We read that brat summer was trending on social media. Post after post about what is and what is not brat. And we got excited to share our love of all things brat with the community that has lit up every corner of the internet with the simple phrase “brat summer.” After making a list of all the places to celebrate brat summer in Milwaukee, we learned that we were, in fact, celebrating the wrong brat summer. Anyway, here’s how you and your crew can close out brat summer in style as you savor the sizzling Milwaukee delicacy at some of the city’s best brat stops.
The Classics
Brat summer starts with the staples, the local institutions that have been slinging this fine sausage for years and have made a name on serving the flavorful entrée the classic way.
Mader’s
You can taste Milwaukee’s strong German roots at Mader’s. Tracing its roots back more than 125 years to its founder Charles Mader, the restaurant gives you the authentic flavors of Bavarian German cuisine with dishes like spaetzle, sauerbraten, wiener schnitzel and, of course, the classic bratwurst. Try the Bavarian platter, which includes four types of sausages (sans bun) with sauerkraut and a potato dumpling.
Old German Beer Hall
Nearby, you can continue your adventures through the Bavarian region simply by crossing the street to the Old German Beer Hall. Opened in 2005, the beer hall mirrors the aesthetic and menu of its German inspiration, Munich. Modeled after the legendary Hofbrauhaus, the bar and restaurant offers Hofbrau beer on tap alongside a selection of Usinger sausages made fresh daily right across the street, including two top-secret brats made specially for the Old German Beer Hall.
Lakefront Brewery
Two words for this stop: Sausage flight. Alongside Lakefront Brewery’s award-winning beers on tap and the sidesplitting brewery tours given daily, the Beer Hall serves some seriously good food. It’s well-known for its fish frys and inventive curd of the day recipes, but it features one-, two- and three-sausage flights, with hot dogs, kielbasa and brats on offer, served with accompanying garnishes for taste. Grab a Riverwest Stein, take a brewery tour, order your sausage and let the good times roll at the Lakefront Brewery Beer Hall.
Brats with a View
See the sights while savoring a local delight with a brat in each hand as you explore the Good Land. Here are some places you can enjoy a brat with a view (and maybe a brew or two).
American Family Field
Is there anything quite like eating a brat while watching one race around the infield of a Major League Baseball game? At American Family Field, not only will you see and smell the heavenly scents of sizzling sausage at tailgates as you wander the parking lots, but you’ll also find brats at vendor stalls all over the stadium, including on the field between the sixth and seventh innings where The Famous Racing Sausages get the entire stadium on their feet for a contest to determine the day’s fastest sausage. While there’s also Italian, Polish, Chorizo and Hot Dog, the Brat is always the winner in our hearts.
War Memorial Beer Garden
Located right next to the Milwaukee Art Museum in the War Memorial Center parking lot, the War Memorial Beer Garden offers sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the city’s skyline alongside a wide selection of unique brats. From the Cream City (A Hungarian brat with homemade slaw, curry ketchup and curry powder) for the more adventurous eater to the simple plain brat on a bun, relish the majestic lake views while you chew.
Beer Gardens
Actually, come to think of it, most of Milwaukee’s beer gardens are stellar backdrops for your brat summer experience. From the picnic tables overlooking Lake Michigan at South Shore Terrace Kitchen & Beer Garden to the enchanting woodland setting of the Hubbard Park Lodge & Beer Garden tucked away off the Oak Leaf Trail, views of the Milwaukee River at the Estabrook Beer Garden or the urban oasis at Juneau Park’s beer garden, whether you’re looking for a mid-workout snack or a relaxing spot to savor the perfect summer afternoon, Milwaukee’s beer gardens have the brat summer vibe you’re looking for.
Late Nights Brats
Sure, pizza is a classic late-night eat, but in Milwaukee, no matter night or day, you can get brats your way. These local restaurants serve the Cream City staple late into the evening hours and offer culinarily adventurous options.
The Vanguard
For over ten years, The Vanguard in Bay View has been taking a new approach to the local delicacy. Serving a selection of sausages made in-house, the bar and restaurant has taken the simple sausage to new culinary heights. In addition to the signature staples, the sausage stalwarts feature a jalapeno cheddar brat, a vegan brat and a variety of twists guests can put on their meal, each named after cities around the globe from Milwaukee (Cheese curds, cheddar cheese and cheese whiz) to Seoul (BBQ sauce, spicy pickles, carrots and scallions). The Vanguard is open till midnight Sunday to Thursday and 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights.
Milwaukee Brat House
With two locations throughout the Milwaukee area, near or far, there’s a brat waiting for you at this bar and restaurant. With a Milwaukee Brat House downtown and one in the northern suburb of Shorewood, you can savor the flavor of delicious brats until at least 2 a.m. seven days a week while enjoying clever menu items like the Greek Freak (A gyro brat topped with tomatoes, diced cucumbers, chopped pepperoncinis, kalamata olives, red onion, feta, and tzatziki sauce, and served on a pita), the Honey I’m Home (A honey mustard stuffed brat, topped with sautéed onions, chopped bacon, cheddar cheese, drizzled with house honey mustard sauce and served on a pretzel roll) and so much more.
Brats on the Move
The ultimate beauty of the noble brat is its portability. Like its lesser relative, the hot dog, the brat is a blank canvas for condiments—typically sauerkraut and mustard—, but it’s also one of the rare bites that are easy to eat on the move. Here are a few places to grab a brat on the go.
Wiener Window at The Trade
Yes, it’s a real place! The Trade – A Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel in Deer District is a convenient stop by Fiserv Forum for a pre-game brat and shot combo, a pre-show snack or a quick meal on the move to your next destination. It’s worth the trip just for the pun of it. Your window of opportunity to visit the glorious window of brats is limited. The Trade’s Wiener Window is open during events at Fiserv Forum, including concerts and home Bucks games.
Usinger’s
How about a brat that you can take home and grill for yourself? Usinger’s knows how to make a quality brat. Since 1880, the sausage seller has been a Milwaukee mainstay and a perfect place to find a wide variety of juicy brats. While you can find fresh brats in the refrigerator section of nearly every supermarket in the area, you can visit Usinger’s Sausage Shop in the heart of downtown Milwaukee for a taste of America’s finest sausage.
