Favorite kinds of brats and ways to prepare them...

[Nottso]

Thanks guys. It's just somethin' I came up with a few years ago. And no, I don't cater, but it doesn't take much to get me to fire up the grill. Hmmmm, maybe a BF.Net summer cookout.

[bensheeps]

Notso

I'll pile on and say that sounds absolutely wonderful. My wife is a huge fan of green peppers and garlic, so we may have to steal your recipe for the next cookout.

[Nottso]

By all means, go for it. If I didn't intend for others to enjoy it, I wouldn't have posted it. Enjoy!

[hawing]

This thread has substantially increased the odds of my opting for a brat at the park tonight. Though some of the recipes above sound better yet.

[datrain711]

some good brat ideas in here.

 

I'd go for one tonight, but a stop at long wong's for .25 shanghai wings and $1 egg rolls wins out on a weeknight http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[brwrsfan]

I might be trying that self made relish this weekend, wow that sounds good.

 

.25 wings and $1 egg rolls at Long Wong's...is that a Thursday night special or is that there every night? I might have to go there....

[datrain711]

I might be trying that self made relish this weekend, wow that sounds good.

 

.25 wings and $1 egg rolls at Long Wong's...is that a Thursday night special or is that there every night? I might have to go there....

They have specials before every home brewer game.

 

OK so i don't want to detail this thread because brats are a favorite of mine. This weekend I'm firing up the grill and will also have to try that relish.

 

The perfect brat for me is: simmered in beer, onion, and garlic, and served on a hard brat bun with some large banana peppers and some home made brat sauce that I like to make.

[JenksFan5]

Most people probably don't make it through Brownsville, WI too often (a few miles west of Hwy 41 on Hwy 49 south of Fond du Lac), but if you do, Hoff's brats are hard to beat. It is a little Ma and Pa's grocery store that has its own butcher shop and they make their own brats. They have a variety of flavors and they are excellent. I highly recommend their jalapeno brats if you like a little spice, but their potato or onion or plain or italians are all very good as well. Usually you can get them fresh for $1.59/lb. (about 4 brats), but often times they have frozen 5 lb packages for $1.00/lb. I will take them over any kind of store bought bratwurst any day of the week and they are very reasonably priced.

As for preparation, I was at a tailgate party on Opening Day with the carmelized onions, peppers, garlic etc. and they were incredible, but I saw a recipe on TV the other day where you boil brats in Mountain Dew, jalapenos and onions before grilling. That sounded interesting to try and probably has a good combo of sweet, spicy and brat flavors. I am going to try that with my next batch.

[craigharmann]

I'll second the Hoff's brats. Living in Mayville for many years, we had lots of their brats. I loved the jalapeno brats! That's probably about the only thing I miss about living in Wisconsin is the overabundance of brats, but I can get some Johnsonvilles down here, stick them in the some Shiner and then throw them on the grill. That sounds really good....hmm....

[logan82]

Where about in Brownsville? I used to drive through Waupun and Brownsville to get to Milwaukee.

 

Edit: Is $1.59/lb the normal price for their brats or a sale price?

[NeedMoreFans]

Sometimes I like being a purist...just throw them on the grill, low heat, then eat on a nice bun with kraut and beer/brat mustard. Other times I'll simmer them in beer, then cook, but no beer after. When I make a beer bath, I throw in a bunch of stuff with my beer...garlic, fennel, onions, and butter are my main ingredients. I simmer, never boil. Boiling the brats in the beer can cause the casing to open too quickly and the meat to split out. Normally, I simmer for about a half hour...but I watch them closely to make sure the casings don't open up too much. Sometimes I make them the night before and leave them soaking in the beer over night. Those always turn out fantastic. Now I want a brat!

[JenksFan5]

Hoff's sale price is $1.59, but the sale is almost always going on. I think regular price is $1.99/lb. It is located on the left hand side of the road (Hwy 49) right in the middle of town right across from Dan's Villlage Bowl. If you want, they always have their weekly specials on their website www.hoffsmeats.com. You can't go wrong and the price is great.

[Nottso]

The Elegant Farmer, on Hwy ES between Mukwonago & East Troy also has their own brats in all kinds of flavors. They're a little pricey, but the beer n' onion are really good. You can buy 'em already made and eat 'em there, or buy by the pound and bring home. I've never brought any home, but it's probably my favorite brat made by someone else for a quick lunch.

 

The place is kinda neat in general, with lots of specialty items. You can also ride the old electric trolley between there and East Troy. A great outing with the kids or grandkids. We like to start in East Troy, ride the trolley to The Elegant Farmer and have lunch and look around, then ride the trolley back to East Troy. The grandkids really love it.

[IIAY]

The best brats I have found are the Red Lager Beer Brats from Bavaria Sausage in Madison (off of 18/151 near Quivey's Grove and Ten Pin Alley). We get them for work outings and they are incredible. I usually get them pre-cooked, brown them on the grill, and then soak them in beer and onions until serving. They even sell them online - https://www.bavariasausage.com/shop/products.php?product_id=565&storecategory_id=32.

[DrugBust]

Usually just a strict Johnsonville, take them out of the package and throw 'em on the grill, guy.

 

I do, on occasion, use that recipe you've probably seen on the Shop the Pig recipe commercials. Very, very tasty.

 

Italian Sausages

 

* 6 Johnsonville Italian sausages (pre-cooked)

* 1 jar Ragu sauce

* 1 red pepper cut into strips

* 1 yellow pepper cut into strips

* 1 pablano pepper cut into strips

* 1/2 red onion cut into strips

* 1 Tablespoon chopped garlic

* 6 brat buns

* 1/2 cup fresh shredded parmesan cheese

 

 

Saute the vegetables and garlic with a little oil. When they start to caramelize, add the sausages. When sausages start to brown, add sauce and simmer for about 4-5 minutes. Serve on buns with cheese sprinkled on top.

[Bikeage77]

Trying that soon Drug. Maybe as early as 6pm. Sounds great!

[fstorm1]

Several good brats to be had out there, but yesterday evening, I enjoyed some Festival (grocery chain) brand, simmered in Berghoff Red Bock Winter Ale, then on to the grill. Very good, but not as good as the ones I've done simmered in Hacker Pshorr.

[logan82]

Had some Hoff's brats yesterday. Nothing special about their regular brats. They were on par with Johnsonville or Klements brats. The one plus is they are about half the price. Also had some of their swiss and mushroom brats. Those were fantastic.

[LouisEly]

Getting ready to grill up my first batch of brats this spring

 

What's taken you so long? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

I like to make them one of two ways: 1)Boil them for a bit in some beer and onions and then grill them OR 2)Just throw them on the grill as is. It really depends on what I am hungry for that day.

 

Do NOT boil - you'll burst the casings and lose all of the juice! SIMMER. Then brown on the grill on low heat (one of the only things I prefer gas to charcoal for - easier to control heat on the gas grill), turn frequently. Takes a while, but well worth it.

 

Also have to have a store bakery hard roll type bun. None of those soft, off the shelf, could be hot dog buns.

 

Have to disagree on that - I eat brats to fill up on brats, not to fill up on bread. The less bread the better.