A string of homemade beer bratwurst sausages hanging on a dowel.

How to Make Beer Bratwurst from Scratch

Learn how to make your own Beer Bratwurst from scratch! You will be amazed with the delicious Bavarian flavors in these juicy sausages.

A string of homemade beer bratwurst sausages hanging on a dowel.
How to Make Beer Bratwurst from Scratch

Try making bratwurst from scratch! You’ll love the authentic flavors, the fresh ingredients, and the lack of preservatives. It’s easy with this step-by-step photo tutorial on how to make your own Beer Bratwurst.

A string of homemade beer bratwurst sausages hanging on a dowel.

It used to be that autumnal preparations for the home cook involved more than jamming, canning and drying the summer garden’s bounty. One of the lost rituals of preparing for the long winter ahead is the butchering of pork, beef, or game, and preserving the meat. While many home cooks still enjoy putting up for the winter, the convenience of supermarkets and the modern butcher make access to fresh meat simple.

But if you think back to a time when groceries and even refrigerators did not exist, families relied on preparing their meats to last through the winter, using methods such as salting, smoking, or if possible, freezing. Not a bit of the animal was wasted.

I recently re-read my battered copy of Little House in the Big Woods with my seven year old daughter, and to this day, one of my favorite chapters in this childhood classic is the one where they butcher the hog. To have a pig was considered a blessing, and I was always so intrigued by the incredible amount of work that needed to be done at butchering time. The idea of making sausage was exceptionally fascinating.

Making sausage at home is as archaic today as churning your own butter, but I learned that it is not as intimidating as it sounds. Not only is it fairly easy, it is very gratifying to know and be able to control the freshness of the ingredients, and enjoy eating sausage that is better for you, without any preservatives.

I hope you give this step-by-step photo tutorial of how to make your own Beer Bratwurst a try. It is, after all, Oktoberfest season!

Oktoberfest is traditionally celebrated in Germany from late September to the first weekend in October, however, in the U.S., many celebrations can be found through the month of October. So if you missed Oktoberfest in Munich this year, fear not. Pull on those lederhosen, pour yourself some beer, and try making your own Beer Bratwurst. It will have you singing and swaying to your favorite Oktoberfest tunes in no time!

Are you ready? Let’s get started:

How to Make Beer Bratwurst

The first thing you’ll need to do is see this guy.

A butcher at a local market.

Meet Dan. He’s one of the excellent butchers at my favorite market. I encourage you to get to know your butcher–they are an endless source of information, most important of which is what is most fresh. When selecting your meat, don’t hesitate to tell them what you are making; a good butcher is always happy to guide you with recommendations on cuts, sources, and alternatives. It turns out that Dan is an experienced sausage maker, so I was excited to pick his brain on this project.

A butcher preparing meat at a local market.

We’re going for a fairly traditional German Bratwurst, so you are going to need a blend of pork and veal, as well as some casings. It’s always a good idea to check with the butcher in advance of your sausage making to make sure they have everything you need.

Meat ready to freeze for making homemade sausage.

See the beautiful marbling of fat in the pork shoulder/butt? Having some fat is critical to a moist sausage, but as long as you have a very good cut of pork shoulder, there is no need to add fat as some sausage makers do. The leaner veal will balance it out.

Slice and Grind the Meat

Throughout the sausage making process, it is imperative to work with cold meat. I cannot stress this enough. Freeze the meat for about an hour prior to working with it, and always keep it well chilled throughout the process.

There are two reasons: (1) Like butter, it is easier to cut through any fats when it is chilled and it will incorporate better during the grinding, (2) Since the meat is is being handled outside of a chilled environment, we need to keep it cold for food safety reasons. For the latter reason, it makes sense that this is an autumn activity, when temperatures are cooler.

Chopping meat for making beer bratwurst.

Slice the meat into smaller portions so that it can fit in your grinder. Always return to the refrigerator or freezer until you are ready to grind.

Grinding meat for sausage.

Your food or meat grinder most likely came with two grinding plates. You will grind the meat twice, the first time with the coarse grind. Keep an eye out for any clogging from fat. Again, using well chilled meat will help avoid this. Return the meat to the freezer for another 30 minutes.

Seasonings for homemade sausage.

Season the Meat

It’s time to season the meat. According to my butcher, dry ingredients are preferable because there is less chance of tearing the casing from chunks of fresh garlic, etc. However, with herbs, you can certainly opt for fresh. With this sausage, I used fresh Italian flat leaf parsley, taking care to remove all stems. Use a mixer or your hands to incorporate the seasoning into the meat.

Grinding meat with a sausage grinder.

Pass the meat through the grinder once more, this time using the fine grinding plate.

Frying mini sausage patties in a pan to test for flavoring.

Before you move on, take a moment to check your seasoning. Take a small piece of the meat mixture, form it into a patty and fry it. Keep in mind that flavors will develop over time, but this will give you a good idea of how your final sausage will taste. Now is the time to adjust the seasoning if necessary.

An open bottle of beer.

