The first documented evidence of the Bratwurst in Germany dates to 1313 in the Franconian city of Nuremberg,[2][3] which is still internationally renowned for the production of grilling sausages.

As a pub dish, it is often accompanied by sauerkraut or potato salad and sometimes served with dark, crusty country bread made predominantly from rye flour, or less commonly with a Brezel (pretzel).

[citation needed] With marjoram as a characteristic ingredient, it is close in taste to the Nürnberger Bratwurst but juicier, due to its size and coarseness.

[6] It is made from pork and a minimum of 15% beef, seasoned with only salt, pepper, nutmeg, and lemon zest, and bound with raw egg.

They are sold and served freshly grilled from vendors' stands in the Marktplatz, in pairs, with or without mustard, on crusty rolls sprinkled with anise.

As a main dish six sausages are served on a pewter plate with either sauerkraut or potato salad, and accompanied by a dollop of horseradish or mustard.

[10] In 2016, a kosher version of Thuringian bratwurst made with veal and chicken packed into goat intestines was introduced at the annual Onion Festival in Weimar.

[13] Bratwurst, often shortened to "brat"[citation needed] in American English, is a common type of sausage in the United States, especially in the Upper Midwestern region, which is home to many people of German-American ethnicity.

Brats are also popular in other Midwestern states such as Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa, as well as cities with large populations like New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

[14] Originally brought to North America by German immigrants, it is a common sight at summer cookouts, along with hot dogs.

Many grocery stores and butcher shops sell varieties with popular additions such as cheddar cheese and jalapeño peppers.

[19] Current American Family Field foodservice provider Delaware North (through their Sportservice subsidiary) markets Secret Stadium Sauce at retail as a complement to bratwurst.

Every year, during the Memorial Day weekend, the city of Madison, Wisconsin, hosts Brat Fest, which is billed as the "world's largest bratwurst festival".