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Busey Brews Smokehouse & Brewery

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8 to 8.25/10 and Yes. Situated right in the heart of downtown Nederland, this is a unique spot that was a brewery first and has added a smokehouse option to it. While the beers may have been the original focus, the barbecue also delivers and making it a great spot to stop after a day hike in the mountains or a winter skiing session at Eldora. The staff is friendly and accommodating, and the entire place has a nice laid-back atmosphere, accentuated by being perched right along a river that trickles by as you dine or drink. Solid small town mountain vibes, with steel features, custom wood ledges, and historic skis and split boards adorning the walls. While it might not be the best barbecue in the state, its atmosphere, ambience, and overall experience make it a worthwhile stop if you’re in the area and craving a bite and a beer. Would absolutely come back if in the area, both for the BBQ and the in-house pours. Reasonably priced as well with the combo plates, so while you do have the option to order meats individually, I would recommend ordering one of the combination platters for the better value. And even though the beer is certainly the focus here, this is a solid mountain BBQ option to stop at as well

Date Visited: 7/2/25

Address: 70 E 1st St, Nederland, CO 80466

Day of the Week: Wednesday

Time of Day: 11:48 AM. Open at 11:00 AM during the week and 10:30 on weekends

Owner: Kyle and Janice Busey

Website: https://buseybrews.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened October 19th, 2019

Number of People in Line: 22 sitting down, with another 10-15 that came in after me

Regional Style of BBQ: Multiple styles, although the owner is from Virginia, so leans Carolina style

Total Cost: $68.06 with tip – Ordered the platter and a half rack of ribs on the side, plus a beer. Came with brisket and pulled pork for the mains, and then coleslaw for the side

Type of Wood: Honey locust, sugar maple, and peach. Will change up what they use depending on availability

Type of Smoker: Unsure

Type of Seasoning: Multiple different blends

Best Dish: Ribs

Best Sauce: Didn’t review, but three different options were available

Best Side: Mac & Cheese

Interior Description: Rustic mountain is probably the best way to describe Busey’s interior. With corrugated walls, concrete floors, and custom wooden countertop seating surrounding a unique fire pit seating option, it creates an industrial, but inviting environment. Indoor seating options with a full bar for probably 30-40 people, with additional exterior seating that I believe is dog-friendly. It’s the perfect place to stop, be it after a long day of skiing and needing a rest before starting the drive back, or just stopping in for a quick pint or bite of BBQ after a well-earned day in the mountains

Pro Tip: Go for the ribs, enjoy the beer, and sit in the back patio area to take in the views with the river slowly flowing by

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10

Seasoning: Salt & pepper

Description: Thickly cut fatty piece that came with the platter. It was a juicy brisket with a light smokiness to it and mild seasoning. While tender and juicy, it wasn’t anything special or over the top, but was a decent brisket. 50/50 on ordering again 

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, sugar, maybe others

Description: Half rack as an add-on, the ribs were tender but not quite fall off the bone. Still had a little tooth to each bite. They sauce them on top of a pre-rub, which creates a nice peppery finish, probably one of the most pepper-heavy options in the state, and this was the best meat dish I had today. While I typically don’t like sauce, these were well done, and the sauce had a nice snap to it, vs being too sweet. Would get these again. Well-balanced flavors and an enjoyable rib overall  

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.25 to 8.5/10

Seasoning: In-house blend, season before and after pulling

Description: The pulled pork had some nice bark to it, with it being juicy and tender in each bite as well. Nicely seasoned, albeit a little salty, and a really solid overall option to get. Would order again 

Sauces – 3 Options House BBQ, Hot BBQ, Virginia BBQ

Description: Didn’t review

Sides – Coleslaw

0/10 Ranking: 7/10

Description: Green and red cabbage, mixed with carrots. Very dill heavy, so much so it overpowered everything else. Unless you love dill, skip it. Outside of the flavor, it did have a nice refreshing crunch and acidity, but dill was too much 

Sides Mac & Cheese

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 7.75/10

Description: Italian bread crumbs sprinkled on top with some Parmesan cheese, and a creamy sauce within the noodles. Noodles were Al dente, and the breading added a nice crunchy texture. Sadly, though, the Mac itself was somewhat flavorless. Would try something else next time 

Interior & Menu Photos:

Boudreauxs BBQ

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.75/10 and Yes. Located along Main Street in downtown Canon City, Colorado, Boudreauxs has a nice, inviting look and feel from the street, with a cool mural on the side of the building, and with the light smell of smoke enticing you to step inside as you stroll along. Once you open the doors, you are greeted by a friendly staff and traditional BBQ joint settings, with seating at the bar, on the main floor, or on the outside patio, which is dog-friendly and shaded. This all comes together to create a laid-back vibe and environment, perfect for enjoying some barbecue. I ended up meeting with the owner Drew, who was extremely welcoming and happy to chat all things bbq with me. Learned he likes to use Pecan wood for his smoking activities and typically gets their wood from Los Cruces or Galveston, Texas, when he makes his regular trips to visit his dad. He will use local wood, too, as needed, but definitely prefers his Texas logs. In terms of the food, Boudreauxs might be the best BBQ south of Denver for those venturing near the Colorado Springs area. With solid brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and some of the best coleslaw in the state, it’s 100% worth a visit if you’re in the area and craving some BBQ. Not sure if it’s completed as of this posting, but he’s also planning on opening up a Cajun specialty food store section in the restaurant, which I will absolutely be coming back to visit and buy from

Date Visited: 6/8/25

Address: 224 Main St. Canon City, CO 81212

Day of the Week: Sunday

Time of Day: 11:30 AM. Opens at 11:00 AM

Owner: Drew

Website: https://www.boudreauxsofcanoncity.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened in 2023

Number of People in Line: 0 in front of me, but 5 came in afterwards

Regional Style of BBQ: Texas/Louisiana

Total Cost: $60.40 with tip. Brisket, ribs, pulled pork, sausage, mac & cheese, coleslaw, and a beer

