Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.75 to 9/10 and Yes. Even though we had to park two blocks away, as soon as we opened the car doors, we could already smell the delicious BBQ that awaited us. When walking up, you’re greeted by pig-themed artwork and neon lights, guiding you into your pork haven. A heads up for any brisket fans, that they will need to scratch their itch elsewhere, as Peg Leg exclusively deals in hog, with a little chicken added on the side. That said, they certainly know what they are doing when it comes to crafting delicious pork barbecue, and anyone in the area should certainly make a stop, especially for the pulled pork. Laid back vibes, fantastic smells & tastes, with affordable pricing make this an easy recommendation to add as a pit stop on your next adventure in Nashville
Number of Years in Business: Opened in 2013, but has been catering since 1998
Number of People in Line: 6 in line, with about 30 waiting for their order or already sitting down
Regional Style of BBQ: Nashville Style and Memphis Style dry rub ribs
Total Cost: N/A
Type of Wood: Hickory
Type of Smoker: Electric
Type of Seasoning: In-house blends and rubs
Best Dish: Pulled pork
Best Sauce: None reviewed, but several in-house made options available
Best Side: None reviewed, but the kool-aid pickles are a unique option to try out if you’ve never had them
Interior Description: Laid back sports bar themed vibes. Walk-up window for ordering your food, with several seating options inside and out, depending on your preference, with a full bar and the smell of hickory smoke hanging heavy in the air inside or out
Pro Tip: Arrive early if you can, as some locals I was talking to say it can run out on the weekends, with lines starting early. Order the pulled pork in whatever variation pleases you, as it is some of the best I’ve had
St Louis Style Spare Ribs
0/10 Ranking: 8.25 to 8.5/10
Seasoning: Coated with a in-house dry rub
Description: Very tasty rib overall. They had good smoke and seasoning in each bite, with the ratio being a pretty perfect blend so that you could taste both simultaneously. As far as texture, while they weren’t fall-off-the-bone tender, they also weren’t tough either. They could have been a little moister, but the ribs were trimmed well for a nice fat and meat balance. Would order again
Pulled Pork
0/10 Ranking: 9/10
Seasoning: Unsure
Description: Super juicy with a great smoke flavor coming through each bite. One of the best pulled porks I’ve had, with no sauce needed on this one. Great blend of meat and fat with a very tasty seasoned bark on the outside, with just a little bit of crunch to it. Would absolutely order this one again
Sauces – None reviewed, but had several available
Sides – None reviewed, but had kool aid pickles, mac & cheese, smoked green beans, and coleslaw
Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.25/10 and Yes. Good BBQ overall and a quick, easy stop either on your way up or coming back from the mountains via HWY 70. When we rolled in after a hike, they were prepping for a Lobster Boil later that evening, so they also have several events and live music events throughout the year. As far as the BBQ, the Kielbasa was the group favorite, followed by the turkey and the brisket. The fried okra was definitely a highlight, to go along with a really tasty and light coleslaw, as the best sides. Cool setting, solid service, and tasty BBQ make it easily worth a stop, especially with being dog-friendly!
Date Visited: 6/1/2024
Address: 25948 Genesee Trail Rd, Golde, CO 801401
Day of the Week: Saturday
Time of Day: 12:36 PM. Opens at 10 AM on weekends and 11 on weekdays
Number of People in Line: 0, but 12 were already sitting down. Table side service
Regional Style of BBQ: Texas
Total Cost: Had three of us, so order the 1/2 Sampler, which comes with 1/2 rack of ribs, 1/4 lb of brisket, pork, turkey, and chicken. Included 8oz baked beans, mac & cheese, coleslaw, and potato salad. Added on a kielbasa sausage, an order of fried okra, and 7 drinks, for $126.46 before tip
Type of Wood: Hickory
Type of Smoker: Electric
Type of Seasoning: Salt & pepper typically
Best Dish: Kielbasa Sausage
Best Sauce: Spicy
Best Side: Fried okra
Interior Description: Elevated interior, with a nice bar and several seating options. Best seat in the house, though, is outside on the back patio, as it has several tables and sitting areas to accommodate larger crowds when they have live music playing.
