Ghostfish Brewery Grills Up A Gluten-Free Big Mac For National Burger Day

A Big Mac? If you're on a gluten-free diet? Forget about it! And if you have celiac disease? The risk of cross-contamination alone couldn't push us through the door of a McDonald's.

So when we heard that Ghostfish Brewery in Seattle was grilling up a gluten-free Big Mac for National Burger Day, The Blast couldn't help but get in on the action!

Last Wednesday, we arrived at Ghostfish Brewery around 5:30 PM, just after Happy Hour. We decided to skip the appetizers (although their onion rings are delicious) and head straight for the reason we were there: the burgers. Although their gluten-free Big Mac, which they dubbed "The Mac Daddy," was only available last Wednesday for National Burger Day, they also have a sandwich of the month, which in May was a burger based on a Seattle-style hot dog.

On May 28, the company brought back their fan-favorite sandwich, the Mac Daddy, which consisted of two 4-oz smashed beef patties topped with shredded lettuce, American cheese, pickles, onions, and fry sauce. Being a completely dedicated gluten-free eatery, the burger is served on a gluten-free bun.

The beef burger could also be swapped with two Impossible patties for vegan customers. The brand encouraged diners to pair the burger with their Vanishing Point Pale Ale, which is only one of the brand’s many gluten-free beers.

In the days leading up to the excitement, one fan commented, “This looks so delicious, I would eat that for breakfast,” while another called it “my favorite burger,” adding, “A must every time I come through Seattle.”

For my own experience, the burger was delicious, thanks in part due to the addition of the fry sauce and melty cheese, which held everything together. Although I’ve never had a Big Mac due to my celiac disease, I can say that the sandwich resembled a double-double animal-style burger from In-N-Out, which I first tried earlier this year.

I have to admit that I did like this burger better than the sandwich of the month. The Seattle-style Hot Dog Burger was inspired by Hannah Pierce, who won their Sandwich of the Month contest. Her idea was to top a six-oz beef patty with caramelized onions, pickled jalapenos, whipped cream cheese, and chipotle aioli.

Although the Mac Daddy satisfied my In-N-Out cravings, I had no nostalgia for the Seattle-style Hot Dog, which I’ve never tried, so this burger didn’t do anything for me. If anything, I kept getting huge mouthfuls of cream cheese, which would have been better served on a bagel with smoked salmon.

Ghostfish recommended that this burger be enjoyed with their new Pacific Ale or Bioluminescence IPA, but I just enjoyed it with plain old water. Instead, I saved my calories for a rich slice of their 4-layer carrot cake, which is made in-house.

Although the company has yet to announce their June offering, fans flocked to Ghostfish Brewery in April in order to try their lamb burger, which was a tribute to the signature sandwich from Brouwer’s Café, which has since closed down.

The burger featured a six-oz lamb patty dressed with arugula, goat cheese, pickled onions, and Mama Lil’s pickled pepper aioli. They recommended pairing this burger with their Rainier Cherry Saison or the Vanishing Point Pale Ale.

Much like the turkey burger that I tried last November, the burger meat itself was a bit dry and lacked enough aioli sauce to make this a satisfying bite. But, while their turkey and lamb burgers came up short for me, I still keep coming back for their beef.

Their McPiggy Pork Sandwich, a 5-oz grilled boneless pork loin chop topped with BBQ sauce, white onions, and spicy pickles, has been my favorite monthly sandwich so far and will definitely keep me coming back for more.

So what will their sandwich of the month be for June? We can't wait to find out! The last time we had a burger this good was when we headed over to Askatu Bakery during Seattle Restaurant Week!