Barbecue Reviews

Peg Leg Porker

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 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

Date Visited: 2/10/2023

Address: 903 Gleaves St, Nashville, TN 37203

Day of the Week: Friday

Time of Day: 1:08 PM. Open at 11 AM

Owner: Carey and Delaniah Bringle

Website: https://peglegporker.com/

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 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

Interior & Menu Photos:

Genesee Pub and BBQ

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8/10 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

Owner: Scott and Matthew Smith (Father & Son)

Website: https://www.geneseepubandbbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened in May 2017

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: 7.5 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 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: 7.5 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: 8.5 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: 7.5 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: 7.5 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

Interior & Menu Photos:

Rolling Smoke BBQ

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 7/10 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

Day of the Week: Tuesday

Time of Day: 11:10 AM. Open at 11:00 AM

Owner: Terry Walsh, originally from Oklahoma

Website: https://rollingsmokebbq.com/

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 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: 6.5 to 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 to 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

Sauces – Need review

Sides – None ordered, need review

Interior & Menu Photos: N/A

GQue BBQ

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

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, 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

Day of the Week: Wednesday

Time of Day: 12:23 PM. Open at 11:00 AM

Owner: Jason Ganahl

Website: https://gquebbq.com/

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: 7.5 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 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: 8.5 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: 8.5 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

Sauces – Tangy – Needs review

Interior & Menu Photos: Didn’t take any

Switchback Smokehouse

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8/10 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

Day of the Week: Saturday

Time of Day: 2:11 PM. Open at 11:00 AM

Owner: Darryl Swartz and his wife Rachel Sanford

Website: https://switchbacksmokehouse.com/

Number of Years in Business: Since 2012

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

Sauces – Mule Sauce (Hot) – Need official review

Sides – None ordered

Interior & Menu Photos:

Hogback BBQ & Grill

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.5/10 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)

Website: https://hogbackbbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened in 2015

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

Interior & Menu Photos:

Roaming Buffalo Bar-B-Q

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 7.5 to 8/10 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

Date Visited: 4/1/2021

Address: 2387 S Downing St, Denver, CO 80210

Day of the Week: Thursday

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

Owner: Coy & Rachael Webb

Website: https://roamingbuffalobbq.com/

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 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: 7.5 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

Interior & Menu Photos

A Bit Twisted Brewpub & BBQ

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.5/10 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: 8.5 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 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: 8.5 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

Interior & Menu Photos:

Scooter’s Smokehouse & Grill

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.5 to 9/10. Yes, definitely worth a stop, especially at their new location in Georgetown, which I’ll still need to visit, as this review was while they were still at their Conifer location. For high elevation barbecue, it’s hard to find better, as they do a solid job across the board with all of their meats, but the turkey and pulled pork were the clear winners from the order. Would recommend for anyone heading into the mountains for the weekend and especially for anyone coming back from an early morning 14er hike, as their menu is a perfect reward for guilt-free binge eating of BBQ

Date Visited: 6/4/2021

Address: This visit was at their original location in Conifer, but they have since moved to 1416 Argentine St, Georgetown, CO 80444

Day of the Week: Friday

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

Owner: Tyler, Kathy, & Mike Barnette

Website: Don’t have one listed, but do have an Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/scootersbbqcolorado/

Number of Years in Business: Since 2016 starting as a trailer, the moving to brick and mortar

Number of People in Line: 6 with 6 more seated

Regional Style of BBQ: Texas

Total Cost: $36 with tip. 1/4lb burnt ends, 1/4lb lean brisket, 1/4lb pulled pork, 2 ribs, 1/2lb turkey, 1 shiner bock

Type of Wood: Hickory

Type of Smoker: Commercial convection for the majority of smoking, but does have reverse offset smokers onsite too

Type of Seasoning: Salt and pepper for brisket, then additional for other meats

Best Dish: Turkey or Pulled Pork

Best Sauce: Didn’t try any

Best Side: Didn’t order any

Interior Description: They’ve since moved, but it was a simple mountain rustic interior, with maybe 5-8 tables and a nice bar for ordering and grabbing a drink. Most people seemed to be grabbing to-go orders. Had some covered picnic tables for outdoor seating in the front as well

Pro Tip: Order the turkey and pulled pork for sure, with the brisket and ribs being optional, and could skip the burnt ends next time around