Type of Wood: Pecan

Type of Smoker: Southern Pride Rotisserie Smoker

Type of Seasoning: Salt, Pepper, and Cajun Blends

Best Dish: Brisket

Best Sauce: Original & Hot are a tie depending on personal preference

Best Side: Coleslaw

Interior Description: Nice clean atmosphere with wooden beams and awnings, with corrugated steel in the bar and in the ceilings. Sports teams, beer signs, and mounted animals adorn the walls, with the Wisconsin/Packer and Leinenkugel’s influence present from the previous owner, so Midwesterners will feel right at home. Light classic rock playing with three TVs playing as well. Plans to expand with a small interior southern Louisiana a speciality shop and to expand the kitchen and outdoor area. Both areas are great to eat at, but patio is also dog-friendly 

Pro Tip: If you’re in this part of town, make sure to stop for the brisket and coleslaw, which are both in the top 10 for Colorado for their respective categories. Make sure to get some of the pickles too, as they were perfectly balanced, and nice and crisp, especially on a hot summer day

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8.75 to 9 /10

Seasoning: Salt and pepper

Description:  A well-trimmed and thickly cut fatty slice that had a mild smoke ring, but also really good smoke and flavor running through it. While it looked overcooked, the meat was tender and juicy, with a pleasant smoke and seasoning to each bite. It could use a little more pepper, though, to bump it up a rank. But beyond that, a really good brisket, especially for using Pecan wood, which I typically don’t like for beef smokes. Would get again and possibly top 10 in the state

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, sugar, others

Description: Thinner ribs, but perfectly tender and fall off the bone, while still having a good bite to them. Less smoke flavor than the brisket, but still a nice amount of it. A slightly sweeter rib, and the meat could use a little more flavor to it, but a really good option and I would get it again. Skip the sauces for this one though

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 8.75/10

Seasoning: In-house blend, seasoned before and after smoking

Description: Really well balanced with a nice smokiness that’s probably one of the top 5 in the state. Could use a little more pepper or seasoning, but beyond that, it’s a damn good pulled pork with so sauce needed, but both the original and hot are tasty additions if you’re a sauce fan. Ordering again next time I’m there

Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Cheddar cheese mixed in, so once again, any Midwesterns visiting will feel right at home. The casing had a good snap and nice smoke flavor, but inside was dried out and crumbled with each bite. Flavors were on point, just needs more fat and less cook time. Would get again to see if it was just a one-off with being drier

Sauces – Originial

0/10 Ranking: 8.25 to 8.5/10

Description: A thinner sauce that has a nice pepper and vinegar kick to it. It was a nice addition to the pulled pork

Sauces – Hot

0/10 Ranking: 8.25 to 8.5/10

Description:  This one lives up to the name and is a more amped up version of the original. Nice sweet heat to it, that builds nicely. Solid Texas hot style BBQ sauce option  

Sides – Mac & Cheese

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description:  Nice breading on top and mixed in with the pasta, looks like they bake it and then scoop it to size. Al dente noodles that were nice and creamy. Could use more seasoning and flavor, but solid side overall and would get again 

Sides – Coleslaw

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Description: Creamy, with nice crispy cabbage and slight acidity. One of the best I’ve had in a long time, would absolutely get again, even though it’s more mayo than vinegar-based, which I usually lean the opposite of. Could use a little pepper and more vinegar, but pretty much perfect beyond that 

Interior & Menu Photos:

Wayne’s Smoke Shack – Round 2

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.25 to 8.5/10 and Yes. Worth a stop, but not the best in Colorado in anything outside of maybe their garlic mashed potatoes. Wayne’s is located out in a nice suburban strip mall, nestled between Boulder and Denver in the town of Superior, and is open on only Fridays and Saturdays. Admittedly, I was reviewing this for a second time due to a recent Reddit post regarding my Colorado BBQ rankings, where a lot of people had some strong opinions that Wayne’s was the best brisket and bbq in the state. As such, I recognized I hadn’t been there in almost 5 years and my original review was one of my first ever, so I wanted to give them a second chance to see what everyone was raving about. Walking up to the front door, I was hit with a nice smell of smoke, and an unexpected amount of people already waiting in front of me. For it only be 6 minutes past opening, I was pleasantly surprised to see 28 people ahead of me in line. Upon entering, I noticed they have frozen bbq meats also available for takeaway, which is a unique option not really available at other Colorado locations. They also have grab and go take away side dishes as well. As a heads up, they don’t have a liquor license, so only fountain drinks and sweet tea here. Friendly staff though and can serve down to 1/4 lbs of any of the smoked meats. I got the Wayne special, which came with 1/2 lb meat option plus a side and drink, and I added in a wide range of additional meats and sides. While the steady flow of people was nice to see, I found myself confused, because while this is better bbq than I remember, it’s also not worth the premium price they charge compared to other locations. Add in that they don’t have Shiner Bock or Lone Star (Central Texas BBQ staples) or any other beers I can enjoy with my barbecue, and I find myself sticking closer to my original review than what my local Reddit enthusiasts think. Although to be fair, they were better than I remember and do have a good bbq vibe and ambiance to it, with solid customer service and improved sides, so I bumped them up 14 spots in my state ranking and 17 nationally. While the food was better than I remember, none of the meats blew me away, with some leaving me underwhelmed. Overall, it is worth stopping in for a visit, as they do have some unique flavors compared to other locations across the state, but I have a hard time putting them in a top 5 in anything outside of their garlic mashed potatoes

Date Visited: 5/24/2025

Address: 406 Center Dr, Superior, CO 80027

Day of the Week: Saturday

Time of Day: 11:06 AM. Open at 11:00 AM (Only open Friday & Saturday)

Owner: Wayne & Sam Shelnutt (Husband & Wife)

Website: https://www.waynessmokeshack.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened in 2011 and expanded in 2017. Suffered severe smoke damage on December 30th, 2021 in the Superior fire, re-opened June 6th, 2023

Number of People in Line: 28 before me, and 22 came in behind me. Took about 20 minutes to get through ordering

Regional Style of BBQ: Central Texas Style

Total Cost: $93.70 with tip already included or built in. Ordered the Wayne Special, which is a 1/2 lb of any meat, a side, and a fountain drink, but I went for the $3 brisket up charge as well. Also ordered 2 ribs, 1 brisket burnt end sausage, 1 chicken quarter, 1/4 lb of turkey, and then garlic mashed potatoes and the Smoke Shack BBQ Chili for an extra side. Came with free white bread as well, but the sauces are $1 a piece, with three options available

