banter occurred between the staff and created a fun, sociable atmosphere. Understandably, I had questions about some of the beers behind the bar. The staff was not only knowledgeable about what they were serving but allowed me to sample the beer before ordering. JL Beers serves delicious burgers that are grilled right in front of you behind the bar. With all of their burgers costing less than $5, a person can get a great tasting meal without dipping deeply into their college funds. French fries come at an extra expense of $2 but two people can easily split the given portion. The burgers were fresh and quite tasty and the fries were hand cut.
All in all, JL Beers has become my new favorite downtown hangout. I have yet to find another place where I can sit down for a reasonably priced meal and try a new beer or enjoy one of my old favorites. The small-bar atmosphere, where everyone could grow to know your name, only adds to the appeal. Its limited seating is not ideal for a large sporting event, but I could find myself stopping by more often to watch midweek hockey games. Additionally, I believe the smaller venue is more of an advantage than a setback as it brings you in and seats you closer to the staff behind the bar and makes you feel as if you are part of their conversation. JL Beers has made my list of the best restaurants and bars in Fargo and should be considered as part of yours.
Heart Warming
Written by Rachel Dry of The Washington Post | November 14, 2010
A road trip to North Dakota in the tracks of John Steinbeck can leave you feeling centered Where To Eat JL Beers
North Dakota leads the nation in malt barley production; its farmers also grow a fair number of chipping potatoes. So it’s practically a requirement to sample the local beers, freshly made potato chips and, yes, delicious burgers at this downtown spot. Burgers $3 to $4; beers $3.50 to $6.50.
2010 Best Of The Red River Valley
Written by Kristen M. Daum of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | October 29, 2010
Best Beer Selection Winner: JL Beers
The new kid on the block has created quite a buzz in Fargo-Moorhead since it opened last year. Forum readers voted the downtown locale of JL Beers as having the best beer selection in the area. The small restaurant, 518 1st Ave. N., serves up burgers and beer to only a couple dozen patrons at a time. But its wide selection of brews makes it a favorite among connoisseurs of ale, owner Randy Thorson said. JL Beers offers 32 varieties on tap at all times, but has as many as 85 different kinds in stock. Some of the more high-end varieties can cost as much as $20 a bottle, Thorson said. He said the restaurant’s management studied beer to offer so many options, but they’re surprised at how many patrons bring their own expertise when it comes to specialty suds. The success of the downtown Fargo location has the business expanding. A second JL Beers, at 810 13th Ave. E. in West Fargo, should open by the end of the year, Thorson said.
bestof.areavoices.com/2010/10/29/best-beer-selection/
USA TODAY TRAVEL: 51 Great Burger Joints Across the USA!
Compiled by Laura Bly, Jayne Clark, Rebecca Heslin, and Kitty Bean Yancey | October 1, 2010
Whether charbroiled in a down-home diner or fancified in a trendy eatery, few national dishes satisfy like a well-made hamburger. USA TODAY asked local experts to name one great hamburger joint in each state and the District of Columbia. Here are their picks for places to savor that classic all-American sandwich.
North Dakota
With barstool seating for only 24 people, the 1,000-square-foot JL Beers brings a big-city-pub feel to downtown Fargo. Tuck into a half-dozen kinds of burgers – including the Humpty Dumpty® with fried egg and cheese – and a lineup of beers. Forgo the fries and order the fresh-cut chips.
518 1st Ave. N.; 701-492-3377; jlbeers.com – Recommended by Tammy Langerud, North Dakota Tourism
travel.usatoday.com/destinations/greatamericanbites/hamburgers/40391418/1
ROCK 102 Burger Mania!
Written by ROCK 102 | August 2, 2010
Burger Mania Winner is…JL Beers! Congrats to JL Beers…Scotch, Tank, and Ginger’s choice for the #1 burger in the metro area!
It was a tough choice but there can only be 1! Congrats to JL Beers…the winner of Scotch, Tank, and Ginger’s “Burger Mania” contest! 2nd place going to the Silver Dollar Bar and Grill, 3rd place…Hi-Ho Tavern in Dilworth! Contestants were judged on “Bun”, “Presentation” and “Flavor”! Thanks to all who participated!
HPR’s Best Bets 2010
Written by HPR Staff | June 24, 2010
JL Beers- Best Burgers, Beer Selection, New Restaurant, New Business
When asked why she enjoys her job, co-manager Andrea Williams kept it simple. “I really like beer and I like to educate people about it.” The concepts behind JL Beers are simplicity and quick service. Burgers arrive in roughly three minutes. Keep that in mind and follow Andrea’s best advice, “concentrate on your drink choice.” JL Beers has 32 beers on tap, 50 bottles to choose from as well as water, pop, or coffee. Congrats everyone. Visit their website www.jlbeers.com to see what they have in store for you. The secret of English pubs, what makes them more “bar” than other bars, is that they’re crowded. We don’t know why, and like everybody else, we curse when we have to navigate elbows and butts to get to the bathroom, but it helps the atmosphere. The buzz of conversation is cheerier. We admit it, we’re gone on JL Beers. And Andrea, we need an education, please teach us one beer at a time.
Dining Review: JL Beers
Written by Mike Dragosavich of FM Spotlight, April 2010
Photography by Mitch Highman of mJoy Photography
Simply burgers and beer
Written by Nadine Aljets | February 2, 2010
In a quaint, yet modernly designed building set in downtown Fargo is one of the city’s newest restaurants. Locals have been flocking to this eatery to experience the much talked about food and beverages. What’s on the menu that has caused so much interest? Simply burgers and beer. Opened last November, JL Beers boasts more drinks than food on its menu. The restaurant has six burger varieties: “The Original Hamburger,” “The Great American,” “The Classic Burger,” “The Humpty Dumpty® Burger,” “The JL Burger®” and “The 1st Avenue Burger.” Dan Vogel, general manager of JL Beers, said, “We make the best burgers in town.” All burgers come on a fresh baked bun, and there are many additional items that can be added on. Also offered are homemade chips and fries. The main reason people come to JL Beers, though, is to try the wide variety of beers offered. With 32 beers on tap, many imported bottles and a variety of domestic cans, patrons of the restaurant have countless options. For those who cannot decide which beer to order, samples are given. Individuals can also order beer flights, which consist of six small glasses of different beers. “People like to try something new,” Vogel said of the wide beer variety. Not sure what to order? No problem. The bartenders are very knowledgeable about the beer options and can suggest what to try based on individuals’ preferences. For those who prefer nonalcoholic drinks, JL Beers offers nonalcoholic beers and a variety of sodas. The beer truly is the focal point of the restaurant, which is evident as the long bar stretches almost the entire length of the building. The building, itself, is quite narrow, and only allows seating for 24 people. Most of the chairs are pulled up next to the bar, but there are a couple tables as well. “It really has a big city feel, and it brings something different to downtown Fargo,” Vogel said. The chrome and metal décor of the restaurant provides a clean, sleek look. This modern look even extends into the kitchen area which Vogel described as a “show kitchen,” meaning “you can watch the food while it’s being made,” Vogel said. JL Beers is also easy on the wallet. With all of its food options under $5, it is simple to get a filling meal for a low price. Burgers range in price from $2.99 to $4.49, while side items only cost $1.89 to $2.99. With such low prices, sampling one or more beers can still keep a meal within budget. All items at JL Beers can be taken to go, surprisingly even the beers. If customers cannot finish their beer at the restaurant, the bartenders can also reseal the beer for them to take home. With the limited seating and the popularity of the restaurant, sometimes there is only standing room available, but that has not discouraged individuals from checking out the restaurant. JL Beers may be small on space, but it is certainly big on taste. As Vogel said, “We have great service, great food, and great beer, so we encourage everyone to come and check us out.”