Pro Tip: Make sure to order the okra and coleslaw to go along with Kielbasa, turkey, and possibly the brisket
Brisket
0/10 Ranking: 8/10
Seasoning: Salt & pepper
Description: Good flavor overall, with light smoke and light seasoning coming across each bite. Could use more of both, but it had a good meat-to-fat ratio, and every piece was moist. Would order again, but also not a necessity
Pork Spare Ribs
0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10
Seasoning: Unsure
Description: Fall off the bone tender, but not much for smoke flavor coming through. Seasoning is tasty, but pretty light again and needs more to it. Split on whether I would order them again
Pulled Pork
0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10
Seasoning: Unsure
Description: Not much seasoning or smokiness to it, but it was juicy. Add in the spicy sauce to make it a better blend, as it’s a little bland on its own. Could skip this one for the next time
Kielbasa Sausage
0/10 Ranking: 8.25 to 8.5/10
Description: They split and then grill the links after smoking them. Good meat-to-fat ratio with a very tasty overall flavor. Would order again
Chicken
0/10 Ranking: 7/10
Seasoning: Unsure
Description: Low seasoning and smoke coming through. A little dried out as well, not worth ordering again
Turkey
0/10 Ranking: 8/10
Seasoning: Unsure
Description: Really tasty and juicy turkey. Nice seasoning, flavor, and overall smokiness level. Would order again
Sauces – Original
0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10
Description: Sweet with a little bit of spiciness to it. Okay overall, but nothing special. Reminds me of KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce
Sauces – Spicy
0/10 Ranking: 8/10
Description: Good heat and spice flavor to it. Not too thick or too watery, with good heat balance overall, and would get again, especially for the pulled pork. Best sauce they have
Sauces – Carolina Mustard
0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10
Description: Very mustard-heavy in flavor with a sweetness to it. Reminds me of Heinz mustard flavoring, which was okay overall, but also nothing that special
Sides – Fried Okra
0/10 Ranking: 8.75 to 9/10
Description: Lightly battered and cooked perfectly. Good seasoning and not overly cooked, with a good bit to the tooth on each piece. As a rare Colorado BBQ side option, would absolutely recommend ordering them if you stop by, and I will be ordering again next time
Sides – Mac & Cheese
0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10
Description: Okay overall, but in-between on whether I would order again. Creamy with al dente noodles, but unfortunately, it had low flavor and needed more seasoning to make it better and worth ordering a second time around
Sides – Coleslaw
0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10
Description: Super light coleslaw, with some apples mixed in for a nice, crispy sweetness. Could have used just slightly more vinegar to take it over the top, but really good overall and would for sure order again
Sides – Baked Beans
0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10
Description: Admittedly, I’m not a huge baked bean guy, but these came with the platter. They were okay overall, but almost tasted like Bush’s Baked Beans, and could skip for the next order
Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 7.75/10 and maybe. Might be worth a stop for brisket or burnt ends if you’re popping in earlier in the day, but could also easily just skip it for some better overall options around Denver
Date Visited: 12/1/2020
Address: 7470 S University Blvd, Centennial, CO 80122. Other locations at the Golden Mill, Stanley Marketplace, and Wheat Ridge
Number of Years in Business: Opened March 2014 as a food truck, then 2017 at Stanley Marketplace and February 2018 for this location
Number of People in Line: 0
Regional Style of BBQ: Unsure
Total Cost: N/A
Type of Wood: N/A
Type of Smoker: N/A
Type of Seasoning: N/A
Best Dish: Brisket or burnt ends
Best Sauce: N/A
Best Side: N/A
Interior Description: At the end of a strip mall in the suburbs. Nothing special about the interior, but they do have a large offset smoker outside
Pro Tip: Stick to the brisket and burnt ends
Brisket
0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10
Seasoning: Salt, pepper, maybe others
Description: Some of the best-flavored brisket I’ve had in Denver for smokiness. Had about a quarter of an inch of a smoke ring going around it and had some good bark, but it was overcooked and a little dried out for my order. May have just gotten a bad piece, but definitely a little tougher and drier than some of the other briskets. Good flavor, though, and would try and order again
Burnt Ends
0/10 Ranking: 8.25 to 8.5/10
Seasoning: Salt, pepper, maybe some others
Description: Burnt ends were tasty, and they had a good combination of fat, meat, and seasoning in each one. They were slightly over-seasoned with salt and a little bit overdone, but don’t need any sauce and can stand on their own. I would order them again
St Louis Style Ribs
0/10 Ranking: 7/10
Seasoning: Unsure
