Grundhofer’s Old Fashion Meats - Hugo

Love the variety and found myself here after trying Von Hansens first. Was looking for some garlic brats and VH did not carry any, but Grundhofers had it as a selection, but were unfortunately out. Enter Costco. They carry garlic brats. This store was great with all the variety- can't wait to try some of the other options. Purchased some meat sticks and what was left of their jerky selection. Can't complain about not having any variety as there is plenty to choose from.

5 freezer cases of brats. I got the beer and the cheddar. It's a given how good they are. I got the frozen meatloaf too. It's delicious but a super firm brick consistency. So this made it amazing for an old fashioned white bread and mayo meatloaf sandwich. I was surprised they didn't have lunch meat, but they had everything else. I loved the standard picnic sides, macaroni and potato salad. The pasta salad was notable since it had a lot of Italian dressing and loaded with black olives, which made it better than most. It was a little overwhelming for a first timer, so next trip I'll load up more on steaks and other brats. It makes a drive on 61 North even better.

Labor Day weekend the men of BBQ and I had the honor of my first visit to Grundhofer 's. I heard about this local butcher through my extended family and on several podcasts that extolled their quality and excellence in the meat world. Upon entry it has the feel of a quaint old fashioned butcher. You are greeted by specials and some of their notorious items like the rookie burgers. For a state with good burgers this patty can compete with the best and you eat at home! My mission was tri tip a cut of beef most Midwesterners don 't know and as a west coast transplant I miss. It 's fresh here and comes seasoned and unseasoned. Excellent seafood, beef, chicken and varieties of sausages for all tastebuds. Pair what they serve with seasonings, sides, fresh sweet corn and delicious buns we had ourselves an amazing BBQ Labor Day Monday thanks to my new favorite butcher! Grundhofer 's is my new definition of Minnesota nice, no passive aggressive anything, simply good meat !

It is over 50 miles one way to Grunhofer's. But the Gummy Bear Brats are worth it. They also have many other brats to choose from and we like to stock up. I do repackage the brats and seal them airtight so they last for a long time. Check their website for a list of bratwurst flavors. They even have a Gummy Bear Brat video. The hardest part is choosing from 100 flavors.

Driving 45 minutes to shop for bratwurst may not seem like a good idea--but when the destination is Grundhofer's, suddenly it's a very good idea. I learned about Grundhofer's from the Garage Logic podcast. After hearing so much discussion I felt I had to find out for myself what makes their brats so special. So I drove from my Burnsville home to their shop in Hugo. First, the variety is incredible. So many creative choices. I picked up four different varieties of bratwurst. I also grabbed a really nice looking brisket for my smoker. And while I never buy hamburger patties (I usually grind my own blend), I grabbed a package of the Rookie Burgers. Next, the quality rivals the variety. I grilled the brats (don't boil Grundhofer's brats prior to grilling) for several guests. They were a huge hit. They grill up beautifully and they taste amazing. Blueberry Wild Rice and the Sauerkraut Cheddar were especially popular! A few days later I smoked the brisket over mesquite and the results were as good as expected. And as much as I like grinding my own meats for hamburgers, I was very happy with the Rooke Burgers. I'm planning another road trip next week to pick up a couple items for the smoker and to try a few more flavors of their bratwurst. If you go you'll likely load up, so bring a cooler to get your purchase home safe and sound.