www.ndsuspectrum.com/edge/3099
Return of the Bar Burger: JL Beers Marries Two American Classics
Written by Bryce Richardson
Photography by Zach Kobrinsky
Let’s talk about bacon. Being the unabashed bacon enthusiast that I am, one might imagine that I would take bacon on anything. Not true. Bacon on a burger often gives me cause for doubt. Not because the flavors don’t go together, or because I can’t stand the thought of those cute, delicious little piggies being slaughtered for my satisfaction, but because, frankly, it’s rarely done right. Generally when bacon comes on a burger I have a hard time believing that it even came from a pig. It tastes more like cardboard and wet socks. This is not the right way to do bacon on a burger. However, despite my reservations, when the waitress asked if I’d like bacon on my Humpty Dumpty burger at JL Beers I hastily assented. I mea
n, the burger has a fried egg on it, and you can’t really go wrong with bacon and eggs (unless they are from a Motel 6 continental breakfast, in which case you can go terribly, horribly wrong). To my surprise, the bacon was just about perfect burger bacon: crispy, thick and peppered within an inch of its life. Let’s review.
JL Beers, newly opened at 518 1st Avenue and home to 58 separate kinds of beer, 32 of which are on tap, makes a burger in about a minute flat, slaps an egg on top and tosses on some of the best burger bacon this side of the Mississippi and suddenly we’ve got a burger and beer joint downtown with the right idea. Don’t get me wrong. There are other places where you can get White Castle sliders or a nine-dollar burger with bleu cheese yak bacon. At roughly four bucks a pop and a menu comprised simply of four burgers and two different kinds of chips (made in-house with one of the coolest kitchen gadgets I have ever seen) JL Beers hits the elusive golden mean of the burger world. I could wax poetic about the burgers all night, but let’s move on. JL Beers, true to its name, also has one of the best beer selections in town and it’s only getting better. “We’re giving the people what they want,” said General Manager Dan Vogel, “and surprisingly, people are more adventurous than we thought.” Having already gone through a keg or two of the more obscure beers on the tapline, JL Beers is looking to get more interesting beer into the hands of the thirsty people of Fargo. I know that I was pleasantly surprised to find beers ranging from Summit’s fantastic Oatmeal Stout to Rogue’s Dead Guy Ale and at $3-5 a pint you can try as many as you like. For those looking to enter the world of craft beers or even if you’re just brew-curious, JL Beers offers “Beer Flights” which consist of six separate 4 oz. beers in different categories such as Midwestern breweries, beers from around the globe and my personal favorite, ales from the dark side. Also, at the back of their extensive beer list they’ve got a glossary of beer terminology so you, too, can find yourself spouting off about the differences between doppelbocks and trappist trippels. Seating roughly 30, JL Beers feels cozy even when there are only 10 people on the rail. It was packed full when I went in around 6 and later that night when I stopped in for a Bell’s Two Hearted IPA at last call it was standing room only. The crowd is also one of the most diverse groups I’ve seen Downtown. Tattooed hipsters chow down next to suits, frat boys and geeks brought together by the two things powerful enough to unite us all: burgers and beer.
hpr1.com/cuisine/article/return_of_the_bar_burger_jl_beers_marries_two_american_classics/
New Choices for the Craft Beer Connoisseur
By Jason Hummel, Contributing Writer
JL Beers and the South Moorhead Atomic Coffee have graced the metro with an amazingly diverse list of high-quality craft brew.
For the uninitiated, craft beer loosely refers to a brew made with traditional methods—no adjuncts, such as rice or corn, are added to reduce costs or change the characteristics of the beer. Craft brews tend to have a more distinctive taste than mass-consumed beers, which may limit the audience of any one brand. The explosion of microbreweries in the United States and around the world, however, virtually guarantees that an individual can find a variety that appeals to their taste buds.
