Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 7/10 and no it’s not. The BBQ Brewpub sits on a quaint little main street in the small town of Mount Vernon. A pleasant smell of smoke hits your nose when you walk into the restaurant, which is a small little area with seating for maybe 30-40 max. One of the rare spots that brews its own beers, as well as smokes its own barbecue, it does have nice homey vibes, with the owners actively working the front and back of house. That said, the barbecue was really nothing special, and the Oktoberfest was pretty average as well. The customer service was good, and it’s a nice chill vibe when you roll in, but overall not really worth a stop in regards to the barbecue itself, especially if it’s even remotely out of your way. Skip it and continue on to your destination where hopefully better BBQ options await

Date Visited: 11/16/2024

Address: 106 1st St W, Mt Vernon, IA 52314

Day of the Week: Saturday

Time of Day: 1:00 PM. Open at 12:00 PM

Owner: Nanette Rambo and husband Jimmie Daugherty

Website: https://bigsbbqbrewpub.com/

Number of Years in Business: Originally opened in 2017, moved to new location in 2021

Number of People in Line: 0, but 16 people sitting down and 4 came in after me

Regional Style of BBQ: “Iowa-style” Barbecue

Total Cost: $34 with tip. Ordered 3 meat platter with two sides and an Oktoberfest beer (7.75/10). Came with brisket, ribs, and burnt ends, with coleslaw and honey cornbread for sides

Type of Wood: Cherry and hickory

Type of Smoker: Southern Pride Rotisserie Smoker (Commercial electric or gas)

Type of Seasoning: Multiple influences and blends

Best Dish: Burnt Ends

Best Sauce: Original

Best Side: Honey cornbread

Interior Description: A small little spot, with a walk-up bar and tap list of their own in-house brewed beers. Bench and table seating for about 30-40 people, with minimal decoration, theme, or BBQ ambiance being created

Pro Tip: Honestly, just skip this place and find an alternative option. If stopping though, the cornbread was the best thing to get

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 7.25/10

Seasoning: Unsure, but minimal

Description: Slightly overcooked, with no bark to it, and trimmed in a very odd way, where it had almost zero fat on it. No smoke ring to speak of, and its only saving grace was that it was juicy, but the flavor came across more similar to smoked venison than brisket. A little tough to the bite as well. Skip it if ordering

Burnt Ends

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 7.75/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Lathered in a sweeter sauce and slightly tough to the bite. The sauce is the only flavor really coming through, with minimal smokiness and a hard-to-distinguish seasoning blend. Would skip this one as well, but it is slightly better than the brisket

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 7.25/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: These were overcooked and under-seasoned. Minimal smoke flavor coming through, if any at all. Tough and slightly dry ribs that don’t have much going for them outside of the pork flavor. Can pass on ordering these, too

Sauces – Classic

0/10 Ranking: 7.75/10

Description: Sweet with a little hit of heat to it at the end. Seems like a slightly enhanced version of Sweet Baby Rays

Sides – Coleslaw

0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10

Description: Mayo-based, with it being mostly cabbage, with some carrots and sesame seeds mixed in as well. Okay overall, but too heavy on the mayo for my liking, which is typical for a midwestern BBQ spot. Could skip ordering next time, but a decent slaw if needed

Sides – Honey Cornbread

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Sadly, this was the best thing I had on the menu. The cornbread was moist with a really good flavor, but it was also slightly undercooked, leading to the interior being a little dense, although it was great beyond that. The only thing I can say I would order again

Interior & Menu Photos: