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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pass the meat through the grinder once more, this time using the fine grinding plate.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Create Sausage 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.
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.
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.
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
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
Nutrition
Comments
COOKBOOK
I said it in response to your comment on our post, I’ll say it again here! Really great images and great minds think alike. I’m not sure you’ll need it, but good luck in round four. You’ve got our vote, Yay sausage!
Yes – great minds DO think alike! Hurray for sausage — you have my vote as well. I love your salty-sweet sausage, what a fantastic idea!! It’s like the perfect breakfast on a stick!
Not only was this fabulous looking… it made me crazy hungry! Wonderful job.
AWESOME! My husband and I have been thinking about making our own sausage for awhile. This look great! Got my vote!
Your step by step photos made me think of my dad (he’s in Afghanistan right now).. he makes his own venison sausage every year and its always delicious.. and beer bratwurst are one of my faves so these look extra delicious!
Aw, Evan, my thoughts are with your dad! Venison sausage?? Wow, now THAT is something I need to try!
I love my butcher also.
Liren…you have my vote now and always.
…Should’ve said “I hope we meet in the next round.” Teach me to comment without finishing my morning tea.
I had the honor and pleasure of tasting one of those beauties! Well done Liren….still reliving the moment! Your pictures were almost as beautiful as the freshness and flavor! Congrats on another awesome post!
Monika, it was so FUN to be able to share these with you. I loved getting your feedback :) And I’m so, so glad that you enjoyed it as much as we did!!!
You got my vote as soon as you said you were inspired by the Little House in the Big Woods, but WOW, those sausages look amazing. What a great tutorial! Thank you! I we meet in the next round.
Really original AND tasty !!!
Congrats!
Holy wurst. I’m utterly speechless. Fantastic visuals, engaging writing, and fascinating subject. I must admit, the very idea of making sausages def does intimidate me…but you made it so much more welcoming for me!
I don’t know why I didn’t get the title post before ROFL Funny ;)
LOL! Denise, I had so many titles for this post, some of which probably would not be appropriate, but glad you got it :)
Fantastic post Liren! You even have me (I am a pretty lazy cook) wanting to make sausages now! Wonderful photo tutorial!
This makes me want to make sausage and I have never thought of it before!!
This is beautiful. I would have never thought I would have said that about a post on sausage…but there is no other word to describe what you’ve done here! Not only do I want to eat sausage now, but I also want to curl up with my favorite childhood book (and I agree that the butchering scene was one of the best). Thanks for sharing. You have my support!
Monet, thank you! To have someone say that I was able to capture sausage beautifully means a great deal (it certainly was a challenge!). Oh and yes, one day, do re-visit Little House. It’s so different as an adult! I have a whole new appreciation for Ma.
fantastic post! it’s great to see homemade items to appreciate where our food comes from. best of luck!
incredible post. I realize I have some real competitors out there.Everything looks amazing! You have my vote
what a fantastic choice for the picture perfect challenge! It is so rewarding to prepare “archaic” recipes in the kitchen. The pictures are juicy!!!
This is an amazing post. I will be following this tutorial when I make sausage…hopefully soon. FANTASTIC job ;)
Wonderful Liren! I love all your photos and I love how you picked a subject that most people wouldn’t know much about. Like me! You have my vote, of course!
Liren what a great post! We have been wanting to make our own sausages and now we have a great step-by-step tutorial! Good luck!
Oh droooool! We are total advocates for home made sausage and you showed how to do it just beautifully! Prost to you!
Ahhh, my family is German and this makes me think of home! I have been dying to get a meat grinder but dont have one yet. *tear* Maybe I could borrow yours? ;) A perfect post Liren, definitely spot on for this challenge!
Amanda, I would lend it to you! I’m looking forward to trying other things with the food grinder – it’s got a lot of other applications :)
I’m blown away! Never tried my own sausages before…you tempt me to buying that grinder attachment…here’s to Oktoberfest.
Ahh…another round of drools for you! I am so impressed with your bratwurst skills b/c I, like Lisa, am scared of messing with the casings (but you make it look soooo simple). Loving the Hef and the toasted buns…and your pictures, oh ma gawd, they are divine!
Thanks my dear! I tried…twas harder than I thought to capture sausage in a photo and make it look halfway appealing, LOL! As for the casings, I will be honest – the first time I handled it, it really was…well…odd. But once I got over it, it was a lot of fun!
Boy, I’m impressed! Those bratwurst just looks exquisite and I’m sure they taste divine.
You know, I have the attachment to make sausages but have never made the attempt. But now you’ve got me going and I may have to try!
Great post, Liren! You’ve just secured a spot for the next challenge. :-)
Thanks, Jean! I hope so :)
What a gorgeous post! You even make sausage casings look amazing! Great tutorial…I’ve always thought about making my own sausage and this really makes me want to try it.
Good luck on the next round!
Wow…what a great idea, I always freak out a bit with the casing. But your step by step pictures are great it looks actually easy.
I know, I was definitely intimidated at first by casing! It was tougher than I expected and quite easy to use!
Another terrific post from you Liren. It’s adventurous, creative and delicious! GREG
Thanks Greg! It certainly was rewarding to make sausages at home!!
Liren – outstanding!! What a terrific post and you illustrated it perfectly. I agree with you that Dragers is one of the best markets – love it. I bet these were divine. I am afraid of the casings, but you made it look SO easy. You are a shoe in for #5!!!!
Isn’t Draeger’s the best? I love it and so happy to have one so very close to my house! Don’t be afraid of the casings, you can do it! It’s quite fun, once you get used to it :) Hope we BOTH get to round 5 together!