Type of Wood: Post Oak

Type of Smoker: Upright Electric or Gas-powered smokers, I think, but I need to verify

Type of Seasoning: Salt, pepper for brisket, and then a ton of others for ribs, chicken, and turkey

Best Dish: Burnt End Sausage

Best Sauce: Didn’t try or review any, but they are each $1 a piece

Best Side: Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Interior Description: Wood paneled shaker shingles align the walls, with the Colorado flag painted over it, and black corrugated open ceiling with clean ductwork visible. Comfortable table seating with padded chairs and wood booths or wooden picnic tables and polished concrete floors. On the far wall they have black and white photos of Central Texas legends and pits for a nice old meets new age bbq vibe. They have sauces, but charge $1 per sauce, so I skipped them. Had classic and present day rock music playing. Metal picnic tables out front for about 50-60 people, with seating inside for about the same, but more lined up family style, with the interior picnic tables being connected in two long rows

Pro Tip: Get the garlic mashed potatoes and a reminder that they are only open on Fridays and Saturdays. And if you want a beer with your BBQ, get it as a to-go order, as they don’t have a liquor license

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to maybe 8.75/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, maybe garlic

Description: They use grass fed beef I believe, as they had several signs mentioning it. Juicy brisket with good smoke and pepper coming through in each bite. Lean pieces did start to crumble though and was just slightly overcooked, but really good overall. Minimal smoke ring but a nice bark with a nice punch of salt and pepper. Similar for the fatty piece, while it was really good and pretty juicy, it was a little tough and was slightly overcooked poked, making it crumble and very a little mushy to the bite. While this was better than I remember, it’s not the best in the state, especially for still being the highest priced option anywhere. Pit Fiend, Post Oak, Smok, Hogback, Scooter’s all above it, same with others, but probably in the Top 10 in the state. The pieces were also thickly cut, which was also needed with it crumbling apart. Would order again, but it’s also the highest priced brisket in the state, so just a heads up

Brisket Burnt End Sausage

0/10 Ranking: 8.75/10

Description: Smoky flavor right when you bite in. Not much of a snap to the casing, but a nice balanced interior, that holds together well and has a nice fat-to-meat blend, leaning heavier on the meat for the ratio. Would like some more seasoning and spice to it, but a delicious sausage overall, and would order again. Served sliced or whole, depending on preference 

Wayne’s Signature St. Louis Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8.25 to 8.5/10

Seasoning: Blend of a lot of seasoning, including brown sugar. Sweet blend

Description: Heavily seasoned, with a visibly crunchy bark on them. Literally fell off the bone when I tried to pick it up. A sweeter rub and rib, with I believe brown sugar crystals being present on the outside. The meat literally slid off the first bone and was really juicy, but just a little overcooked similar to the brisket. Would like a little more bite to it for texture, but still enjoyable. Leaning more fatty than lean, good taste overall, but not much smoke flavor or pepper coming through. Meat itself doesn’t gave a ton of flavor, but the bark makes up for. Solid rib and would get again, but only one is needed, not one I’d get a whole rack of

24 Hour Smoked Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Multiple and then mixed with a Carolina mustard

Description: Really juicy pulled pork, with a Carolina mustard flavoring coming through right away. Not much in the way of smoke coming through, and definitely a sweeter pulled pork. Good overall, but if mustard isn’t your thing, you’ll probably want to order something else. No real bark there either, but would get again  

Slow Smoked Chicken Quarters

0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10

Seasoning: Mixed blend, but not a fan

Description: Very juicy chicken quarter, with a nice crunchy skin. Sprinkled with a slightly sweet seasoning that was okay but not great. Not much smoke or flavor in general to the chicken meat itself. Probably not one I’d get again, which is a shame, because while it was super juicy and cooked perfectly with the crunchy skin, the flavor just wasn’t that enjoyable. Would skip for the next time 

Brined Boneless Turkey Breast

0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10

Seasoning: Mixed blend, same as the chicken

Description: Really juicy turkey breast, thickly cut. I think similar seasoning as the chicken, and while cooked well, it was also lacking in smokiness and flavor. Unfortunately, the overall cohesion of flavors just doesn’t stand out and isn’t anything special. Better turkey at several spots in Colorado, so skip this one for something else. Seasoning just isn’t my favorite and brings its rating down, but still really well cooked, so 50/50 on if I’d get it again  

Sides – Garlic Mashed Potatoes

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Description: Best thing I ate here today. Creamy, buttery, and velvety with a large punch of garlic in each bite, these are some of the best mashed potatoes I’ve had in years. They leave some of the skins in it, which provides a nice texture to the dish, with fresh black pepper blended in each bite as well. Absolutely order again and would get an extra side order to take home  

Sides – Smoke Shack BBQ Chili

0/10 Ranking: 8.75/10

Description: Loaded with pulled pork, kidney beans, green chili, and onions, this is a solid side dish option to go with. It has a little bit of a kick to it for spice, but the flavors are balanced, with the beans having just a little bit of tooth to them for a nice textural experience. Would get this again too

Sauces

I didn’t have any or review them, but I believe they have 3 options available in Original, Texas Hot, & Carolina Mustard for an additional charge of $1 each

Interior & Menu Photos:

Saucy’s Southern BBQ & Cuisine

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8 to 8.25/10 and Yes. Sitting right in the heart of Denver University, you walk in and are immediately greeted by a friendly staff. You order at the counter, with 3 options for combo plates or you can grab individual meats and sides. As a heads up, they don’t actually smoke things here, everything is in fact grilled. That said, they do a good job with it and are consistent with their grilling technique across all of their meats. Since they don’t smoke anything, there is no real BBQ smell to speak of inside of the restaurant, but they offer a laid back, clean environment with a nice offering of quality options at a reasonable price, with all meals served in to go containers. Also, a special shoutout to Darrian who was working today and gave us great customer service and as an added bonus, he makes the banana pudding which I’d recommend getting as well. Another thing to note is that they don’t have a liquor license, so only bottled and fountain drinks available, in addition to sweet tea. No brisket here either, but they supplement that with having catfish and shrimp as a southern replacement. Would go back again if I’m in the area, especially for some of the shrimp

