Welcome to the EGGhead Forum - a great place to visit and packed with tips and EGGspert advice! You can also join the conversation and get more information and amazing kamado recipes by following Big Green Egg to Experience our World of Flavor™ at:
Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  Youtube  |  Vimeo
Share your photos by tagging us and using the hashtag #BigGreenEgg.

Want to see how the EGG is made? Click to Watch

Brats: which one?

Aviator
Aviator Posts: 1,757

Inspired by the other thread that addresses the methodology, I would love to have a discussion about the tastiest brats out there and what has been your experiences.

I get some from Costco that I love, I forget the brand.

Love beer brats.

______________________________________________ 

Large and Small BGE, Blackstone 36 and a baby black Kub.

Chattanooga, TN.

 

Comments

  • henapple
    henapple Posts: 16,025
    My butcher makes custom sausages... Pretty good. Next time you stop in I'll pick some up. When are you on duty again?
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 18,727
    I used to like Usinger's when I lived in Chicago. Natural casing is key.

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • henapple said:
    My butcher makes custom sausages... Pretty good. Next time you stop in I'll pick some up. When are you on duty again?
    Is that butcher in M'boro or Nashville?  Who is it?
  • Botch
    Botch Posts: 15,428
    Heh, that thread got me so hungry for brats I went to the store and got some, just finished a couple.  They were Johnsonville Stadium Brats; they were okay.
    When I went to college at South Dakota State one of my friends always brought back some brats from Wisconsin every time he went home.  No idea what the brand was, but I've been spoiled ever since.  
    _____________

    "I mean, I don't just kill guys, I'm notorious for doing in houseplants."  - Maggie, Northern Exposure


  • henapple
    henapple Posts: 16,025


    henapple said:

    My butcher makes custom sausages... Pretty good. Next time you stop in I'll pick some up. When are you on duty again?

    Is that butcher in M'boro or Nashville?  Who is it?

    Murfreesboro... Tagz off Memorial Blvd. Call ahead...Mike is a good guy.
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
  • Griffin
    Griffin Posts: 8,200
    All we get around here are Johnsonville or store brand. Best I've ever had were in Germany. Still trying to perfect them, but getting closer from what I remember.

    Rowlett, Texas

    Griffin's Grub or you can find me on Facebook

    The Supreme Potentate, Sovereign Commander and Sultan of Wings

     

  • NPHuskerFL
    NPHuskerFL Posts: 17,629
    Get mine from butcher fresh.Much better than anything I buy off the shelf. But, in a pinch I'll use Johnsonville.
    LBGE 2013 & MM 2014
    Die Hard HUSKER & BRONCO FAN
    Flying Low & Slow in "Da Burg" FL
  • gdenby
    gdenby Posts: 6,239
    As far as what can be ordered online, I've had many sausages, brats included from Stiglmeier.

    Talking up some folks in the area, I favor the pork and veal brats from Driers. Almost a delicacy except that its hard not to wolf them down.

    And just down the road, a fellow who makes outstanding sausages, tho' his brats are not quite as good as Driers, IMO.

    Unfortunately, Drier's doesn't ship their sausages. I don't know that Mullins at the Local does either, but maybe. My good fortune to live nearby.
  • Aviator
    Aviator Posts: 1,757
    henapple said:
    My butcher makes custom sausages... Pretty good. Next time you stop in I'll pick some up. When are you on duty again?

    Dont know yet, with the Guvmmint shut down...

    ______________________________________________ 

    Large and Small BGE, Blackstone 36 and a baby black Kub.

    Chattanooga, TN.

     

  • Aviator
    Aviator Posts: 1,757

    Gdenby, where abouts do you live?

    I have a butcher - Don's Meat shop here closeby. Have to check his offerings.

     

    gdenby said:
    As far as what can be ordered online, I've had many sausages, brats included from Stiglmeier.

    Talking up some folks in the area, I favor the pork and veal brats from Driers. Almost a delicacy except that its hard not to wolf them down.

    And just down the road, a fellow who makes outstanding sausages, tho' his brats are not quite as good as Driers, IMO.

    Unfortunately, Drier's doesn't ship their sausages. I don't know that Mullins at the Local does either, but maybe. My good fortune to live nearby.

    ______________________________________________ 

    Large and Small BGE, Blackstone 36 and a baby black Kub.

    Chattanooga, TN.

     

  • gdenby
    gdenby Posts: 6,239
    Aviator said:

    Gdenby, where abouts do you live?

    I have a butcher - Don's Meat shop here closeby. Have to check his offerings.

     

    gdenby said:
    As far as what can be ordered online, I've had many sausages, brats included from Stiglmeier.


    North central Indiana, an area often called Michiana. About an hour and a half from Chi, where there are places like Paulina Market that usually has 45 different kinds of sausages on hand. Or Gene's Deli that has three old guys, all named Stanley, that have over 130 years of sausage making experience between them.

