Thoughts on Brats | Brats & Beer

Mmm, bratwurst. Some people salivate for steak or lobster, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t give for a nice, juicy brat right off the grill.

Know your brat

Bratwurst comes from Germany, of course, the country that was built on sausage and beer. Some claim that the name is derived from the verb braten, which means to pan fry, but others point out that brat means fine chopped meat. Whatever the etymology, bratwurst is some of the best food you’ll find, but only if you get the right kind.

The best brat is a fresh brat. If you are lucky enough to have a butcher shop or a meat packer nearby, you should be able to find some pretty decent brats there depending on the part of the country you live in. Otherwise, some of your bigger supermarkets and gourmet food markets make their own sausage and most do a pretty good job.

If you have trouble finding a local supplier, you can always count on the Internet to satisfy your needs. A lot of places will ship fresh and cooked brats to most parts of the country. My favorite is Usinger’s from Milwaukee, but there are many others out there to choose from.

Of course having fresh brats shipped to you can be a bit pricey, so you may want to go with some national brand like Johnsonville for your everyday bratwurst enjoyment. Still family-owned, Johnsonville makes a pretty good brat, though I would suggest avoiding some of their specialty sausage. The Johnsonville Stadium Brat in particular is not very good.

Brats on the grill

The best way to prepare brats is on the grill. There is nothing quite like a bratwurst fresh off the grill with a little mustard (brown, spicey mustard if you’ve got it). Brats cook up pretty quickly on medium heat, though you want to keep a close eye on them and turn them often to make sure they don’t burn. Sometimes, though, I like to boil mine in a little water and beer and then finish them off on the grill.

I have been asked before what the best beer is for cooking brats, and really the answer is whatever beer you like to drink. If Leinenkugel’s is your beer of choice, then that’s what you should use to cook your brats. If Coors is your brand, well then may God save your soul.

Brats on the stove

You can also pan cook brats if you don’t have a grill or if there’s a blizzard outside. Just put a little water in a pan and cook your sausages over medium high heat, turning regularly until they’re done through. By then the water should have boiled off and you can brown the sausages on the hot pan to finish them off.