This Small-Town Northern Wisconsin Shop Is Serious About Old-School Sausage

A butcher shop up north makes a Packers brat stuffed with cheese curds and jalapeño. That one sausage tells me quite a bit.

It says somebody behind the counter is having fun. Mixing football pride with squeaky curds is a very Wisconsin kind of creativity.

It also says the recipes are made right there. Every sausage comes out of the shop’s own kitchen, not off a factory truck.

Honestly, any place willing to put a football team inside a casing has my full attention.

An Old-School Butcher Counter That Still Does Things The Long Way

Lake Tomahawk Meat Market runs on a simple idea that feels rare now. Real butchers prepare fresh cuts and work directly with customers at the counter.

That full-service setup matters more than it sounds. Want a thicker steak for the grill or a particular roast for a family dinner? You can discuss the cut with someone who understands how it will cook.

The business opened in 1990 and has spent more than three decades serving the Northwoods. Its offerings combine fresh beef, pork, seafood, sausage, and smoked specialties. Breakfast links can sit beside impressive ribeyes and cabin-ready snacks.

The appeal comes from the work behind the counter. Custom cutting and sausage making both require practiced hands.

Even choosing dinner becomes a conversation about the right cut. The shop’s longevity is a reminder that there is still room for this personal kind of food shopping, especially in a community built around cabins and outdoor weekends. The counter feels purposeful rather than fussy.

Brats With Big Personalities Fill The Sausage Case

Cheese curds inside a brat? Somebody in Lake Tomahawk clearly thought regular brats needed a little more personality.

The Packers brat brings cheese curds and jalapeño together in one casing. It’s a playful combination made for a Northwoods cookout.

Sausage is a major part of the shop’s identity. The market makes its ground sausages on site and offers specialty brat varieties alongside more familiar links.

Chicken and spinach brats provide another flavor combination, while jalapeño cheddar adds a different mix of cheese and spice. The selection changes with each batch.

For a family meal, grill several varieties together and let everyone choose a favorite. These links fit a Wisconsin tradition: grilling after a day outdoors.

And if you can’t decide between classic and adventurous, there’s a practical solution. Bring home both. You can keep the meal simple with buns and grilled vegetables, letting the different sausage fillings do the interesting work.

A cookout suddenly becomes a chance to compare flavors without making several separate dishes.

Your Road Trip Snack Plan Starts At The Jerky Shelf

Beef sticks might be the easiest Northwoods souvenir to pack, and Lake Tomahawk Meat Market makes them alongside its jerky. House-made jerky and snack sticks are central to the selection.

Beef sticks offer a convenient option for packing lunch, planning a picnic, or setting aside something for a long drive. The jerky brings a different texture, with seasoned strips of beef that are easy to share.

Flavors change, so explore the available selection. Several packages make easy gifts or snacks to share.

Follow storage instructions, because some prepared meats need refrigeration. One practical trick is to place your purchases in an insulated cooler before heading back onto the highway. That way, the treats intended for later can actually make it home.

Jerky is also an easy addition to a picnic basket when you want something savory alongside fruit and sandwiches. Just choose enough to share, because the first opened package can be surprisingly tempting.

Follow Your Nose Straight To The Smokehouse Favorites

Smoke is part of the story here, and the market’s selection extends far beyond ordinary grilling cuts. Its cured and smoked meats include bacon and other prepared specialties alongside fresh products.

Bacon is an especially useful place to begin. It can turn a simple cabin breakfast into something memorable, whether you pair it with eggs, potatoes, or a thick slice of toast.

The case has also carried smoked pork chops, ham, and salmon, offering options for supper or a picnic. Smoked pork chops are convenient when you’re putting together a quick supper. Add roasted vegetables or potatoes, and much of the meal is already planned.

Smoking and seasoning bring another dimension to this Wisconsin butcher shop’s craftsmanship. Ask about the day’s selection, since batches vary.

It’s a practical way to stock a cabin kitchen. Bacon for breakfast and smoked salmon at lunch show the variety. Both let you enjoy the market’s specialty preparations without needing complicated recipes.

A Steak Named After The Town Deserves Your Attention

A town called Lake Tomahawk selling tomahawk steaks feels almost too perfect. Luckily, the long-bone cut is part of this shop’s selection.