Description: The ribs were tender, but had very little seasoning and smoke flavor that came through with each bite. Need the sauce to salvage them, which is OK, but nothing special. Wouldn’t come back for them again
Pulled Pork
0/10 Ranking: 6.5/10
Seasoning: Unsure
Description: Nothing special at all, as it was very bland, but it was at least moist for a saving grace. However, no smoke flavor or anything really coming through. Would not order again, very average
Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.25/10 and Yes. With multiple locations across the Front Range, GQue has certainly earned its ranking and success by producing some of the best pulled pork in the state. Decent little spot for grabbing some BBQ, but stick with the pork options, and you can’t go wrong
Date Visited: 12/23/2020
Address: 5160 W 120th Ave, Westminster, CO 80020. Multiple locations in Lone Tree, Lakewood, Denver, Folsom Field
Number of Years in Business: Opened in November 2015
Number of People in Line: 0, but a few sitting down
Regional Style of BBQ: Combination of several regions
Total Cost: N/A
Type of Wood: Hickory shipped in from eastern Kansas
Type of Smoker: N/A
Type of Seasoning: N/A
Best Dish: Pulled Pork, maybe their ribs
Best Sauce: Not reviewed
Best Side: None ordered
Interior Description: Low-key interior at the end of a strip mall, with awards, photos, and cut wood stacked along some of the walls, with walk-up ordering
Pro Tip: Go for the pulled pork, ribs, or burnt ends
Brisket
0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10
Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and others
Description: Use a blend of seasonings for their brisket. One of the juicier briskets in Denver, with good hickory smoke flavor running through it. That said, the seasoning was too light and needed more, with about a 1/4 inch smoke ring to it. Doesn’t need any sauce, but the house tangy is a nice addition and one of the few bbq sauces I’ve really really enjoyed. Said they smoke the brisket for 13-14 hours and use the same seasoning blend for the brisket as the ribs. Seasoning has a unique eastern Asian flavor to it that doesn’t taste like your standard American barbecue, but is good overall. Was also some of the thickest cut brisket I’ve had. 50/50 on if I’d order again
Burnt Ends
0/10 Ranking: 8.25 to 8.5/10
Description: Good blend of fat and meat to each piece, with good smokiness and bark to them, and seasoned well overall. They were a little tough to chew on some of the cuts, however, I can’t say they are the best of the best, but they are pretty solid for the most part and are probably close to a top 10 burnt end in Colorado
Pork Spare Ribs
0/10 Ranking: 8.75 to 9/10
Seasoning: Same as brisket
Description: These are some sweet ribs with strong tastes of brown sugar running through them. Moist and juicy, but they were a little tough to the bite. A very unique sweetness running through them, giving me hints of eastern Asian flavors. Had a light wisp of smoke to them, but pretty mild overall. A good rib with a unique flavor, would put them in the top 5 in Denver, but certainly not a traditional style seasoning. Would get again
Pulled Pork
0/10 Ranking: 8.75 to 9/10
Description: One of the better pulled porks I’ve had in Denver. It was a little tough and chewy, but some of the best individual flavoring I’ve had in the state. Had a small amount of hickory coming through for the smoke flavor, but could have used more to it. They sprinkle a little bit of the seasoning over the top of the pulled pork as well. It was moist and had enough flavor that it didn’t require sauce, but the Tangy is a nice addition if adding some on. Would order again as this is one of the better pulled porks in the state
Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.75/10 and Yes. Ended up stopping here after a warm winter day hike and was pleasantly surprised by what we found. Nestled right between Bear Creek Road and Bear Creek itself, Switchback is a cozy little spot with indoor and outdoor picnic table seating. One of the only places I’ve ever seen with smoked duck as an option, I would recommend to anyone driving by, but would also say it’s worth making the short trip from Denver for a destination visit as well. Wide-ranging and non-traditional BBQ menu that should please almost anyone in your group, with a dog-friendly patio that makes a great spot for a post-hike bite. Would recommend making a stop
Date Visited: 2/26/2022
Address: 26220 Colorado 74 Frontage, Evergreen, CO 80439
Number of People in Line: About 15 people already sitting down
Regional Style of BBQ: Doesn’t claim on specific style and blends several together for a unique offering. They do make the brisket Montreal style, so more of a thinly sliced pastrami than traditional brisket
Total Cost: N/A
Type of Wood: Colorado fruit woods
Type of Smoker: Unsure
Best Dish: Duck
Best Sauce: Mule Sauce
Best Side: Didn’t order any
Interior Description: Small cozy interior with walk-up ordering, which has interior and exterior picnic tables for you to sit down and enjoy your BBQ at. Picturesque views along Bear Creek make this a fantastic spot to grab a tasty bite of BBQ
Pro Tip: Don’t skip on the duck, as one of the only places you can find it and is top quality on top of it.
St Louis Style Spare Ribs
0/10 Ranking: 8/10
Seasoning: Unsure
Description: Really solid rib overall, that was fall off the bone tender, but at the same time had a nice crispy exterior as well. That said, the rib had minimal seasoning to it, which left it a little bland, but it had really great smoke flavor running through it. Would recommend adding The Mule hot sauce, which they make in-house, for the best combination. Would order this one again
Duck
0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10
Seasoning: Unsure
Description: Good apple smoke coming through in each bite. Extremely tender and juicy with a nice light gaminess, with the natural duck essence coming through. Had a mild seasoning on the outside, which was tasty, but had it been more powerful/intense, it would have put the duck over the top, almost making it perfect. Would absolutely order this one again
Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.75 to 9/10 and Yes. Ribs are definitely the main attraction here, but Seasoned Swine is also turning out several delicious options across the majority of their smoked dishes. Was able to meet with Jacob, the owner, and found out that he is originally from Iowa and learned his rib smoking secrets from the longtime pit master Steve “Woody” Watson of Woody’s Smoke Shack, which is sadly no longer open. Considering that I had actually been to Woody’s a few years before, I was curious to see how it compared. Needless to say, Jacob must have taken great notes, as his ribs were on point, along with several other of his meat options. Easily some of the best ribs and pulled pork in the state, with some of the better house-made sauces out there as well. Seasoned Swine BBQ does a great job of blending several styles of BBQ together to create a great overall offering
Date Visited: 10/14/2022 and 10/30/2023
Address: 15800 W Colfax Ave, Golden, CO 80401 and second location at 11601 E Montview Blvd, Aurora, CO 80010
Number of Years in Business: Since February 2017 starting as a food truck. Brick and mortar opened in early 2021
Number of People in Line: 0, but filled up by 12:15 for lunch though
Regional Style of BBQ: Jacob is originally from Iowa, so blends a few different styles together such as St. Louis and Central Texas, but doesn’t lock into one specific type
Total Cost: N/A
Type of Wood: Cherry
Type of Smoker: Electric
Type of Seasoning: In-house blend that they make called All-Purpose Swine Candy
Best Dish: Ribs
Best Sauce: Original or Chipotle
Best Side: None ordered
Interior Description: Sitting on the second story of a short business strip near the end of West Colfax, you walk up the stairs and are instantly greeted with some Blues and Rock & Roll playing, with a slight hint of smoke in the air. Clean and bright interior, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, with some nice views of the mountains. Minimal decorations hanging around, with corrugated sheet metal wrapping the walls that still give off traditional low-key BBQ joint vibes
Pro Tip: Ribs are the go to, but they make a top pulled pork and good overall brisket/burnt ends as well
Brisket
0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10
Seasoning: All-purpose Swine Candy
Description: Ordered lean cut pieces, but they were juicy to the bite. Had a minimal smoke ring to them, with light cherry smoke flavoring coming through. Ideally would like more pepper seasoning to come out and a little more smoke flavor to take this to the next level in ranking. That said, it was a tasty and juicy brisket, with no sauce needed. However, if sauce is desired, I am in agreement with Jacob that the chipotle sauce is the move to go with. Worth ordering again
Burnt Ends
0/10 Ranking: 8.75 to 9/10
Seasoning: All-purpose Swine Candy
Description: Good blend of fat and meat to most of the pieces, but could use a little more fat left on them overall. Had a little better bark than the brisket did. Similar to the brisket, it wasn’t overly smoky for the flavoring and could have used some pepper/overall seasoning to come through, but the blend, as is, does combine for a sweeter and well-rounded flavor that needs no sauce to be enjoyed. Would order again
Pork Spare Ribs
0/10 Ranking: 9 to 9.25/10
Seasoning: All-purpose Swine Candy
Description: Perfectly cooked and fall-off-the-bone tender ribs that still had a little bite to them. Good flavoring and seasoning, with a slight sweetness that comes through, but doesn’t go over the top with it. Could be a little juicier and use a little more pepper and smokiness added to it, but overall one of the best ribs in Colorado, with no sauce needed for this one. Would absolutely order again, and this is easily their best dish to get when stopping in
Pulled Pork
0/10 Ranking: 8.75 to 9/10