Date Visited: 5/18/2025

Address: 2100 S University Blvd, Denver, CO 80210

Day of the Week: Sunday

Time of Day: Arrived at 11:55 AM. Open at 11:00 AM

Owners: Khristian Matthews & Ki’erre Dawkins (Cousins)

Website: https://www.saucyssouthernbbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: Started as a Food Truck in 2018, opened a their brick & mortar on October 1st, 2022

Number of People in Line: 1 person sitting down ahead of me. 4 came in after us

Regional Style of BBQ: Mississippi Style

Total Cost: $42.81 plus tip. Ordered the 3 Meat Plate With 2 Sides. Came with Ribs, Shrimp, Wings, & ordered a Hot Link on the side. Went with the Southern Style Green Chili Mac N Cheese, Sweet Baby Baked Beans, and ordered a side of Great Granny’s Green Beans, & Fried Okra, with Banana pudding for dessert (although this was offered by the staff to try as a sample)

Type of Wood: None, they grill everything, nothing is smoked

Type of Smoker: N/A, everything is grilled

Type of Seasoning: Lots of sauces

Best Dish: Shrimp

Best Sauce: Sweet Red Chili

Best Side: Okra or Banana Pudding

Interior Description: Clean interior, with modern restaurant vibe to it. Outdoor and indoor seating available, with chairs, high tops, and booths that can fit probably 50 people. Small drink station. Have black and white photos of the owners, staff, and Mississippi hanging on the walls in addition to several articles on the owners 

Pro Tip: Make sure to get the shrimp with the sweet chili sauce

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10

Seasoning: Unsure, but heavily sauced

Description: As a reminder, these are grilled, not smoked, just like everything else here. That said, the grill flavor comes through right away in each bite, with the sauce being enjoyable and not coming across too sweet or generic tasting. The ribs were a bit tough, but that’s also somewhat expected when you grill vs smoke them. Not sure if I’d order them on their own, but I would have one if the group got a rack

Hot Link

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 8.75/10

Description: These had a nice snap to the casing, even after being split in half and served on a bun. They had a little bit of spiciness and heat to them, with a nice texture and balanced meat-to-fat blend. Would get again but can do without the bun

Chicken Wings

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Honey Bourbon mixed with Hot Lemon Pepper sauce 

Description: Really good flavor to them and with just a hint of spiciness in each one, this sauce mixture was recommended as one of the owner’s personal favorites. Definitely had the chargrilled essence to it and was cooked well, but was just slightly overdone. Would order again and would get the same sauce

Shrimp

0/10 Ranking: 8.75 to 9/10

Seasoning: Sweet Chili Sauce

Description: Well seasoned and perfectly cooked. Would recommend getting this with the sweet chili sauce. Crispy without being mushy and overcooked inside for the shrimp, they are a nice change of pace as a bbq option not typically found in Colorado. Would get again 

Sides – Fried Okra

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Crispy and very well cooked. Could use some more seasoning to it, but would order again 

Sides – Southern Style Green Chili Mac N Cheese

0/10 Ranking: 8.25/10

Description: Really creamy consistency with the green chili sauce adding in a little heat, but nothing crazy. Cooked a little past al dente, but still good overall. Would probably order again 

Sides – Sweet Baby Baked Beans

0/10 Ranking: 8.25/10

Description: Solid side dish overall, with the classic Bush’s baked bean flavor to them, albeit with an improved upon taste. Beans had a nice bite and viscosity to them. While I’m not typically a baked bean fan, would recommend if it’s one of your typical orders

Sides – Great Granny’s Green Beans

0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10

Description: Served with bacon chunks and potatoes mixed in, was a little too salty and tasted like canned green beans that are mixed in with everything else. Apologies to Great Granny, but I wasn’t a big fan of these. Skip this one for next time 

Sides – Banana Pudding

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Creamy banana pudding with vanilla wafer crumpled on top I believe, but could have been homemade as well. Tasty without being overly sweet, it has an enjoyable little tang to it, and the crunch of the wafer adds a nice bit of texture at the end. Would order again

Sauces

Didn’t officially review, but had the sweet red chili on the shrimp, which was excellent and would recommend. Then, for the wings, I took Darrian’s advice and mixed the honey bourbon with the hot lemon pepper, which is one of the owner’s favorite blends and was a solid recommendation for the chicken

Interior & Menu Photos:

The Joint

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.75/10 and Yes. Located over in the Bywater neighborhood, you are off the typical beaten Bourbon Street/French Quarter path, but are also surrounded by several great restaurants and bars in the area. Walking up to the building, you come across the smell of oak in the air from a couple of blocks away, with an unassuming and laidback but welcoming entrance. You walk in and are greeted by a friendly staff, local cypress wood paneled walls, a full bar, and a fresh wave of smoked meats wafting through the air. You order at the register with the super friendly staff members and then wait for them to plate it in back, before you pick it back up and bring it to your table. With indoor and outdoor seating options, I’d recommend the back patio, as the smell of smoke and BBQ ambiance hit even stronger with chair and picnic table options for seating. Really good BBQ overall, especially as a break from the more traditional Cajun food options. A great BBQ experience and environment that is 100% worth a visit

Date Visited: 5/10/2025

Address: 701 Mazant St, New Orleans, LA 70117

Day of the Week: Saturday

Time of Day: 11:35 AM. Open at 11:30

Owner: Pete and Jenny Breen

Website: https://alwayssmokin.com/

Number of Years in Business: Originally opened in 2004, then moved to current location in 2012

Number of People in Line: 6 people were already sitting down, with 6 more coming in after us

Regional Style of BBQ: Texas Style?

Total Cost: $45.19 with tip. Ordered the 3-Meat Combo Platter with 2 sides, and then ordered a side of ribs. Came with brisket, sausage, smoked chicken, and then baked beans and cornbread for sides. Grabbed beers at the bar on a separate order

Type of Wood: Oak

Type of Smoker: Rotating rotisserie fire fed smoker

Type of Seasoning: Salt, pepper, others

Best Dish: Brisket or Chicken

Best Sauce: Didn’t review any

Best Side: Cornbread (only had this and the baked beans though)

Interior Description: Local cypress wood paneling lines the walls, with vintage photos of New Orleans hanging throughout the restaurant in addition to some Christmas lights hung from the ceiling. The smell of oak permeates the air, giving it that authentic BBQ joint feeling you want. Full bar with seating for about 25-30, with additional seating out back

Pro Tip: Sit in the back courtyard for the full smell of the smokers and BBQ experience

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8.75/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and others

Description: The brisket had a light smoke ring, with a little bit of bark to it as well. Served in lean and fatty cut pieces. It was seasoned with more salt than pepper, but it was still really tasty, with a nice oak smoke flavor coming through. Very juicy for the fatty pieces, but the lean ones were slightly drier and tougher. Would order again though, as it was a really good brisket overall and was way better than I expected coming from a city not typically known for BBQ

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8.75/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, others

Description: Tender but slightly overcooked. Really good flavor with a light smoke and seasoning coming through each bite. Looks like they sauce the ribs lightly for the last portion of the cook too. Nicely trimmed with a good meat-to-fat ratio, leaning heavier on the meat side. Would get these again

Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.25/10

Description: Slightly dried out, with minimal snap to the casing. Has a light smokiness to it and has an enjoyable flavor overall. There is a light kick of heat to it from the jalapeno, but nothing crazy or over the top. The interior mixture had a nice meat-to-fat ratio, leaning on the fattier side. Would get it again as it was a good, but not great, sausage

Chicken

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 8.75/10

Seasoning: Multiple spices

Description: Really juicy, but slightly overcooked, similar to the ribs. That said, they had a really pleasant seasoning, with a crunchy chicken skin giving it great texture, and a nice level of smokiness. Absolutely worth ordering again

Sauce – Didn’t try any

Sides – Baked Beans

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.25/10

Description: Slightly runny/saucy for the beans’ consistency, with a nice peppery seasoning and jalapeno to it. They use pinto beans for this one, which give it a nice creamy texture, but without it turning to mush. While I’m not really a baked bean fan, these are worth ordering again if you’re an enthusiast

Sides – Cornbread

0/10 Ranking: 8.25/10

Description: Good flavor and a nice crunch to it, but it was also slightly overcooked and just a little bit dry. Would get it again though

Interior & Menu Photos:

Sugarfire Smoke House

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 7.75 to 8/10. Maybe. Rolling in, I had my hesitations about the place, based on its location in a suburban planned strip mall development, but also with it being a chain from out of state, as this is 1 of 12. That said, when I walked in the door I was pleasantly surprised, as I was instantly hit with a nice waft of oak floating through the air. In traditional bbq or fast casual fashion, you order cafeteria line style, choosing between individual meats, combo platters, sandwiches, burgers, and even salads. Opted for the Meat Daddy platter as it was a taste of pretty much everything and was a pretty affordable price for how much food you get. Started with the brisket, which shocked me at how good it was, but after that, all of the meats mostly let me down, with a small upswing at the end with the cheesy garlic mashed potatoes. Service was on point, and the place had a laidback chill environment/vibe to it, with 90’s-2000’s rock and alternative playing at a low volume, while the staff cracks jokes with each other. Not the best place to get bbq in Colorado, but certainly not the worst either. Without a ton of close other options in Westminster/Thornton, it’s a okay spot to stop at, but isn’t worth a special trip on its own either. Would come back if people invited me, but also not making a stop unless it’s directly on my way

Date Visited: 5/4/2025

Address: 14375 Orchard Pkwy #100, Westminster, CO 80023

Day of the Week: Sunday

Time of Day: 11:15 AM. Open at 11:00 AM

Owner: Mike Johnson and Chad & Jamie Green

Website: https://sugarfiresmokehouse.com

Number of Years in Business: Opened June 2018

Number of People in Line: 2 people were already sitting down before I walked in and 23 came in after me over about 45 minutes

Regional Style of BBQ: Blend St Louis/KC/Memphis/Texas

Total Cost: $44.99 with tip. Ordered the Meat Daddy Platter. Came with 1/4 lb brisket, 1/4 lb of pulled pork, 1/4 lb of turkey, 4 ribs, 1 sausage, and two sides. Choose the brisket mac & cheese and the cheesy garlic mashed potatoes. Also came with a fountain drink, so I got sweet tea and ordered a Gravity Amber on the side (separate charge at the bar)

Type of Wood: Oak & cherry

Type of Smoker: Electric or gas? (Unsure, as I didn’t see a trailer or pit out back and couldn’t see into the kitchen)

Type of Seasoning: Salt, pepper, in-house blend

Best Dish: Brisket

Best Sauce: Texas Hot

Best Side: Cheesy garlic mashed potatoes

Interior Description: Sitting inside a newer built strip mall, in a planned suburban shopping district, there is seating for probably close to 100 between the indoor and outdoor options. Inside has concrete polished floors running throughout, with a combination of black corrugated steel, brick, and stained/reclaimed wood aligning the walls and the ceiling. It has a new age bbq vibe to it, without being overly corporate or cookie-cutter about it. You order traditional cafeteria line style, leading you into the fountain drinks, sweet tea and bbq sauce station, before flowing past a fully stocked bar into indoor and outdoor seating options. BBQ sauces and paper towels adorn every table, with mostly metal chairs, stools, and wooden benches available for seating

Pro Tip: Stick to the brisket and cheesy garlic mashed potatoes and avoid the pork options

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 8.75/10

Seasoning: Salt & pepper

Description: Served as lean slices for the platter, the brisket has a nice smoke flavor that comes through with each bite, and was well seasoned, but could have used a little bit more. That said, they did have a nice peppery finish to them.  Even though the lean slices were from the end, they were all juicy and well trimmed, with just enough fat to them. Minimal smoke ring to each piece, but a really solid brisket overall and would get again. For being a St. Louis style bbq spot, I had slightly lower than average expectations for the brisket, so was pleasantly surprised when it was as good as it was

Baby Back Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 7.25 to 7.5/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, others (maybe paprika or the house rub)

