We're passionate, serious sausage makers. Mahtowa is a small town, but TJ's is cosmopolitan about sausage making. We're working hard to make "Our Wurst The Best!"

A Mahtowa landmark since 1977, the store still has the scuffed hardwood floor, a community bulletin board and clerks who call you by name once they get to know you.

But when it comes to brats and sausages, TJ's is cutting-edge. Our meats are made fresh from lean cuts, ground, mixed and seasoned by hand, in the kitchen of the store. You can buy them fresh or fresh-frozen.

Here's what TJ's is truly famous for ....

• Potato Sausage -- Tom's Scandinavian family recipe with tasty diced potatoes inside. Baked or fried, try it with buttermilk mashed potatoes and cranberries, the old-style Scandinavian way. Available fresh at the store Wednesday afternoons; frozen other days.
• Swedish Meatballs -- the traditional Swedish flavorings of nutmeg and onion. Great over buttered noodles with gravy.
• Presbyterian Meatballs -- These tasty meatballs got their name because most Scandinavians are Lutherans, and we thought we should have an alternative! (You wouldn't believe the secret ingredient, so it'll just have to remain our secret.)
• Ham Loaf -- Already mixed and flavored. Just shape into loaves and bake at home for an easy, hearty meal.
• Breakfast Sausage (Regular, Blueberry-Wild Rice, or Maple; all three available in links and bulk) -- the Northwoods flavors of sweet Maple or Blueberry-Wild Rice will wake you right up. Traditionalists enjoy Regular flavor, but whichever you choose, this sausage is part of a perfect Northwoods breakfast.
• Bratwurst Regular (pork/beef blend) or Pure Beef -- always a traditional favorite, but TJ's has some new flavor twists ... read on:
• Italian Brats -- All pork, and flavored with fennel, cayenne, paprika and garlic.
• Wienerwurst -- Old-world German seasonings in a perfect blend of beef and pork.
• Polish Kielbasa -- The traditional flavors of old-world kielbasa.
• Regular Brats -- Nothing "regular" about them, just good old-fashioned, traditional bratwurst flavor.
• Chorizo Brats -- The flavors of Mexico ... chili pepper, onion, garlic. Not hot, but pleasantly spicy and very south of the border.
• Wild Rice Brats -- Minnesota-style ... studded with tasty wild rice grown in the Northland, for extra flavor and nutrition.
• Cajun Brats -- Spices with a Cajun kick, including hot pepper and garlic.
• Cheddar Brats -- Laced with full-bodied and tasty golden cheddar bits.
• Pepper Jack Brats -- Both the kick of hot peppers and the mellow flavor of Jack cheese.
• Cranberry Brats -- Like sweet and pungent flavors combined? Every bite has the tangy-sweet flavor of cranberries and spices that complement them.
• Apple Brats -- An unusual and tasty brat with the sweet tang of apple, allspice and cinnamon.
• Kraut Brats -- What better complements a bratwurst than sauerkraut ... inside the brat?
• Onion & Garlic Brats -- The warm, harvest flavors of onion and garlic wed perfectly, for a taste that won't bowl you over, but will make your eyes close in bliss.
• Bacon and Cheddar Brats -- Bits of cheddar and bacon, melding into an American classic.
• Irish Brats -- Originally created as a tribute to St. Patrick's Day with bits o'green sweet pepper and parsley, subtle and surprising; a taste and aroma that's intriguing.
• Jalapeno Brats -- Enough said. Not too hot, just the right amount of kick.
• Mushroom and Swiss Brats -- Meaty mushrooms and melty cheese wrapped up in a brat.
• Swedish Brats -- The warm flavor of our famous potato sausage (minus the potatoes), wrapped up inside a brat.
• Chicken Brats -- No, really! Not traditional, just delicious. Made with chicken melded with traditional brat seasoning, these are unusual and yummy.

And these brand new, just introduced flavors:

• Hulawurst -- Pineapple and ham inside these brats will make you say, "Aloha!"
• Cranberry/Horseradish -- These two sweet and tangy, fruity and pungent, spicy and snappy flavors are a great combination.
• Bacon/Horseradish -- Smoky, hickory-scented bacon is paired with the kicky tang of horseradish.
• Bacon/Cheddar/Jalapeno -- Classic flavors, and just a hint of hot.
• Wild Rice Meatloaf -- Hearty, healthy Minnesota wild rice with that ketchup-y tang you like in your meatloaf.
• Potato Sausage with Wild Rice -- the old-world flavor of our famous potato sausage with wild rice incorporated for great texture, nutrition and flavor.

TJ's other seasonal sausages

• Sylta -- A tradition up North, but our version has no ingredients from the "head." Just pressed pork, salt, pepper and allspice, available in October, November and December.
• Kiska -- Old-world European blood sausage, fully cooked and hand-tied into rings, available October through January.
• Holiday -- Available at Christmas time, this sausage has red and green colors and is hand-tied into rings.

TJ's grill is usually going on summer weekends with brats served hot so you can try a new flavor before you buy. But if you can't get to Mahtowa, we'll ship you some ... anywhere in the U.S.