Seasoning: All-purpose Swine Candy
Description: The pulled pork was juicy and tender with good bark pieces that added a nice crunch to it, but it was just a hair overcooked. Very tasty and well-balanced flavor overall, with just a little bit of extra Swine Candy sprinkled on top, and no sauce needed to enjoy. Would have liked a little more smokiness to come through. All that said, this holds up as one of the top 10 and possibly top 5 in Denver. If adding sauce, I would recommend the original for this one. Would order again
Sausage – Jalapeno Cheddar
0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10
Description: Jalapeno cheddar sausage that he gets from Edwards Meats. Had a good snap to the casing, being juicy while also maintaining a firm internal consistency and slight creaminess simultaneously. Slightly too spicy for my palate, but would recommend to anyone who enjoys a spicier sausage option. Even though it was a little hot, I will be ordering again regardless, as the flavoring was great, but would also recommend ordering an extra beer to help cool it down
Smoked Chicken
0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10
Seasoning: All-purpose Swine Candy
Description: Light seasoning and smokiness coming through, but blends together nicely for a sweet overall flavor. However, it was slightly dry and not as moist as would be desired. Sauce and or a beer are required for full enjoyment, with the original sauce being the way to go with this one. 50/50 on ordering again
Sauces – Original
0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10
Description: Tomato-based with molasses. More of a thin tomato-based sauce than most of this type with its viscosity, it had good overall flavor with some sweetness and a slight heat to it on the back end. Would get again
Sauces – Chipotle
0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10
Description: Sweet, slightly smoky, that finishes off with a little bit of heat to it. Best with the beef menu items, but would use as a sauce for any deep-fried food options as well. Would get again
Sauces – Carolina Mustard
0/10 Ranking: 8/10
Description: Coming in sweeter with a strong mustard flavor and with a low amount of vinegar/acidity to it. Reminds me of something closer to a honey mustard, but would enjoy it along the same lines, and it does pair well with the pulled pork if Carolina is your go-to style. Would get again
Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.5 to 8.75/10 and Yes. Located right off of 470 in a short little strip mall, these guys are turning out some of the top brisket and smoked chicken around. Laid back vibe, with good food and reasonable prices, would recommend this place to anyone who is in the area and looking to get their BBQ fix taken care of
Date Visited: 1/21/2023
Address: 7986 S Depew St, Littleton, CO 80128
Day of the Week: Saturday
Time of Day: 12:15 PM. Opens at 11:00 AM
Owner: Andrew Petrone and Greg Petrone (originally from Littleton, with a catering business as well)
Number of People in Line: No line, but 15 people sitting down already
Regional Style of BBQ:
Total Cost: $57.54 pre tax and tip for 1/2 lb brisket, Half rack of Baby Back Ribs, 1/4 lb of pulled pork, 1 hot link sausage, 1/2 chicken, and a Colorado Native Amber
Type of Wood: Apple & hickory
Type of Smoker: Reverse Flow Off-set Smoker
Type of Seasoning: Blend of several
Best Dish: Brisket or chicken
Best Side: Fried Okra
Best Sauce: Maybe the Spicy but noting special
Interior Description: Modern and clean interior, with a good amount of seating, both inside and out. Wood paneling and sports flags line the walls and create a laidback vibe
Pro Tip: Stick with the brisket, chicken, and hot links, but feel free to skip the ribs and pulled pork
Brisket
0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10
Seasoning: Salt & pepper
Description: They cut it fatty and lean. Super juicy with a moderate level of smoke pulling through each bite. Fatty pieces were properly trimmed and good thickness for each cut. Would order again, and one of the better briskets in Denver
Burnt Ends – Not usually served here, but can request end pieces of the brisket
Baby Back Ribs
0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10
Seasoning: Sauced with some unknown seasoning
Description: Juicy and moist with good texture in each bite. No real smoke flavor comes through, though, as the sauce flavoring dominates everything else. A good, but average rib, nothing special, and doesn’t need to order again
Pulled Pork
0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10
Description: Mild smoke coming through, but it was juicy on its own. Not much for seasoning/flavor, and does need a little of the original sauce to bring it up a level. Could skip this one next time
Sausage – Hot Link