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt and pepper only

Description: Had the fatty cut for my order. Very juicy and a good blend of fat and meat. Thickly cut pieces, but I would be willing and able to eat a few of them. Needs a little more seasoning as it’s still pretty light on the smoke flavor, but the hickory comes through nicely. Would order again

Burnt Ends

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Salt and pepper

Description: Light salt and pepper covering, with hickory smoke being the main flavor coming through. More meaty than fatty, they were slightly dried out but tasty overall. Wouldn’t feel the need to order again over the fatty cut, but would eat a few for sharing at the table if available

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Tender, but not quite fall off the bone. Light seasoning, but really good hickory smoke coming through. No sauce needed for these ribs. Would order them again, but also nothing too over the top. Might be the 5th or 6th best in Colorado, but need to order again at the new location

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Great texture with the crunchy pieces of skin mixed in with the meat and fat. Definitely a Top 5, maybe Top 3 pulled pork in Colorado. The meat stands on its own, and it doesn’t require sauce. That said, the original sauce does give it a little bit of extra sweetness if that’s your thing

Turkey

0/10 Ranking: 9 to 9.5/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: The turkey was extremely juicy with good smoke and seasoning flavoring coming through. Thinly sliced, it may be the Top 3 if not the Top 2 turkey in Colorado. Leave the sauce off this one, as it stands on its own, no problem. Quarter pound was enough with everything else ordered, but I would absolutely get this one again

Interior & Menu Photos

Hank’s Texas BBQ

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 9/10 and Yes. Sadly, Hank’s is no longer in business, but there is a chance it could come back at some point. That said, the place had great vibes and brisket and I would have recommended it to anyone who was craving some Texas-style BBQ

Date Visited: 5/12/2021

Address: 5410 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80220

Day of the Week: Wednesday

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

Owner: Christopher Nicki

Number of Years in Business: Opened in 2019

Number of People in Line: 2 in front and then 6 more after me

Regional Style of BBQ: Texas

Total Cost: $39 with tip. 1/4lb lean brisket, 1/4lb fatty brisket, 1 spare rib, 1 sausage, 1/4lb pulled pork, 1 Shiner Bock

Type of Wood: Post Oak

Type of Smoker: Offset reverse flow

Type of Seasoning:

Best Dish: Brisket

Best Sauce: Hot/Smokey

Best Side: (Needs review)

Interior Description: One of my favorites in Colorado. It has a nice BBQ feel without feeling fake or gimmicky. There’s also a really nice outdoor patio area that sits adjacent to the outdoor smokers & firewood. Laid back 90’s and 2000s music filled the speakers while I was there, so any millennial should feel right at home when they come for a visit

Pro Tip: Beef ribs on Saturday’s, Prime Rib Sunday’s, Wing Wednesday, Burger Fridays

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Seasoning: Salt & pepper

Description: Texas Style fatty and lean only for options, no burnt ends here. Juicy and trimmed well, it had great overall flavor, but needed more of a smoke and seasoning punch to take it to the top of the local ranks. That said, I could easily eat 1/2lb of the fatty and lean problem, and this was easily a top 4 or 5 brisket in Denver. Smoked for 9-12 hours between 225 and 260 degrees

Burnt Ends

Description: Not served here

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, onion powder

Description: Tender, but only at the minimum baseline for juiciness and moisture, as they could almost be considered dried out. Minimal seasoning on the ribs and not a ton of smoke flavor coming through either. 50/50 on whether I would order the ribs again. Said they smoke them for 4-6 hours

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, maybe cumin and others?

Description: Very juicy, maybe one of the juiciest in Colorado. Had a unique flavor with the seasoning, but not much for smoke coming through. A little overcooked, as the meat was on the verge of getting mushy. That said, really good with the smoky sauce and would order again with that

Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.5/10

Description: Good blend of fat and meat with a nice internal texture and consistency. No sauce needed, and it can stand on its own. Not necessarily a distinctive flavor profile that comes out of it, but it does a great job of blending seasoning and meat for a balanced and tasty sausage

Sauces – Hot

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Description: Smoky with a slight heat on the backend. Really good with the pulled pork

Sauces – Carolina

0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10

Description: Intense mustard and vinegar flavor coming through. Overpowering is the first word that comes to mind, so only need minimal for dipping

Interior & Menu Photos