It’s time give the meat a little drink. Use an excellent quality wheat beer; I deferred the selection to my husband, who is certainly more of the beer aficionado in the household. He chose the Portland-brewed Widmer Hefeweizen, a gorgeously amber, unfiltered wheat beer.

This award winning beer adds a fabulous flavor to the sausage and calls to mind the famous beer brats of the Midwest. Cover the meat tightly and allow the flavors to marinate overnight in the refrigerator. Then go ahead and sip the rest of that beer – you deserve it after a good day’s work of sausage making.

Preparing casing for making bratwurst.

Stuff the Bratwurst

Okay, now it’s Day Two. I recommend getting an extra pair of hands to help you, especially if this is the first time you are making sausage. A sausage stuffer kit makes the work easier, though it isn’t necessary. If you have a pastry bag with a very wide tip, that would work just as well.

Prepare the casing by soaking it in cold water for about 30 minutes. In choosing your casing, hog or sheep casing is readily available, but most recommend hog casing because it is more durable and you are less likely to experience ruptures or tearing.

Lubricate the tip of the sausage stuffer with a little olive oil and guide the rinsed casing, gathering it at the base of the attachment. And don’t forget to tie a knot at the end so you don’t lose any of your precious filling!

Stuffing sausage casing.

Start stuffing the meat mixture into the casing by guiding it through the attachment. Take your time to make sure the mixture is packed consistently. Knot the other end. Use a sterilized needle to release any air bubbles in the casing.

Homemade beer bratwurst twisted into links.

Creating sausage links is very easy. Gather about 6-8 inches of sausage and twist at least three times to form a tight seal. Remember that the beer bratwurst may shrink during cooking, so check the buns you plan on using and size accordingly.

Dry the sausages on wooden dowels for about 30 minutes in a cool environment or until the casing is dry to the touch.

Refrigerate or freeze immediately until you are ready to use the sausages. The sausages may be kept for 1-2 days in the refrigerator.

A glass of beer and bratwurst on the grill.

Grill the Homemade Bratwurst

Time to grill! Pour yourself some Hefeweizen and get ready to watch your lovingly made creations sizzle on the hot grill. Remember to cook the meat thoroughly; it takes at least 20-30 minutes to cook the homemade bratwurst all the way through.

Grilled bratwurst in buns and a glass of beer.

Go ahead and take a bite! You will be amazed with the authenticity of the delicious Bavarian flavors in this juicy made-from-scratch bratwurst! It will be hard to return to store-bought sausages again.

Freshly made links of beer bratwurst.

More Recipes to Try

How to Make a Charcuterie Board
Grilled Pork Skewers with Balsamic Marinade
Adobo-style Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Filipino-style Adobo Burgers
How to Microwave Corn on the Cob

Homemade Beer Bratwurst

Try making bratwurst from scratch! You’ll love the authentic flavors, the fresh ingredients, and the lack of preservatives. It’s easy with my step-by-step photo tutorial on how to make your own Beer Bratwurst.
Course Main Course
Cuisine German
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 5 minutes
Resting and Chill Time 15 hours
Servings 12 bratwurst
Calories 141kcal

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lbs pork shoulder/butt
  • 1.5 lbs veal leg
  • 3 teaspoons Kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground white pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons marjoram
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon celery salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon caraway seeds
  • 3 tablespoons Italian flat leaf parsley leaves only, finely chopped
  • 4 oz excellent quality wheat beer such as Widmer Hefeweizen
  • about 1 yard of hog casing soaked and rinsed

Instructions

Grind & Mix the Meat

  • Freeze meats (about one hour). Slice meat and grind with the coarse grinding plate. Return to freezer for another 30 minutes.
  • Combine seasonings, with exception of the beer. Incorporate into the ground meat using a mixer or your hands.
  • Grind the meat a second time, using the fine grinding plate.
  • Check seasonings by taking a small piece of the meat mixture, forming it into a patty and frying it a pan. Adjust seasoning if necessary.
  • Drizzle beer on the sausage mixture, tossing with hands. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight.

Stuff the Sausage

  • Soak the casing in cold water for 30 minutes and rinse.
  • Lubricate the tip of the sausage stuffer with a little olive oil and start stuffing the meat mixture into the casing by guiding it through the attachment. Don’t forget to tie a knot at the end so you don’t lose any of your precious filling! If you don't have a sausage stuffing kit, a pastry bag with a very wide tip would work. Take your time to make sure the mixture is packed consistently. Knot the other end. Use a sterilized needle to release any air bubbles in the casing.
  • Create sausage links by gathering about 6-8 inches of sausage and twist at least three times to form a tight seal. Remember that the bratwurst may shrink during cooking.
  • Allow to dry on a rack in a cool environment for about 30 minutes or until casings are dry to the touch. Refrigerate or freeze until ready to use. The sausages may be kept for 1-2 days in the refrigerator.