    The nearby places I mentioned are well above average in all their offerings. There are several other places that make one or two types of sausage very well. I've enjoyed going on "sausage safaris," to see what is out there. Most of its mediocre, but every now and then a winner shows up.
  • Foghorn
    Foghorn Posts: 9,794
    edited October 2013

    I've had brats from the German towns around South Texas (New Brauanfels, Fredericksburg, etc) and I've had brats in Germany.  For my money there is no better brat than a Johnsonville Original.  Johnsonville's Stadium Brats and Beer Brats aren't that great.  Some of the local brats are very good, but there is something about the Johnsonville Original that is even better in my opinion (yes, I know what that is worth).

    At one point my local HEB didn't carry the Originals, but had about 6 other Johnsonville offerings (Beer Brats, Jalapeno Cheese Brats, Stadium Brats, etc).  I explained to them that is the equivalent of having Diet Coke, and Vanilla Coke, and Cherry Coke, and Coke Zero but not having Coke.  They now have the Originals and I make a point to buy them frequently.

    XXL BGE, Karebecue, Klose BYC, Chargiller Akorn Kamado, Weber Smokey Mountain, Grand Turbo gasser, Weber Smoky Joe, and the wheelbarrow that my grandfather used to cook steaks from his cattle

    San Antonio, TX

  • tjv
    tjv Posts: 3,830
    i've been Jonesin' for a good brat lately........

    image
    www.ceramicgrillstore.com ACGP, Inc.
  • HDumptyEsq
    HDumptyEsq Posts: 1,095
    If you live in Chattanooga (I do 4 days a week) try Link Forty One, they source all their meats from local farms and different breeds of pigs. They are at 217 E Main No 105, Chatt. TN 37428. Tel 423 602 9569. They make all kind of sausages. Their web-site's out at the moment so give 'em a call.

    Tony in Brentwood, TN.

    Medium BGE, New Braunfels off-set smoker, 3-burner Charbroiler gasser, mainly used for Eggcessory  storage, old electric upright now used for Amaz-N-Smoker.

    "I like cooking with wine - sometimes I put it in the food." - W. C. Fields

  • ChokeOnSmoke
    ChokeOnSmoke Posts: 1,942
    tjv said:
    i've been Jonesin' for a good brat lately........

    image
    Nicely cooked!
    Packerland, Wisconsin

  • Aviator
    Aviator Posts: 1,757
    If you live in Chattanooga (I do 4 days a week) try Link Forty One, they source all their meats from local farms and different breeds of pigs. They are at 217 E Main No 105, Chatt. TN 37428. Tel 423 602 9569. They make all kind of sausages. Their web-site's out at the moment so give 'em a call.

    Thank you. Will make a trip there

    ______________________________________________ 

    Large and Small BGE, Blackstone 36 and a baby black Kub.

    Chattanooga, TN.

     

  • Terrebandit
    Terrebandit Posts: 1,750
    Foghorn said:

    I've had brats from the German towns around South Texas (New Brauanfels, Fredericksburg, etc) and I've had brats in Germany.  For my money there is no better brat than a Johnsonville Original.  Johnsonville's Stadium Brats and Beer Brats aren't that great.  Some of the local brats are very good, but there is something about the Johnsonville Original that is even better in my opinion (yes, I know what that is worth).

    At one point my local HEB didn't carry the Originals, but had about 6 other Johnsonville offerings (Beer Brats, Jalapeno Cheese Brats, Stadium Brats, etc).  I explained to them that is the equivalent of having Diet Coke, and Vanilla Coke, and Cherry Coke, and Coke Zero but not having Coke.  They now have the Originals and I make a point to buy them frequently.


    +1 image
    Dave - Austin, TX
  • My favorite are the Boars Head Brats.  I know that might be off the radar but they are delicious in my book.  Hard to beat!

    LRG BGE

    Columbia, SC

  • I'm personally not too crazy about the way Johnsonville spices their brats.  Just a personal flavor thing.  I do like the way Hillshire Farms seasons theirs.  In onions and beer of course.
    A poor widows son.
    See der Rabbits, Iowa
  • DMW
    DMW Posts: 13,832
    Johnsonville Originals
    They/Them
    Morgantown, PA

    XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer -  PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE  - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker
  • It's not a brat, unless it's from the Sheboygan area. Johnsonville originals are some of the best.
    XL BGE - Large BGE - Small BGE - Traeger Lil' Tex Elite - Weber Smokey Joe
  • Aviator
    Aviator Posts: 1,757
    edited November 2013
    If you live in Chattanooga (I do 4 days a week) try Link Forty One, they source all their meats from local farms and different breeds of pigs. They are at 217 E Main No 105, Chatt. TN 37428. Tel 423 602 9569. They make all kind of sausages. Their web-site's out at the moment so give 'em a call.
    Thanks, Am going there today. Also, they have changed their name to Main Street Meats, mainstreetmeatschatt.com

    ______________________________________________ 

    Large and Small BGE, Blackstone 36 and a baby black Kub.

    Chattanooga, TN.