Want to make your next cookout more special?
Try cooking up something a little different, like bratwurst.
Thoughpopular in the Midwest, brats generally don’t get the credit they deserve.
Photos: The brands. Design: Eat This, Not That!
I was excited to give these a go considering they are the only cheese-filled links on the list.
The taste:The first thing I noticed was the odd lack of cheese.
But, I never caught a single sight or taste of it.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Despite being tender, it’s somewhat flavorless and lacks the zing that its bright hue promised.
Overall, Boski was forgettable, but with the cheese flub, also disappointing.
The pack of just four cost me the stiff price of $6.99, or $1.75 each.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
It’s still better than actual stadium pricing.
But, at that retail cost, I hoped they would really knock it out of the park.
They come in a brighter pinkish-red colorlikely influenced by the paprika.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
The taste:Again, it’s really just a glorified hot dog.
However, a different complaint arises related to the outer casing.
So, unfortunately, it was one, two, three strikes you’re out for the Guardians.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Walmart Marketside Beer Bratwurst
Marketside is one of Walmart’s many private-label brands.
The latter is where I located itsBeer Bratwurstamong an array of other sausage options.
These links are, in fact, made using beer, as well as 100% premium pork.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
They do not, however, come cooked.
The look:This is the appearance I think of when I think of a brat.
Short, stout, and formed together into logs like pieces of fatty and meaty patchwork.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Therefore, I had to rank it above the previous hot dog masqueraders.
Unfortunately, though, it doesn’t have much else going for it.
It seems that the brand has a major monopoly in this area that I’d never noticed before.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
The selection of just bratwurst alone includes everything from cheddar links to beef brats and everything in between.
A pack of six cost me $4.69 at Kroger.
They are also the longest and thinnest of the bunch.
The taste:A better showing than the Guardians stadium brats, to be sure.
The links have an authentic brat-like essence and a peppery or spicy taste to them.
This wasn’t necessarily a bad revelation, nor do I think badly of breakfast sausage.
I just think other brats did a better job of living up to their own meaty category.
They are the first and only of the lot to not only come fully cooked but also smoked.
Plus, the links are molded with a mixture of both pork and beef.
The look:Like thick and stubby hot dogs.
Their look is uniform throughout and they acquired a pleasing burnt orange hue after spending time on the grill.
The two share many similarities as they’re both smoked and are close in thickness and texture.
It’s also recommended to cook them low and slowwe did our best to oblige.
These also take on less of a curved shape.
The taste:An undeniably classic makeup.
My only complaint is that they could use a bit more pizazz all on their own.
Even so, there was one brand that I liked even better than the standard bearer.
The look:In the package, these share the same coloring as Johnsonville’s Stadium Brats.
In terms of sizing, they’re middle of the road.
The taste:Trader Joe’s has done it again!
These brats are tremendously juicy, balanced, and well-spiced.
Each link is good enough to eat all by itselfforget the bun.