Notes

Chilling the Meat: Throughout the sausage making process, it is imperative to work with cold meat. Freeze the meat for about an hour prior to working with it, and always keep it well chilled throughout the process. This makes it easier to cut through fat and it will incorporate better during the grinding. Additionally, the meat needs to stay cold for food safety reasons.
Choosing Casing for Sausage: Hog casing is recommended because it is more durable.
Grilling Bratwurst: Once you are ready to cook your sausage, plan for about 20-30 minutes to cook the bratwurst all the way through on the grill.
Recipe adapted from Jack Schmidling and Megan McFarland.
Other excellent sources were consulted on sausage making, including:
Bruce Aidell’s Complete Sausage Book: Recipe’s From America’s Premium Sausage Maker, by Bruce Aidell and Denis Kelly
Bruce Aidells’s Complete Book of Pork: A Guide to Buying, Storing, and Cooking the World’s Favorite Meat
Sausage: Recipes for Making and Cooking with Homemade Sausage, by Victoria Wise.

Nutrition

Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 849mg | Potassium: 315mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 88IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see! Tag @kitchconfidante on Instagram and hashtag it #kitchenconfidante

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  1. Cristina

    Absolutely amazing this sausages!!!
    It is my favourite recipe!
    Thank you very much!

    Reply
  2. Alex

    Hi Liren,

    It’s been a while since your post, I hope you get this. They look delicious. I am going to make them myself.
    Quick question, the Caraway Seeds, should I use them whole or grind them up before adding them?

    Reply
    • Liren Baker

      Hi Alex! I’m excited that you’ll be making the sausages – it’s such a fun project. I used the caraway seeds whole. Good luck, and hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  3. Judy

    Hi, Liren, I agree with you, home sausage making is becoming a lost art. During our stay in Beijing in the past three years, we had a lot of fun making our own sausages by mixing our own spices. Now that we are back in the US, there is no reason not to make them ourselves. Great post! 

    Reply
  4. linens and more

    Thanks for your intriguing article. Other thing is that mesothelioma cancer is generally brought on by the breathing of materials from asbestos fiber, which is a dangerous material. It’s commonly noticed among employees in the structure industry who definitely have long experience of asbestos. It could be caused by moving into asbestos covered buildings for years of time, Genetics plays an important role, and some consumers are more vulnerable towards the risk compared to others.

    Reply
  5. mijorecipes

    When I saw the “hanging” sausages, I immediately clicked on the post! My mom used to make homemade sausages back home and I have to say you accomplished an incredible work at it! You also make it sound much easier than it actually is :) The sausages look yummy btw :D:D

    Reply
  6. Kita

    Is it wrong that I dream of the day that I have a meat grinder so that I can do things like this? These look amazing and thank you so much for posting a step by step tutorial. It really doesn’t look that scary when you see it in action.

    Reply
  7. Chef Dennis

    I have never made sausage but your step by step process is amazing!! I think I could actually do it….good luck in the FB challenge, you have my vote!

    Reply
  8. A Canadian Foodie

    I see you used real intestines! Who-hoo! Good for you! I made my first this summer in Bosna (former Yugoslavia. You want to see rustic? Read my post about how we made it there, in the countryside. They were incredible. And, there is nothing like it. (http://www.acanadianfoodie.com/2010/09/19/srpska-kobasica-serbian-domestic-sausage/)Making my own anything gives me such a sense of satisfaction and it is so healthy! Do your readers know where you are today???? I am so sad I am missing meeting you. I had actually seen this post in the Foodbuzz gallery and was captured by it – because of the title, and my shared interest and experience. Then, stopping by today, realized you were one of my fellow tour bloggers!
    Have so much fun.
    :)
    Valerie

    Reply
  9. Flyover Foodie

    GORGEOUS!! We actually put a sausage stuffer on our wedding registry, but no one bought it. (Which, I guess isn’t terribly surprising). This post gives me new motivation to make our own sausage! Well done.

    Reply
  10. @lickmyspoon

    First of all, your title made me chuckle to myself.

    Second, this looks awesome. I usually get the sausages that my butcher makes because they’re fantastic, but someday a homemade version is in order. Good luck this week, voting for you!

    Lick My Spoon

    Reply
  11. Daily Spud

    Though I hardly eat meat at all myself (so am pretty unlikely to want to make my own sausages), I can appreciate a fabulous tutorial when I see one. Excellent job and thoroughly deserving of a spot in the next round!

    Reply
  12. ediblecville

    You had me the minute you started talking about Little House in the Big Woods….one of the early reasons I became a food writer :) :) Beer Brats! YUM! Cheers, you got my vote!

    Reply
  13. Tiny Urban Kitchen

    Fantastic post! I have always wondered how to make sausage, and this makes me think that perhaps it’s approachable. OH . .I forgot I don’t have a meat grinder. Hee hee . . still, congrats on a wonderfully written, very detailed and clear post.

    Reply
  14. Sharlene (Wheels and Lollipops)

    Liren, bravo as always ! The hubby had seen this post and said there you go, you have the directions now :) Just may give this a try one of these days. Can’t wait to see what you have planned for round 5 :)

    Reply
  15. Ben

    Sign me up! Really looking forward to the sausage flambee necklace you’re bringing to Foodbuzz fest this year. Nice work!

    Reply
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