SHEBOYGAN FALLS, Wis. — The Johnsonville Sausage Big Taste Grill may be headed your way, as the No. 1 sausage brand in America kicks off its 18th Annual Nationwide Tour! The Big Taste Grill program originated in 1995 to celebrate Johnsonville's 50th Anniversary, and it has been on the road and raising money for local charitable organizations ever since.
The Johnsonville Big Taste Grill™ is no ordinary backyard barbecue. Weighing more than 53,000 pounds and measuring 65 feet long, this giant grill requires its own semi-truck to haul it from one location to another. It is equipped with hot and cold running water, electricity, a sound system, a prep station, and a refrigeration unit. The grill has the capacity to cook more than 750 brats at a time — approximately 2,500 per hour — and can accommodate more than 12 "grillmasters."
The Johnsonville Big Taste Grill tours the country attending special events and retail locations, raising money for local charities. To date, the Big Taste Grill Program has raised more than $3 million for various non-profit groups.
This year, the Big Taste Grill will visit almost every region in the continental United States. It kicked off over the weekend, at the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston, SC. A few upcoming stops include:
- Round Rock – April 14-15 in Austin, TX
- Great Arizona Picnic – April 21-22 in Scottsdale, AZ
- Berryfest – May 12-13 in Roseville, CA
- Galt Strawberry Fest – May 19-20 in Galt, CA
- Summer of the Arts – June 1-3 in Iowa City, IA
- The Country Fest – June 14-16 in Lawrence, OH
- Safeway BBQ Battle – June 22-24 in Washington, DC
- Kentucky Speedway – June 28-30 in Sparta, KY
- Art in the Park – July 13-15 in Plymouth, MI
Johnsonville welcomes back Ryan Allison for his second year as Tour Manager and certified Grillmaster. Allison was hired in 2011 through a unique video submission and was selected from hundreds of videos, where his enthusiasm and expertise for grilling Johnsonville Brats shined through.
You can meet Ryan, follow his Big Taste Grill journey and find a complete calendar of where the Big Taste Grill will be heading at www.bigtastegrill.com.
About Johnsonville Sausage, LLC
Wisconsin-based Johnsonville Sausage is the No. 1 national brand of brats, Italian sausage, smoked-cooked links and fresh breakfast sausage links. Johnsonville employs approximately 1,300 members. Each member takes ownership of product quality to ensure the excellence and "Big Flavor" of Johnsonville Sausage. Founded in 1945 by Ralph F. and Alice Stayer, the company remains privately owned today.
Source: Johnsonville Sausage, LLC