DECORAH, Iowa—Craft beer and delicious beef make the perfect pair at this year’s Iowa’s Best Burger winner, Dixie’s Biergarten in Decorah, Iowa. Owners Nick and Jordyn Harless invite you to their laid-back, historic taproom to experience a beefy smashburger with loads of juicy flavor.
This year’s Best Burger is hand-crafted with high-quality, fresh, never-frozen ingredients. The feature, of course, is the beef. The foundation of the burger is two four-ounce smash patties made of a proprietary, custom-blend that includes brisket and chuck, ground to a precise fat percentage.
The burger is served in a quality brioche bun and topped with fresh tomato, leaf lettuce, and pickles. The beef patties are finished with grilled onions, and let’s not forget the special SMASH sauce.
“Iowa’s Best Burger contest celebrates both the quality of beef and the creativity of the restaurateurs who bring it to life for consumers,” said Kylie Peterson, marketing and communications director for the Iowa Beef Industry Council, a co-sponsor of the Iowa Best Burger Contest. “Nick and Jordyn have crafted not only a standout burger that guests will love, but an experience that keeps them coming back.”
The significance of the contest has already been realized for Dixie’s Biergarten as part of the top 10. Nick shared that burgers are traditionally a top seller, but since being named to the top 10, their burger sales have more than doubled, from 75 to 90 burgers on a good day to 153 more recently.
“An important outcome of this contest is recognizing restaurants that serve as the heartbeat of their communities,” said Erika Osmundson, communications director for the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, a co-sponsor of the contest. “It’s a powerful platform to highlight the connection between exceptional beef, the dedicated producers behind it, the creativity of chefs, and the communities that make Iowa strong.”
Originally, the Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. taproom, Dixie’s Biergarten, continues to offer a cozy and comfortable atmosphere, featuring the best in Iowa craft beers with more than 25 on tap. However, unlike the original vision for the taproom, a dream led to serving food and the best burger in our state for 2026.
Plan You Visit
Dixie’s Biergarten | 310 College Dr. | Decorah, IA
Website: www.dixiesbiergarten.com
Food Hours: Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
(Taproom open additional days/hours)
We encourage you to check Dixie’s Biergarten’s Facebook page for updates or announcements before visiting.
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About the Iowa Beef Industry Council: The Iowa Beef Industry Council is funded by the $1-per-head National Beef Checkoff Program and the $0.50-per-head Iowa State Beef Checkoff. Checkoff dollars are invested in beef promotion, consumer information, research, industry information and foreign market development, all with the purpose of strengthening beef demand. For more information, visit www.iabeef.org.
About the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association: The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association represents nearly 8,000 beef-producing families and associated companies dedicated to the future of Iowa’s beef industry. ICA’s mission is “Grow Iowa’s beef business through advocacy, leadership and education.” www.iacattlemen.org
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