Description: Bland is the first word needed to describe these ribs. Was surprised they weren’t sauced, especially with being St. Louis style for bbq, but that unfortunately didn’t help its cause. While they looked appealing and well seasoning from the outside, they were unfortunately pretty flavorless, with minimal smoke or seasoning coming through. That said, they were mostly well cooked, as they were tender and had a nice meat to fat ratio, but just didn’t have enough pulled together to make it one to get again. Skip it 

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 7.75/10

Seasoning: Unsure, but minimal

Description:  While it was a juicy pulled pork, it was slightly overcooked and was, similarly to the ribs, rather bland. Low level of smoke coming through and have to search a bit for seasoned pieces. No bark to speak of, leaves this one on the not to order again list

Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10

Description:  Whole sausage link, sliced up. Had a little bit of snap to the casing, but was mostly limp. Creamy interior, especially with the melted cheddar cheese, that has a nice spice kick with the jalapeño coming through on the backend. No real smoke flavor to speak or to be found, but still an enjoyable cheddar sausage for yourself or to share, but nothing special overall either 

Turkey

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Looks like the house-blend

Description: Really juicy turkey that’s thinly sliced. Not a ton of seasoning or smoke coming through, but it was cooked perfectly, with it being tender and moist to each bite, but I would have liked some more smokiness to come through. Not a must order, but would get again to split with the table 

Sauces

Description: Didn’t officially review any, but tried them all with Texas Hot being the best, but they were all pretty average

Sides – Brisket Mac & Cheese

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Sauced and chopped brisket on top of the mac. Not the biggest fan of the sauce they used, but the mac was super creamy with the noodles being just slightly past al dente. Good dish, but also needs more seasoning to it. Would get again though but not a must order 

Sides – Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes

0/10 Ranking: 8.75 to 9/10

Description: Heavy on the garlic in all the best ways. This one may stick with you for a while, so fair warning. That said, they are worth the potent breath, as they are velvety smooth, with some very small but enjoyable mashed pieces still finding their way through in each bite. One of the most flavorful mashed potatoes I’ve had at bbq spots in Colorado, would absolutely order these again

Interior & Menu Photos:

Brad’s Pit BBQ

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.25/10 and Yes. Located in a small strip mall in Littleton, right next door to Locavore Beer Works, Brad’s started as a food truck and has since turned into a small Brick & Mortar, while still operating his catering and food truck options as well. Also, when I say a small B&M, I mean there’s no indoor seating options available, like at all. You walk in, place an order at the register and then can either sit outside on one of the 6-10 picnic tables they share with Locavore or you can head inside to Locavore (as long as you’re also buying a beer from them of course, but they have a nice tap list to choose from) to wait for and then eat your meal, which Brad’s team will walk over once it’s ready. As far as the meat goes, while I typically prefer oak over hickory smoked, Brad does a nice job staying true to his hickory style and delivers some of the smokier meats in the greater Denver area. Where they do get a knock is for not having a current indoor seating option of their own, to truly create their own atmosphere and experience. While the staff is extremely friendly, there’s no real ambiance to speak of with its limited interior and without even a whiff of hickory smoke in the air, they are unfortunately more dependent on being good at the bbq and letting Locavore handle the vibes/environment, especially come cold weather time. That said, they are a top option for Littleton BBQ and with its alliance to Locavore, it still checks all the normal boxes for what you’d expect for a bbq joint. Would come back again

Date Visited: 4/6/2025

Address: 5950 S Platte Canyon Rd Suite D 18, Littleton, CO 80123

Day of the Week: Sunday

Time of Day: 1:15 PM. Open at 12

Owner: Brad Hayes

Website: https://bradsbbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: Unsure, but I think 2021 or 2022

Number of People in Line: 0, but 6 had already ordered and 2 ordered after me

Regional Style of BBQ: Texas Style

Total Cost: $43.45 with tip. Ordered the 3 meats, two sides platter with 1/2 rack of ribs. Came with 1/4 lb brisket, 1/4 lb of pulled pork, 1/4 lb sausage, a side of fried okra, coleslaw, and included a slice of Texas Toast and pickles

Type of Wood: Hickory

Type of Smoker: Electric or gas? Unsure

Type of Seasoning: Salt, pepper, other ingredients, depending on the meat

Best Dish: Pulled Pork

Best Sauce: Didn’t try any

Best Side: Fried Okra

Interior Description: There is no interior. You walk inside to an order window, and that’s it, not a place to sit inside, but they do have seating with 6-10 picnic tables outside that they share with Locavore Beer Works. As a heads up, they also, as of this date, don’t have a liquor license, so no alcoholic or N/A options are available, only sodas. However, you can wait and order beers inside Locavore, which has plenty of seating, and they can bring you your food when it’s ready

Pro Tip: Go for the brisket and fried okra, then go grab a pint or flight of beers from Locavore next door. As a heads up, that’s also where the only bathrooms are available

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and others

Description: All lean cut pieces, but each one was still very juicy and had a nice flavor in each bite. The hickory smokiness is noticeable without being too much or overpowering, with a nice pepper and salt blend for the seasoning. Not much of a smoke ring or bark to it, but one of the better briskets in Denver that I’ve had recently. Would order again

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8.25 to 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and others

Description: The hickory smoke comes through right away in each bite with these. Thick ribs that were served without sauce, and were tender but not quite fall-off-the-bone. They had a nice meat-to-fat ratio, but were slightly under-seasoned and just a little dry. That said, I would order them again

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.75 to 9/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Chopped vs pulled pork for the meat prep, this one has some great overall flavor. Really moist with a nice smokiness and seasoning to it. It had some nice bark mixed in as well. One of the better pulled porks I’ve had in Colorado and probably a top 10 pulled pork for the state. Would for sure order this one again

Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 7.75/10

Description: Sliced up when served, with not much of a snap to the casing. It had a lightly spicy seasoning to its sausage mix, with a nice creamy texture, but also nothing of note or that was unique for the flavor of the sausage itself. Can skip this one

Chicken

Description: Didn’t order this one, but have been since told by several people that I need to try this the next time I’m there

Sauces

Description: None reviewed

Sides – Fried Okra

0/10 Ranking: 8.25 to 8.5/10

Description: Well-cooked, where they still had a little crunch to them. A nice breading as well, with a light seasoning mixed in, but needs some more to it and a little more salt. Would order again, though

