Denver Burger Battle: The meat of the matter in photos

Lori Midson

The crew from Crave compete in the Denver Burger Battle

Aside from the vegetarian burgers from Root Down, which, ironically, were the first to sell out, last night's porny Denver Burger Battle was a carnivorous animal-style nirvana of bloody meat candy, bacon and foie gras. The sold-out soiree pitted twelve restaurants, all of which hustle burgers in one guise or another, against one another in a (mostly) friendly competition that was judged by hordes of public mouths and four local chefs -- Kelly Liken, Alex Seidel, Justin Brunson and Jeff Osaka.

The winners? Take a look through our foodography to find out which burgers smoked out all the others.

Lori Midson

Troy Guard and the team from TAG, which earned second place from the judges and the public, served kangaroo-and-duck-fat burgers topped with heirloom tomatoes, smoked tomato aioli, Munster and bibb lettuce on a potato bun.

Lori Midson

TAG's heirloom tomatoes.

Lori Midson

Argyll/Le Grand Bistro & Oyster Bar's Colorado lamb and beef burger paved with English cheddar, house-cured bacon, heirloom tomatoes, red leaf lettuce and a buttermilk-jalapeno onion ring.

Lori Midson

Park Burger's Croque burger, which earned first place from the judges (for the second year in a row), came crowned with a fried egg, baby Swiss, uncured rosemary ham and burger sauce on a potato bun.