When it comes to sausage making knowledge and production equipment, the Germans do it best. That is why, back in 1974 Elmer Hensler, founder and president of Queen City Sausage Co. traveled all the way to Germany to purchase the companys’ new sausage chopping and mixing machine. 37 years later, it is time to reinvest. This time, the replacement sausage machine, the backbone of sausage making production costs about 5X the 1974 machine it replaces.
“Back in 1974 Queen City Sausage was barely 9 years old. Stepping up and making such a purchase was daunting for such a young company”; according to company founder and president, Elmer Hensler. “We were very fortunate that the old chopper/mixer lasted this long.” The company is excited about the arrival of the new machine as it has improved production capabilities and exemplifies our commitment to the very best quality products and ensuring a bright future for the company.
German Made Precision!
The sausage machine is a German made Seydelmann K326 Cutter/Chopper, the very best in the market. All great sausage making begins with authentic recipes. Those special recipies require a machine that can consistently mix all the ingredients and chop the meats finely and evenly for each and every batch. “Think of the Seydelmann as a home food processor of sorts, only 500 times larger”says Hensler. In addition to sausage production, the machine produces the Queen City line of deli loaves, including the popular pepper loaf, pickle loaf and the all new jalapeno & hot pepper cheese loaf.
Once the Seydelmann finishes with the batch, product is then removed and travels to the stuffing room where Queen City sausage specialists stuff it into casings to produce the companys’ wildly popular brats, metts, and many other sausages. Once stuffed, the sausages move to the smoke houses where real hickory wood is burned to create the Queen City Sausage signature smoke coating to each link. Queen City slow cooks the links in the smokehouses for many hours. The smoke houses run almost constantly and the delicious smell of burning hickory and cooking sausages fill the plant and surrounding neighborhood.
Elmer Hensler’s Personal Plant Tours!
Elmer Hensler is famous for his personal attention to visitors at the plant. Often his days include a plant tour where Elmer proudly serves as the tour guide. He beams with great memories as he shows and tells where the buildings have been added onto 10 times since he founded Queen City Sausage Company. Often times, tour visitors are invited to stay for an informal lunch with Elmer, Pat Miller (Operations Manager), and Mark Balasa (Marketing Manager). The lunch is a collection of freshly made Queen City Sausages.
Please feel free to come and visit. Take the tour and stay for lunch. Elmer will guarantee you will walk away with knowledge of how craft sausages are made, how a small company thrives, and wonderful conversation with a self made man who loves and appreciates the Cincinnati reigion we all call home. And a full stomach too!!
For more information, contact Mark Balasa, marketing manager, Queen City Sausage Company, 513-541-5581. E-mail: markbalasa@queencitysausage.com.
Queen City Sausage and Provision, Inc. was founded 1965 by Elmer Hensler. Authentic, German crafted sausage making is a hallmark of the company. The company is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, privately owned and remains in the Hensler family. Queen City brats and metts are the best-selling sausages in the region. Queen City Sausage and Provision, Inc. 1136 Straight Street, Cincinnati, OH 45214. 513-541-5581.
Source: Queen City Sausage and Provision, Inc.