West Bend, Wisc. – The Wisconsin Beef Council is pleased to announce that the Brazen Beer Cheese Burger at Brazen Head Pub in West Bend is the winner of the annual Wisconsin’s Best Burger Contest. The Brazen Beer Cheese Burger is a half-pound of Angus beef, topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, onion rings, and Harp beer cheese, served on a pretzel roll. They also feature a Build Your Own Burger, where you choose everything including the bun, sauce, veggies and cheese.
“Wow! It was an honor just being nominated for a second year by our customers, winning is a bit of a surprise with the stiff competition,” said John Fellenz, Brazen Head owner. “Our staff – Melanie, James (Metal,) Tyler P., Andrew, Dan, John, Kevin, Mason, Ryan, Max & Karina – cook with their hearts. Our general manager Megan, kitchen manager Tyler L., and I are so excited to share this win with them. Thank you to everyone!”
The contest was designed by the Wisconsin Beef Council to seek out and promote 100% beef burgers prepared in Wisconsin restaurants. Brazen Head Pub emerged victorious, earning the highest ranking from a secret panel of three judges who traveled to the Elite Eight restaurants named in the contest.
“We are thrilled with the overwhelming response for this contest,” Tammy Vaassen, executive director of the Wisconsin Beef Council, said. “The Wisconsin Beef Council’s mission is to grow demand for beef, and the Best Burger contest has served as a perfect way to get Wisconsinite’s into local establishments enjoying delicious,
100% beef burgers. The feedback from our judges was incredibly positive for all the competitors, which is a testament to the large number of nominations received for each of them. We are honored to have Brazen Head as our winner, with judges comments including: ‘it was an enjoyable burger experience, the burger was cooked beautifully and the onion rings were tasty, it was done exactly how I wanted and juicy.”
The announcement follows a nomination period of 30 days where consumers across the state could submit their favorite burger joint. The Elite Eight restaurants were those that received the most nominations. Throughout April, a secret panel of judges visited each restaurant to evaluate a burger on the menu. They rated taste, appearance and presentation, proper cooking temperature, overall eating enjoyment, and bonus points could be awarded for the environment, atmosphere and experience in the restaurant.
The 2025 Elite Eight restaurants are:
- 11:11 Burgers and Beignets, 718 W. Johnson, Fond du Lac
- Brazen Head Pub, 147 N Main St, West Bend
- Brothers on Oak, 412 Oak Street, Baraboo
- The Dump Bar & Grill, 105 W. Edgewater St, Cambria
- Iron Horse Saloon, 322 Silver Street, Hurley
- Local Press Burger Bar, 143 Main Street, Kewaskum
- Mihm’s Charcoal Grill, 342 Chute Street, Menasha
- Straight Home Bar & Grill, 184060 WI-153, Eland
A map of the Wisconsin’s Best Burger contest Elite Eight can be printed at
https://www.beeftips.com/events/best-burger-contest and used as a guide as Wisconsinite’s plan summer vacations or are looking for a day-trip destination in the coming months.
To be eligible for the contest, the hamburgers on the restaurant menus had to meet the following guidelines: ● The burger must be 100% beef (other ingredients may be added to the patty such as spices, vegetables, etc.)
- All burgers must be composed of a formed ground beef patty/patties served on a bun or other bread product (such as biscuits, focaccia or tortillas). Burgers may include any combination of condiments (such as ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard), sauces (such as barbeque or hot sauce), cheeses and toppings (such as bacon, onions, tomatoes and lettuce). Every component of the burger must be placed between the bun or bread pieces or served open-faced on a bread product.
“Restaurants can watch for details about next year’s contest coming out in February of 2026 on our website,” said Vaassen. “The contest has shown us that whether you’re from a rural area or one of our larger cities, beef brings our communities together for delicious meals.”
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The Wisconsin Beef Council is a producer-led non-profit organization funded by the $1.00 per head assessment on all cattle sold in the state of Wisconsin per the Federal Beef Promotion and Research Act & Order. Half of the dollar remains in Wisconsin for local beef promotion, while the other half is forwarded to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. The purpose of the Council is to fund beef promotion, research and consumer education activities supporting Wisconsin’s $2.1 billion beef industry. The WBC operates under the guidance of its Board of Directors. The Board is comprised of representatives from cattle-related organizations around the state of Wisconsin.
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