Elgin Texas The Sausage Capital Of Texas Part II

[fltsfshr]

Although Southside had cornered the market on sausage for more than 60 years, their reign would be challenged in 1949 when Hermina and Rudolph Meyer opened a small drive-in grocery where they sold raw sausage made from their German family recipe. Mr. Meyer began giving samples of his sausage to small grocers in Austin, and they began asking him to make enough so they could sell it in their stores.

Business boomed and the Meyers' son, Farrel Meyer, joined them in the sausage business in the early 1950s. This photo of sausage rings from the 1980s was taken around the time that Rudolph Meyer’s two grandsons took over the family business and sausage-making tradition.

There are many stories that circulate about the popularity of the Elgin "Hot Guts," as they were affectionately referred to by early customers. One of particular note involves the opening of the LBJ Library in Austin. When the press corps came for the dedication of the library, they sent someone to Elgin to get 20 pounds of sausage from Southside. The dedication did not take as long as was anticipated, and they were delayed getting back to Washington!

Locals still argue about which is the best sausage — Southside or Meyer’s. Southside's sausage usually is made from beef and Meyer's is from pork. Regardless of your preference, both sausages played a role in inspiring the Texas Legislature to proclaim Elgin the “The Sausage Capital of Texas.”

Meyers_sausage_Elgin.jpg

Now for you sausage heads who wants to step up and pump out some links.. I the enterprise stuffers were a PIA to use but it would take two grown men to squeeze out some links with this.. And a small kid to drop inside to clean it..

stuffer.png

When the wife and I were in Austin back in 2018 we dined here as well as Southside.. They were both fantastic but for the only reason is Meyers uses pork and Southside beef.. If you are in Austin and you have about two hours make the 30 minute drive to the east and check out these two places..

[fltsfshr]

Thanks I've put Elgin on my travel bucket list. We're talking about a swing through Texas on our way to Utah for the month of June. Why not Elgin?

[Slanted88]

What a stuffer!

[BYBBQ]

Would love to visit there one day