0/10 Ranking: 8/10
Description: Split sausage that’s brushed with sauce. Slightly dried out, but good overall heat level and spice flavor. Would order again if in the mood for a hot link
Smoked Chicken
0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10
Description: Well-cooked with a good, crispy seasoned skin to it, served as a legit half chicken. Had a light and pleasant smoke flavor coming through. It might be one of the juicier chickens I’ve had in a while, but does need more smoke flavor internally to take it over the top. Would order again, and one of the best smoked chickens in Colorado
Sauces – Original, Spicy, & Carolina
0/10 Ranking: 7/10
Description: The Original is a pretty basic barbecue sauce, with nothing really unique about it. Reminds me of a Sweet Baby Rays or store-bought option. The spicy has a little bit of a kick to it, but also nothing too special. Lastly, the Carolina is closer to a Heinz Yellow Mustard than anything else, with maybe a little too much vinegar to it. Wouldn’t necessarily recommend any of them
Sides – Fried Okra
0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10
Description: Lightly fried with a good, crunchy texture. Could use more seasoning, but tasty overall. One of the few places in Denver offering this, so I would recommend grabbing it if you have a chance
Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.25/10 and Yes. Bison ribs are the main reason to come here, along with their lamb, as both meats are a rarity to find in most BBQ places. Overall, nothing special for the standard BBQ meat options, but the specialty cuts do shine through. Customer service was top-notch from ownership as well, especially with comping a half rack of Bison ribs after the first order was not up to their usual standards. Would go back again
Number of Years in Business: Opened in January 2015. Had a second location in Golden, CO but it has since closed down
Number of People in Line: 1 ahead of me
Regional Style of BBQ: Self-described “Colorado Style”. Coy is originally from Texas though.
Total Cost: $25 with tip. 1/4 lb of burnt ends, 1/4 lb of pulled lamb shank, 1 bison jalapeno cheddar sausage. (I did also order a 1/2 a rack of bison ribs, but they were comped by Rachael for the miss order on the first round of ribs I got)
Type of Wood: Pecan
Type of Smoker: N/A
Type of Seasoning: Blends of several seasonings
Best Dish: Bison Ribs
Best Sauce: Hot
Interior Description: Small interior with only 4 tables, but it does have outdoor seating options. Very small kitchen/BBQ prep area for them, which creates a cozy atmosphere while waiting in line
Pro Tip: Get the bison ribs and lamb options, as one of the only place you can find either
Burnt Ends – Thursday only
0/10 Ranking: 8/10
Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and other blends with BBQ sauce. Cooks them for an extra 3 hours after separating and coating with the sauce
Description: While the burnt ends are moist, with good seasoning and flavor overall, it does taste slightly different than most other burnt ends around. The flavor that comes through ends up tasting more closely to a beef roast, which was still enjoyable, but not the traditional expectation. The cuts are massive and could be trimmed a bit more of some of their fat, as some were almost completely fat with no meat to them. Said they chop off half of the point to make the burnt ends and then leave the remaining portion to be sliced fatty or lean. Overall, nothing too special and 50/50 on ordering again
Bison Short Ribs
0/10 Ranking: 8.25 to 8.5/10
Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and BBQ sauce
Description: The first batch I ordered was insanely tough and dried out to the point that I actually took it back. The owner, Rachael agreed that they were a pretty rough batch and gave me a new one right away and even comped them. Have to give her big points for customer service on that one. The second batch of ribs had good flavor to them, with a nice light gaminess coming through along with smokiness. Had a good texture to it, where they were almost fall off the bone, but still had a little bit of bite to them. Would order these again, but a half rack would be all you need
Pulled Lamb Shank
0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10
Seasoning: Not sure if there was any
Description: Moist, with minimal seasoning, if any to it, which does allow the natural lamb flavor to really shine through. Needs some of the sauce, though, as it can’t stand on its own without either a side dish to combine with it, like a coleslaw or a little sauce added. Both the hot BBQ and sweet sauces can quickly overpower the lamb, though, so use them sparingly
Bison Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage
0/10 Ranking: 8/10