Atomic Coffee may have the smaller selection of the new establishments, but the choices they’ve made fall in line with a quality-over-quantity approach. Residents of Fargo-Moorhead can finally enjoy a refreshing pint of Surly from the tap, without having to cross the city limits. The Surly Brewing Company is a relative newcomer to the industry, with beers starting to flow off the line of their Brooklyn Center location towards the end of 2005. The Surly family includes several year-round beers, and one or two seasonal varieties. The most sought-after of these is “Darkness,” the high-alcohol, Russian Stout available in the weeks following Halloween. Atomic Coffee has blessed us with what could be considered the flagship of Surly’s year-round lineup, Surly Furious, brewed with a blend of four different American hop varieties. Hops are the flower of the vermicular hop plant and are used to give beers their bitterness and aroma. The result is a flavorful crimson brew, with an eye-opening citrus bouquet. The beer starts with a complex caramel taste and finishes with a delicious bitterness from the hop blend, a sensation that stays with you well after the liquid has left your tongue on the way to your stomach. This is one beer that may very well be an acquired taste if you’re coming from the world of Anheuser-Busch. Atomic rounds off their selection with two fabulous stouts from Bell’s Brewery including a java stout. The perfect accompaniment to the fragrances of a coffee shop, the java stout enhances the inherent coffee flavor of the stout by blending Sumatra and chocolate to make a rich, filling brew. Also available are a Widmer IPA and Lindeman’s Raspberry Framboise, a sweet fruit beer that pairs well with desserts. If you’re looking for a unique beverage without the noise of a pub, Atomic should be at the top of your destination list.
South Moorhead Atomic Coffee… For the craft beer drinker: Surly Furious. For coffee lovers: Bell’s Java Stout. For desert lovers: Lindeman’s Raspberry Framboise
If a more traditional bar scene is to your liking, or if you’re looking to pair your beverage with a burger and fries, JL Beers fits the bill. With 32 taps, 33 bottle varieties, numerous cans, and even a few “big beer” 750ml varieties. JL Beers has raised the bar for craft beer in downtown Fargo. Here you’ll find everything from a can of Hamm’s to the finest Belgian Dubbel. The entire space and concept is set up to make the beers the focal point. A long bar surrounding an impressive shelf system of bottles, cans and taps makes up almost all the seating in the long, skinny pub. The beer list not only gives you names of the products, but also descriptions of the taste, alcohol content, and even a glossary of general beer categories and terms. JL Beers brings a new level of convenience to the person looking to enjoy a craft beer from the comfort of their own home. Burgers can be ordered to go, along with bottles or growlers (a half gallon from any of the taps). If you happen to find yourself unable to finish one of JL Beers’ big beers, the staff will happily reseal the bottle so you can take the remainder home. For those who quiver at the prospect of making one choice among the formable selection of suds, JL Beers also provides beer flights, consisting of five small glasses of different varieties.
JL Beers: For the craft beer drinker: start on the leftmost tap and work your way right. For the Anheuser-Busch fan: enjoy your old standby or dip your toe into the world of craft beers with something from the New Belgium Brewery. For non-beer drinkers: Woodchuck Draft Cider or a 750ml of Lindeman’s Raspberry Framboise. For non-alcohol drinkers: Delicious 1919 Root Beer on tap! For everyone: an egg-burger with seasoned chips.
Now get out there and start expanding that palate!
hpr1.com/cuisine/article/new_choices_for_the_craft_beer_connoisseur/
JL Beers: Serving Up Beer and Burgers in Downtown Fargo
Written by Cassie Tweten | 11/28/09
Downtown Fargo is known for it’s trendy boutiques, funky art spots, pubs of all sorts and variety of eateries. JL Beers, 518 1st Ave N., combines a fully stocked beer bar with a diner style burger joint. Although JL Beers only features five different burgers on their food menu, they don’t skimp on creativity, or flavor. The “Humpty Dumpty® Burger,” a burger topped with a fried egg, is sure to become their specialty. The burgers are moderately priced, ranging from about $3 to $5. Sides aren’t included in the cost, but with three to choose from, it’s easy to make a meal by adding fresh cut fries, chips or Cajun chips. As the name suggests, the bar features a huge selection of beers. The beer menu dwarfs the burger menu. Upon taking a seat at the bar, patrons are shown a binder-style book of available beers. With 32 beers on tap, one can order beer by the pint, talls and growlers. They also have a variety of import bottles and beer by the can. JL Beers is often a crowded place, but that shouldn’t prevent you from checking out the delicious burgers and sides or trying one of their many beers. Consider the atmosphere “cozy” rather than cluttered, as the compact area only holds two tables and a counter seating about 30 all together. Food and beverages are also available to go. Most bars aren’t able to offer drinks to go, but JL Beers is able to seal your alcoholic beverage so you can take it with you when you leave.