Beer brats are bratwurst simmered in beer and onions, then seared on the grill, and in Wisconsin they're the base of the tailgate. At Lambeau, charcoal and propane are both fine. At Camp Randall you grill on the asphalt of a surface lot, never in a parking ramp. Either way, the brat tub does the work: the brats stay hot in the beer bath, and you sear them as people show up.
Lot rules: Packers tailgating guide · Wisconsin tailgating guide.
Pack for the lot
- Fresh brats, on ice
- 2 cans of beer, the onions and the butter
- Half-size foil pan for the tub
- Tongs
- Instant-read thermometer
- Buns, brown mustard and sauerkraut
- Charcoal or propane
- A sealed container for the cooled beer bath, so nothing gets dumped in the lot
Do you simmer brats in beer before or after grilling?
For a tailgate, before. The brats cook through to 160°F in the beer, get a quick sear on the grates, then go back in the tub to stay hot. Keep it at a simmer, not a hard boil, and don't pierce them.
How do you keep brats warm at a tailgate?
Keep the tub on the cool side of the grill and hold it at 140°F or above. The crew eats on its own schedule, and at Lambeau that schedule ends at kickoff. More ways: how to keep food hot at a tailgate.
More game-day food: what to cook at a tailgate.