Description: Good snap to the casing. The interior has a creamy, but still structurally sound, blend of fat and meat. Little heavier on the fat than usual and almost has a chorizo-type flavor coming through. Can definitely pick up on the cheddar though. Good overall, but a little salty, so 50/50 on if I would get it again, as it was tough to finish a whole one due to the saltiness
Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.25/10 and Yes. A rare BBQ brewery blend, where both of the crafts are churning out delicious options. The BBQ is worth a stop on its own, but with a large tap list of tasty beers as well, would recommend popping by if you’re in the area
Date Visited: 3/10/2024
Address: 3095 S Peoria St # B, Aurora, CO 80014
Day of the Week: Sunday
Time of Day: 11:15 AM, opens at 11:00 AM
Owner: 4 Owners, two from Texas & two from Colorado. Matt Vargocko, Brandon Foreman, Michael Richie and one more
Number of Years in Business: Opened September 25th, 2021. Looking to open two more locations as well
Number of People in Line: 0, but about 8 rolled in after me
Regional Style of BBQ: Central Texas
Total Cost: $49.89 with 20% tip. Ordered the two-meat platter with smoked chicken and pulled pork, with a 1/4 lb of the brisket and a flight of 4 beers. Came with Texas Toast, potato salad, and baked beans for the combo
Type of Wood: Post Oak
Type of Smoker: Offset Smoker and several upright smokers out back
Best Dish: Pulled Pork
Best Side: Baked Beans
Interior Description: Small little strip mall spot from the outside, with a Texas BBQ meets Colorado craft beer themed interior with seating for 30-40. Nice walk-up bar, with a large tap list of house-made beers to choose from. Just a hint of smoke smell in the air, with laid-back rock music playing in the background. Multiple TVs also give a slightly sports bar theme as well, but definitely a chill spot to grab some beers and BBQ
Pro Tip: Get the pulled pork and brisket, skip the chicken and order the in-house beers, which are solid all around.
Brisket
0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10
Seasoning: Salt & pepper
Description: They keep the point and the flat together for slicing the brisket, but you aren’t able to request fatty or lean, just whatever they give you. Ended up getting two fatty pieces served to me, which was fine on my end, as they don’t have burnt end options. The brisket was a little on the thicker side for its cut of each slice, but it had good smoke flavor running through it and a nice light seasoning of salt and pepper. That said, it needs more of the seasoning to come through overall. Minimal red ring and could use a little more fat left on the brisket during trimming, as some of the leaner sections were a little tougher and dried out at the ends. Would order again though
Burnt Ends – Not served here
Pork Spare Ribs – Only served on special occasions
Pulled Pork
0/10 Ranking: 8.75 to 9/10
Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and possibly some others
Description: Very juicy, with good smoke flavor, and large chunks of the bark and meat mixed in each bite. Sauce isn’t needed, but it could use a little more seasoning to it. One of the better pulled porks in Colorado though, and would order again
Smoked Chicken
0/10 Ranking: 7/10
Seasoning: Unsure
Description: Pretty dried out, but has good smoke and pepper flavor to it. Needed some sauce to give it a little bit of moisture, but then the sauce overpowers the chicken flavor, which is a shame, because the smokiness and seasoning were actually really good. If it were juicier, I could bump this up 1 to 2 spots in its ratings. Would be down to give it another try, though, as the flavor was there, just not the juiciness desired
Sauces – Had two options, but didn’t rate them
Sides – Potato Salad
0/10 Ranking: 8.25 to 8.5/10
Description: While I typically don’t get potato salad, this one came with the combo meal I ordered, so I figured I’d try it out. Even though I’m not a fan of potato salads, this one did have good overall taste, and the potatoes were cooked perfectly. Not something I’d order again based on my preferences, but for people that like this type of dish, it is one of the better ones I’ve ever had
Sides – Baked Beans
0/10 Ranking: 8.75 to 9/10
Description: Smoky and very tasty, as they add a little bit of bacon to it as well. Very much appreciated that it wasn’t overly sweet like some baked beans can be, but had a light and balanced sweetness to it. Similar to the potato salad, I’m not typically a big baked bean fan, but would order these again as a side
Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 9/10. Yes, a Top 5 BBQ spot in Colorado worth the visit. As Mike, Juan, & Esteban learned the Texas BBQ ways from their previous restaurant owner/boss Karl Fallenius, who learned from his Pit Master boss before him, the Legendary Aaron Franklin, Pit Fiend delivers for anyone looking for a Central Texas BBQ experience while visiting Colorado. Simultaneously nailing the classics/staples like the brisket, sausages, and mac & cheese, while also rocking one of the more experimental and unique BBQ menus out there, you’re sure to find something you like. Offering great daily specials with some seriously creative options and delivering tasty vegan choices such as jackfruit and mushrooms for your meat-averse friends, Pit Fiend has something for everyone in the group. Would recommend and will be back again
Date Visited: 2/24/2024
Address: 2826 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
Day of the Week: Saturday
Time of Day: 11:10 AM. Open at 11:00 AM
Owner: Michael Graunke, Juan Pablo Llano, & Esteban Gallardo
Number of Years in Business: May 20th, 2022. Was previously Owlbear Barbecue
Number of People in Line: 2 ahead of me and 1 sitting down
Regional Style of BBQ: Central Texas, but experiment with several other styles as well
Total Cost: $57.90 with Tip. 1/4lb brisket, 1/4lb burnt ends, 1/4 jackfruit, 1 Colombian sausage, Mac & Cheese, Coleslaw, & Jalapeno Cornbread Muffin
Type of Wood: Post Oak
Type of Smoker: Custom built Off-sets
Type of Seasoning: Salt & Pepper for brisket and then several others depending on the meats
Best Dish: Brisket
Best Sauce: Owlbear
Best Side: Mac & Cheese
Interior Description: Small little walk-up spot, tucked in off the road behind Our Mutual Friend Brewing. Similar to when it was still Owlbear, they have kept the Dungeons and Dragons themes going with characters lining the walls and the names of their BBQ sauces. Interior has classic walk-up cafeteria-style ordering, with daily specials not found anywhere else, rice bowls, sandwiches, & meats sold by the pound. Can seat maybe 10-15 max inside, but you can order and walk next door to OMF Brewing and grab a table there with your tray, as long as you’re buying a beer from them that is
Pro Tip: Rare sighting of smoked Jackfruit, so would recommend ordering. Can’t go wrong with their brisket or burnt ends, but also are always experimenting with something new on a regular basis
Brisket
0/10 Ranking: 9/10
Seasoning: Salt & pepper
Description: Sliced lean or fatty, I opted for the fatty. Can request burnt ends as well, which I ended up going for in addition to the fatty. Very juicy overall, with a good bark and nice salt and pepper blend to it. Needs a little more smoke and seasoning to make it a lock for Top 3 in the state, but is a Top 5 contender for sure
Burnt Ends
0/10 Ranking: 9/10
Seasoning: Salt and pepper, but sometimes they do chop them off and cook again with bbq sauce, but only on random times
Description: Great bark with about a 3/4″ red ring in it. Mild smoke that is subtle, but very enjoyable. Salt and pepper blend that’s well balanced, with a good fat-to-meat ratio in each bite of the burnt ends. Easily one of the best in Colorado, and would order these again
Pork Spare Ribs – Didn’t order this round
Pulled Lamb – Didn’t order, but want to try next time. The only place outside of Roaming Buffalo BBQ I’ve seen offer this
Pulled Pork – Didn’t order
Colombian Sausage
0/10 Ranking: 8/10
Description: Nice snap to the casing and good meat-to-fat blend to the sausage. Mild flavor with good smokiness running through it. Was slightly dry, but would order it again
Jackfruit
0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10
Description: Lots of unknown seasoning upon first bite, but it has a really tasty flavor to it. Has a consistency that is a little bit similar to artichoke hearts, but does get it close to the pulled pork imitation goal. Good on its own, but it is even better with the Owlbear sauce. One of their vegan options, and the only place I’ve ever seen this in Colorado
Chicken – Didn’t order
Sauces
Sides – Mac & Cheese
0/10 Ranking: 9/10
Description: Cooked perfectly al dente, with a nice creaminess to it. Seems like several cheeses mixed together, with a strong potency coming through, maybe a gruyere or blue cheese. Would order again
Sides – Coleslaw
0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10
Description: Lightly sauced and leaning into an Asian slaw flavoring with sesame seeds being a strong flavor, maybe a little sesame seed oil. Bright and light with its flavors, easy to eat on its own or accompany your favorite meats of the day. Would recommend ordering
Sides – Jalapeno Cornbread
0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10
Description: Crispy top and moist throughout each bite, with a really good flavor that’s not too spicy, but has a mild heat to it. Worth getting again and try with the hot honey next time