Those impressive ribeyes make the grill the evening’s main attraction. The long, exposed bone gives the steak its recognizable appearance, while the ribeye itself provides generous marbling.

T-bones, New York strips, filets, and roasts offer choices for everyday suppers and family gatherings. Custom cutting lets you choose thicker steaks for careful grilling or thinner ones for quicker dinners.

The shop also handles ground beef and other everyday cuts, so not every purchase has to be a special-occasion centerpiece. Ask about suitable cooking methods for unfamiliar cuts.

It’s a small conversation that can make a big difference once you’re back at the cabin. Sometimes the most useful souvenir is simply knowing what to put on the grill.

A mix of steaks and ground beef can satisfy different appetites. One visit can handle a special supper and the following day’s burgers.

Stuffed Pork Chops Make Dinner Feel Like A Holiday

Cranberry and wild rice might be the most Northwoods pairing you can tuck into a pork chop. This shop has offered that very combination among its prepared meat specialties.

The stuffed pork chops combine hearty pork with a regional filling. Cranberries are a familiar Wisconsin crop, while wild rice has a longstanding connection to the northern Great Lakes region.

It’s a ready-to-cook centerpiece for a cabin supper, needing only a simple side. Other choices include pork steaks, smoked chops, corned beef, and ham, depending on availability.

For a larger gathering, a roast can be a practical alternative to individual portions. The counter team can help with portions and preparation. Even an ordinary weekend dinner becomes more interesting.

The cranberry filling offers a sweet contrast to the pork, while wild rice gives the dish some texture. It is a distinctly northern combination that makes sense beside roasted squash or simple potatoes.

Cheese, Sauces, And The Rest Of Dinner

Meat gets top billing, but the shelves have a solid supporting cast. That’s handy when you want one stop instead of three.

Cheeses, bakery products, dairy, and selected groceries help complete a meal. Specialty sauces add another option for finishing steaks, chops, or sausages at home.

Pick a few brats, add cheese for snacking, and choose bread for the table. Stock changes, so specific grocery items are best treated as possibilities rather than guaranteed fixtures.

It’s especially useful for visitors cooking at nearby cabins. Unlike a typical grocery run, this one begins with the centerpiece of dinner.

Remember an insulated bag for anything that needs to stay cool. A few simple supplies make the journey back to the lake much easier.

This combination of butcher counter and modest grocery selection is particularly useful when the nearest large supermarket isn’t part of your afternoon plans. You can spend more time outdoors instead.

Plan A Northwoods Day Around This Stop

Lake Tomahawk is the kind of town that plays baseball on snowshoes. That should tell you the atmosphere right away.

The market stands at 7259 State Highway 47, also known locally as Bradley Street, in Lake Tomahawk. It’s an easy stop while traveling between Minocqua, Rhinelander, and the surrounding lake communities. The central storefront is easy to find.

Published hours differ between directories, so confirm the schedule before visiting, particularly on Sundays and holidays. Bring a cooler for fresh or smoked meats, or stop near the end of your outing.

Lake Tomahawk has plenty to offer beyond shopping. Summer brings snowshoe baseball on a sawdust field, a tradition dating to 1961.

Nearby McNaughton Trail and Raven Trail provide opportunities for walking and seasonal outdoor recreation. The market has served northern Wisconsin since 1990, making it a natural stop on a lake day.

Grab something for the grill, choose a few road snacks, and leave room in the cooler for an unexpected discovery.

Why This Northwoods Stop Belongs On Your List

The best part of a traditional butcher shop is that dinner rarely feels like an afterthought. A visit can begin with one particular sausage and end with ideas for several meals.

Lake Tomahawk Meat Market makes that possible through its combination of handmade links, jerky, fresh cuts, and smoked specialties. It has been part of the community since 1990, long enough to become a familiar stop during Northwoods vacations.

Regional tourism organizations and national food coverage have also highlighted its butcher counter. Still, the experience remains practical.

Ask for a custom steak, consider a cranberry wild rice stuffed pork chop, or choose a few brat flavors for the grill. Then pick up something ready to eat during the ride.

The appeal is simple: familiar foods made with a personal touch. A cooler, a shopping list, and a little curiosity are all you really need.