Happy National Bratwurst Day!
Posted: 08-16-2019 01:56 AM
The first documented evidence of Bratwurst sausage dates to 1313 Germany. Recipes vary; some sources list over 40 different varieties of German bratwurst alone. A very popular form of fast food in German-speaking countries, it is often cooked and sold by street vendors from small stands.
Often shortened to "brat" in American English, the bratwurst is popular in the U.S. particularly in Wisconsin, where the largest ancestry group is German. Originally brought to North America by German immigrants, it is a common sight at summer cookouts, alongside the even more famous 'Frankfurter Würstchen' (hot dog).
Popularized in Sheboygan County in the 1920s, Wisconsin is also home of the "beer brat", a regional favorite where the bratwurst are simmered in beer (generally a mixture of a pilsner style beer with butter and onions) either before or after grilling over charcoal.
A popular mainstay of sports stadiums, especially baseball parks, Bill Sperling introduced bratwurst to MLB at Milwaukee County Stadium in 1954. Priced at 35 cents, the brats were grilled and placed into a container of a special tomato sauce with green pepper and onions before being served.
The penchant for brats is about as untouchable a Wisconsinite tradition as adoration for cheese, beer and the Green Bay Packers. HAVE A HAPPY NATIONAL BRATWURST DAY, EVERYBODY!!