Sides – Coleslaw

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Mayo-based, but lightly dressed. Mix of carrot, green, and red cabbage. Light and crunchy, and decent overall, but also nothing too special. Would get some to share with the table, but 50/50 on an order just for myself

Interior & Menu Photos:

Nordy’s Bar-B-Que & Grill

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 7.5/10. Maybe, especially with a younger family looking for affordable bbq and a chill setting, but nothing special overall. They have an average floor for the quality across its smoked meats, but also a lower ceiling than the majority of its Colorado counterparts across all its offerings as well. That said, it was packed when I walked in mid-afternoon, leaving me to find a spot in the bar seating area. As soon as when you walk in, there is a light, enjoyable smell of hickory smoke that is not too overpowering and lingers lightly and pleasantly in the air. Functioning more grill/restaurant than traditional bbq joint, they have a wide menu with plenty of alternative dishes such as burgers, sandwiches, and even some salad options for your meat wary friends or family members. Service was solid and it has a laid back, local hang out vibe to it, which makes for a chill and casual spot to visit. While the bbq isn’t winning any awards from me, they make up for it with a welcoming and warm environment at an affordable price

Date Visited: 4/5/2025

Address: 4360 St Cloud Dr, Loveland, CO 80538

Day of the Week: Saturday

Time of Day: 1:15 PM. Open at 11:00 AM

Owner: Eric & Shannon Nordhagen

Website: https://nordysbbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened in 2008

Number of People in Line: The Place was to capacity, with a 20-minute wait for tables, but open seating at the bar. Easily over 125+

Regional Style of BBQ: Texas Style

Total Cost: $59.55 with tip. Ordered “The Feast for 1” + 1/4lb of brisket and 1 Hazer Tag IPA. The feast came with St Louis Style Spare Ribs, 1/2 a roasted chicken, Carolina pulled pork, and smoked sausage. Came with three sides of Mac & Cheese, Pasta Slaw, and Fried Okra, plus cornbread tossed in

Type of Wood: Hickory

Type of Smoker: Unsure, maybe gas or electric, as the only smoker outside I saw was attached to a trailer and appeared propane-powered. Looked like electric smokers from what I could see into the kitchen

Type of Seasoning: No signature style I noticed, but sauced everything

Best Dish: Pulled Pork

Best Sauce: Didn’t try or review

Best Side: Corn Bread

Interior Description: More restaurant style than traditional bbq spot, in that you check in with the host and order at your table or you grab an open chair or table in the bar area and place it there. Large spot with plenty of seating, that has more of a sports bar meets bbq vibe, with professional sports jerseys, beer signs, and racing hoods lining the walls. Leaning more bbq on the flip side, there was an iced tea station, along with wooden luxury vinyl floors and a modern wooden ceiling and walls that were clearly from a custom design, it’s a clean, organized, and family-friendly spot

Pro Tip: Get here early, as I was shocked to see there was a wait when I rolled in and was lucky to find the one open seat at the bar

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 7.75/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, potentially more, but was sauced so couldn’t fully tell

Description: Minimal bark or smoke flavor coming through and had about a 1/4 inch of red ring to it, which they then unfortunately, poured bbq sauce over and sprinkled it with pepper on top (that was a new one and not in a good way, even as a pepper lover). That said, it was tender and juicy for each bite, but also nothing special overall. Skip for the next time, but if you do order it, ask for it without the sauce, as it takes over the entire flavor profile otherwise and drowns out the others

St Louis Style Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, potentially others

Description: These were some of the leanest and skinniest ribs I’ve ever had, so it admittedly didn’t start off great and didn’t get much better from there. In terms of tenderness, they were a little tough and slightly chewy and seemed to have more of a grilled than smoked taste to them. Similar to the brisket, these were lathered in sauce and really didn’t have anything special to them, as they tasted like someone grilled them on their home setup. Skip em

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Very juicy pulled pork, with a little smokiness to them, and also covered in sauce similar to the other meats and then served on garlic toast. One of the better meats here, but not typical Texas Style with the saucing and hickory, and leans more midwestern KC sweet over savory. May order this one again, but probably better as a sandwich option

Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10

Description: Almost tasted and looked like ring bologna vs a sausage. Had a light snap to the casing and a creamy interior texture. With basically no smoke flavor coming through, it’s not worth getting again unless you’re craving a taste of childhood with the ring bologna nostalgia

Chicken

0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10

Description: Tastes like roasted chicken vs smoked, so be prepared for that. The order came with 1/2 a chicken, and while the skin was crispy and had good flavor to it, the interior chicken was dry and pretty bland and tasteless. 50/50 on skipping for next time, especially with it not really being a true bbq/smoked chicken

Sides – Mac & Cheese

0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10

Description: Creamy and cooked a little past al dente, it did have good overall flavor, but also nothing noteworthy or unique about it. Could flip a coin on ordering again

Sides – Pasta Slaw

0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10

Description: This one was a new one that I hadn’t come across before, so I had to try it out of curiosity. To the name, it’s coleslaw mixed with pasta, with the cabbage staying crunchy and having a light sweetness and acidity balance to it, but might be a little too heavy on the mayo. The pasta was a slightly weird addition and partner to this dish, that my brain and taste buds couldn’t quite figure out what to do with and left me confused on if I enjoyed it or not, but I will probably try it again

Sides – Fried Okra

0/10 Ranking: 7.75 to 8/10

Description: Light breading to them in addition to being well fried, but had no real seasoning to each bite and desperately needed salt or a sauce to dip them into. That said, they were cooked really well, as they still had a light bite and structure to them without being mushy, but also not the best I’ve had in Colorado. I’m a sucker for okra, so would probably get them again and request some sauce

Sides – Corn Bread

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Best side I had and it was included at no cost, so even better. The cornbread was sweet and had a nice light crunch to the top of the muffin. The interior was warm and moist, but without being undercooked and doughy, making for an enjoyable bite each time. Overall, really tasty and one of the better cornbreads I’ve had in a while, would get again

Interior & Menu Photos:

