RUBS & SEASONINGS
Happy National Bratwurst Day!
Posted by Josh Gilmore on
Happy National Bratwurst Day, Grillaholics! Whether you prefer yours with mustard, sauerkraut, barbecue sauce, or just by itself, the bratwurst is undeniably one of the staples of barbecue, and one of my favorite things to grill for just about any outing. And don’t worry, if you aren’t already a pro at grilling bratwurst, we’ve got you covered.
In celebration of one of the most common meats found in every Grillaholic’s diet, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most interesting facts that we could find about one of our favorite things to grill!
German Immigrant
Though it has become an essential part of the American grilling scene (I can’t think of a single tailgate I’ve been to in the last 20 years where we DIDN’T grill up some brats), the bratwurst is actually German in origin (just imagine saying “bratwurst” in a thick German accent and it should be clear). While historians are not 100% certain, many believe that the term “bratwurst” was officially created in the 1300s. Germans then brought this delicious sausage to the Americas sometime in the middle of the 19th century.
Why The Name?
If I had to guess what the name “bratwurst” meant, I would likely guess something along the lines of “beers perfect companion.” In reality, the name “bratwurst” originally comes from the Old High German root words “brät-“ meaning “finely chopped meat,” and “-wurst” meaning “sausage.” As the language has evolved, the word is now more closely associated with the verb “brated” meaning “to pan fry.”
Bratwurst Capital Of The World
Despite their German ancestry, the self-proclaimed “Bratwurst Capital of the World” doesn’t reside in Germany. Rather, the town of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, holds the official title. They take their brats extremely seriously, and even have a “Sheboygan Brat Oath” that includes the exactly way to prepare brats: always fried, served on a hard roll, with a beer to wash it down.
Bratwurst Records
The world record for the largest bratwurst was set in 2015 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The bratwurst measured 360 feet in length, and weighed over 250 pounds. The world record for most bratwursts eaten is held by Carmen Cincotti, who ate 101 bratwurst sausages in just 10 minutes. Madison, Wisconsin holds the world record for the most bratwurst sausages sold in a year, selling 209,376 in 2010.