Post Oak – Round 2 & 3

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 9.25/10 and absolutely yes. Always worth visiting, whether you are a local looking for top-notch barbecue or a visitor coming from out of town on your own bbq journey. I had gone a couple of years without visiting Post Oak after my initial review, as I was spending my time trying other establishments throughout the state to see if any could rival or dethrone them from the top spot. While I had a lot of solid bbq at other pits, none were truly able to beat the brisket or overall bbq offering that Post Oak provides. As soon as you walk in, you’re smacked in the face with a pleasant aroma of smoke and delicious meats and greeted by an extremely friendly and attentive staff, who are always willing to answer any questions you may have and will help guide you towards your best option. The owner is typically on-site bouncing around and helping both front and back of house, always looking to make the experience an enjoyable one for his customers. In true Central Texas-style, you have pickles, pickled onions, and white bread available at no extra cost, with soft drinks and sweet tea to go along with a full bar and tap list. While I’m not a whiskey guy, they have a large scale collection and have some daily specials on these for any enthusiasts. For the Texas traditionalists, they also have Shiner Bock available, along with several other beer and N/A options. Overall, you can’t go wrong with making a stop here, as they have consistently been producing some of the best barbecue in the state for years and somehow only seem to keep improving. Whether it be for the brisket, beef and pork ribs, or just the enjoyable and energetic atmosphere, this is a needed first stop for anyone curious about Colorado BBQ. We who are about to dine, salute you!

Date Visited: 11/2/2024 & 1/3/2025

Address: 4000 Tennyson St, Denver, CO 80212

Day of the Week: Saturday

Time of Day: 10:55 AM for the second visit and 11:05 AM for the third. Open at 11:00 AM

Owner: Nick Prince

Website: https://www.postoakdenver.com/

Number of Years in Business: June 26th, 2019

Number of People in Line: 0, but over 45 filled in while we ate

Regional Style of BBQ: Central Texas-Style

Total Cost: $103 with tip. 1 lb of brisket (half fatty, half lean), 1/2 lb of turkey, full rack of ribs, 1 taco, 1 order Fried Okra, 1 order Jalapeno Coleslaw

Type of Wood: Post Oak

Type of Smoker: Multiple versions, but all wood fired

Type of Seasoning: Salt, pepper, multiple others for ribs

Best Dish: Brisket

Best Sauce: Need Review

Best Side: Fried Okra

Interior Description: Modern upscale interior meets Texas BBQ joint with classic tin tiled ceilings, reclaimed wood walls, and refurbished wood floors, that has an elevated design with a high-end bar and whiskey wall directly across from the chopping boards. Fun and classic old-school bbq vibes with a warm and pleasant staff who always seems to be having a good time

Pro Tip: Go on Fridays for the burnt ends and Saturdays for the beef ribs, as they are one of the few places in Colorado that does them. Never skip getting the brisket or the turkey either

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 9.25/10

Seasoning: Salt and pepper, maybe garlic

Description: Still the best brisket being smoked in the Denver or the state for that matter. Each time I visit and order the brisket, it always has a nice peppery finish to it, with tender and perfectly cooked pieces, whether they be fatty or lean cut. The consistency of quality over the years has been impressive to say the least and they can go toe-to-toe with many of the top Texas establishments. For them to rival that of Franklin’s, Terry Black’s, etc. I would like them to have a little bit more seasoning and smoke flavor come through, but until I taste otherwise, this is the King of Colorado Brisket. A must order when visiting

Beef Rib

0/10 Ranking: 9.25/10

Seasoning: Salt and pepper

Description: Available on Saturdays and one of the few places to offer them, it’s best to order with multiple people, as each rib could range from 1.5 to 2.5 lbs. It’s sold per pound, so be mindful of the price when ordering. The rib itself was cooked extremely well, as it had a nice bark and seasoning to the exterior while having a tender and juicy interior with a nice smoke ring. There were a couple of edges that got a little tough and I would have liked a little more smokiness to have come through, but beyond that, a pretty perfect beef rib and the best I’ve had in Colorado. 3 out of 3 times that I’ve ordered these they haven’t disappointed, so order with confidence and a full wallet if visiting on a weekend

St Louis Style Heritage Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8.75/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, maybe others, and lightly sauced I believe

Description: Really tasty ribs and Top 3-5 in Colorado easily. Fall-off-the-bone tender, with a nice seasoning and smokiness running through. Really nice meat-to-fat ratio and trimmed perfectly.
Using higher-end heritage pork, the meat is flavorful and has been consistently delicious through each order. Always worth getting a few if stopping in

Sausage – Black Pepper

0/10 Ranking: 8.75/10

Description: Good snap to casing and a nice internal blend of meat-to-fat ratio. Slightly sweet, with good spice in it and the cheddar adding a creamy texture and nice balance. Was the preferred option from the table

Sausage – Guiness Bison Bratwurst

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Similar to the black pepper sausage, but with more gaminess to the flavor and a little spicier than the other. Would get again, but would take the other option over this if having to chose

Turkey

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, maybe others?

Description: Succulent and juicy to each bite, with a nice peppery and smoky finish. One of the best turkey options in all of the state, potentially the best overall, this is always an unexpected table favorite. Don’t skip on ordering this during your visit and grab at least a 1/4lb if possible

Sauces – Didn’t Review

Sides – Fried Okra

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 8.75/10

Description: These were fried well and had a nice light seasoning and breading to them, but could use a bit more flavor overall. However, this can be accomplished by dipping them in the accompanying sauce they provide. They were perfectly cooked with a nice bite and firmness to each piece, making for one of the better fried okra options in Colorado. Will continue to order again

Sides – Jalapeno Coleslaw

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Light and crispy with a little bit of heat to it. Green and red cabbage blended together, with carrots and sesame seeds mixed in with a vinegar base, I believe. I would like it to be just a dash sweeter but good overall, as it helps cut the fattiness of the meats well as a side dish. Would get it to share with the table, but not my personal favorite

Interior & Menu Photos:

Big’s BBQ & Brew Q

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

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 brew their own beers, as well as smoke their 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 its 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 you 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-houser 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 it 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 mid-western 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, but it was great beyond that. Only thing I can say I would order again

Interior & Menu Photos: