Smokin’ Outlaw Kitchen

June 27, 2024January 13, 2026 / Mitch Clark / 1 Comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 7.5 to 8/10 and maybe worth a stop. Upon arrival, they had Eric Clapton and blues music playing, but no smoke smell to really speak of. Overall, the barbecue didn’t really blow me away, but he makes a great hot sauce, and the service was top-notch. The staff and the owner were super friendly and welcoming, so I would stop by and try them out again, as I may have just caught them on an off day

Date Visited: 6/19/2024

Address: 4211 S Natches Ct a, Englewood, CO 80110

Day of the Week: Wednesday

Time of Day: 10:55 AM. Opens at 10:30 AM

Owner: Brandon Hawk

Website: https://smokinoutlawkitchen.us/

Number of Years in Business: Opened as a food tuck in 2019 and brick and mortar in 2021

Number of People in Line: 0, but 3 came in after for to-go orders and 4 came in to sit while I was finishing up

Regional Style of BBQ: Oklahoma/Texas

Total Cost: $33.22 before tip. Ordered 3 meat 2 side combo platter with a hot link, jalapeno cornbread, and soda added on. Got the brisket, two ribs, & pulled pork with bacon mac and cheese and the chili corn

Type of Wood: Oak

Type of Smoker: Split offset

Type of Seasoning: Mostly just salt and pepper

Best Dish: Hot Link

Best Sauce: Hot

Best Side: Bacon mac & cheese

Interior Description: Had 5 picnic tables for seating, but are expanding into the back for probably double the seating space. Wanted Outlaw Reward signs hang next to old western rifles and pistols, as they line the walls along with a few barbecue-themed ones. Small and cozy little BBQ spot to pop into off of Santa Fe

Pro Tip: Go with the hot links, and pulled pork with the hot sauce

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 7/10

Seasoning: Salt & pepper

Description: Didn’t ask if I wanted it fatty or lean, just served as is. Ended up being a fatty and thick cut, which had minimal bark and seasoning to it. It was tough and a little dried out, as it looks like it may have been cut the day before and simply reheated on the grill. I’d skip this the next time around unless I was for sure getting a freshly cut piece

Pork Spare Ribs

0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10

Seasoning: Unsure, but light seasoning

Description: Minimal seasoning on these, and they also appear to have been precut from a former batch and then placed on a grill to heat back up, as the grill marks were clearly visible. Sadly, this left the ribs a little tough and chewy, but their saving grace was that they did have a nice smokiness to them. Would try them again in a half-rack to see if it improves

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Really juicy overall, but needs some seasoning added to it, as it was pretty light with the flavoring that comes through. That said, adding the hot sauce gives it a nice pop of flavor to enhance it. Would order again

Louisiana Hotlink Sausage

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Description: They don’t make them in-house, but they had a great flavor and blend of meat to fat ratio. Splits them for a quick turn on the grill, and the casings had a nice snap to them, with a dash of heat to each bite. Best thing they had and would get again

Sauces – Original

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Thicker and sweeter than the hot sauce, it had a good smokiness to it and wasn’t overly sweet. Vaguely reminds me of KC Masterclass BBQ Sauce

Sauces – Hot

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Description: One of the better hot BBQ sauces I have had in a while. It’s thin in its consistency, but never approaches being watery. Has a good flavor and a perfect heat level to it. Would order and use again, especially with the pulled pork

Sauces – Carolina Mustard

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.5/10

Description: A thin sauce as well, that has a good vinegar pop to it. Finished light and doesn’t lean too heavily into the mustard flavoring. Would use again as well

Sides – Bacon Mac & Cheese

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Noodles were al dente with a nice smokiness coming through each bite. Creamy consistency and nice bacon bits throughout the dish. Good portion size and flavoring make this a yes for ordering again

Sides – Chili Corn

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Description: Corn was crisp, with what looked like marinated bell pepper strips and green chili added in. It was okay overall, but not a dish I would normally have gotten. Definitely a unique option that I haven’t seen anywhere else, but I would probably skip it next time

Sides – Jalapeno Cornbread

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Moist with a nice jalapeno flavor and heat coming through each bite. Hits the spot if craving some southern cornbread and would order again

Interior & Menu Photos:

Rolling Smoke BBQ

April 6, 2024January 13, 2026 / 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

Switchback Smokehouse

April 6, 2024January 13, 2026 / 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:

Seasoned Swine BBQ

April 6, 2024January 13, 2026 / Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.75 to 9/10 and Yes. Ribs are definitely the main attraction here, but Seasoned Swine is also turning out several delicious options across the majority of their smoked dishes. Was able to meet with Jacob, the owner, and found out that he is originally from Iowa and learned his rib smoking secrets from the longtime pit master Steve “Woody” Watson of Woody’s Smoke Shack, which is sadly no longer open. Considering that I had actually been to Woody’s a few years before, I was curious to see how it compared. Needless to say, Jacob must have taken great notes, as his ribs were on point, along with several other of his meat options. Easily some of the best ribs and pulled pork in the state, with some of the better house-made sauces out there as well. Seasoned Swine BBQ does a great job of blending several styles of BBQ together to create a great overall offering

Date Visited: 10/14/2022 and 10/30/2023

Address: 15800 W Colfax Ave, Golden, CO 80401 and second location at 11601 E Montview Blvd, Aurora, CO 80010

Day of the Week: Friday

Time of Day: 11:04 AM. Open at 11:00 AM

Owner: Jacob Viers

Website: https://www.seasonedswine.com/

Number of Years in Business: Since February 2017 starting as a food truck. Brick and mortar opened in early 2021

Number of People in Line: 0, but filled up by 12:15 for lunch though

Regional Style of BBQ: Jacob is originally from Iowa, so blends a few different styles together such as St. Louis and Central Texas, but doesn’t lock into one specific type

Total Cost: N/A

Type of Wood: Cherry

Type of Smoker: Electric

Type of Seasoning: In-house blend that they make called All-Purpose Swine Candy

Best Dish: Ribs

Best Sauce: Original or Chipotle

Best Side: None ordered

Interior Description: Sitting on the second story of a short business strip near the end of West Colfax, you walk up the stairs and are instantly greeted with some Blues and Rock & Roll playing, with a slight hint of smoke in the air. Clean and bright interior, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, with some nice views of the mountains. Minimal decorations hanging around, with corrugated sheet metal wrapping the walls that still give off traditional low-key BBQ joint vibes

Pro Tip: Ribs are the go to, but they make a top pulled pork and good overall brisket/burnt ends as well

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: All-purpose Swine Candy

Description: Ordered lean cut pieces, but they were juicy to the bite. Had a minimal smoke ring to them, with light cherry smoke flavoring coming through. Ideally would like more pepper seasoning to come out and a little more smoke flavor to take this to the next level in ranking. That said, it was a tasty and juicy brisket, with no sauce needed. However, if sauce is desired, I am in agreement with Jacob that the chipotle sauce is the move to go with. Worth ordering again

Burnt Ends

0/10 Ranking: 8.75 to 9/10

Seasoning: All-purpose Swine Candy

Description: Good blend of fat and meat to most of the pieces, but could use a little more fat left on them overall. Had a little better bark than the brisket did. Similar to the brisket, it wasn’t overly smoky for the flavoring and could have used some pepper/overall seasoning to come through, but the blend, as is, does combine for a sweeter and well-rounded flavor that needs no sauce to be enjoyed. Would order again

Pork Spare Ribs

0/10 Ranking: 9 to 9.25/10

Seasoning: All-purpose Swine Candy

Description: Perfectly cooked and fall-off-the-bone tender ribs that still had a little bite to them. Good flavoring and seasoning, with a slight sweetness that comes through, but doesn’t go over the top with it. Could be a little juicier and use a little more pepper and smokiness added to it, but overall one of the best ribs in Colorado, with no sauce needed for this one. Would absolutely order again, and this is easily their best dish to get when stopping in

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.75 to 9/10

Seasoning: All-purpose Swine Candy

Description: The pulled pork was juicy and tender with good bark pieces that added a nice crunch to it, but it was just a hair overcooked. Very tasty and well-balanced flavor overall, with just a little bit of extra Swine Candy sprinkled on top, and no sauce needed to enjoy. Would have liked a little more smokiness to come through. All that said, this holds up as one of the top 10 and possibly top 5 in Denver. If adding sauce, I would recommend the original for this one. Would order again

Sausage – Jalapeno Cheddar

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Description: Jalapeno cheddar sausage that he gets from Edwards Meats. Had a good snap to the casing, being juicy while also maintaining a firm internal consistency and slight creaminess simultaneously. Slightly too spicy for my palate, but would recommend to anyone who enjoys a spicier sausage option. Even though it was a little hot, I will be ordering again regardless, as the flavoring was great, but would also recommend ordering an extra beer to help cool it down

Smoked Chicken

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Seasoning: All-purpose Swine Candy

Description: Light seasoning and smokiness coming through, but blends together nicely for a sweet overall flavor. However, it was slightly dry and not as moist as would be desired. Sauce and or a beer are required for full enjoyment, with the original sauce being the way to go with this one. 50/50 on ordering again

Sauces – Original

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Description: Tomato-based with molasses. More of a thin tomato-based sauce than most of this type with its viscosity, it had good overall flavor with some sweetness and a slight heat to it on the back end. Would get again

Sauces – Chipotle

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Description: Sweet, slightly smoky, that finishes off with a little bit of heat to it. Best with the beef menu items, but would use as a sauce for any deep-fried food options as well. Would get again

Sauces – Carolina Mustard

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Coming in sweeter with a strong mustard flavor and with a low amount of vinegar/acidity to it. Reminds me of something closer to a honey mustard, but would enjoy it along the same lines, and it does pair well with the pulled pork if Carolina is your go-to style. Would get again

Sides – Didn’t order any

Interior & Menu Photos:

Roaming Buffalo Bar-B-Q

March 24, 2024January 13, 2026 / 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

Pit Fiend Barbecue

February 28, 2024January 13, 2026 / Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 9/10. Yes, a Top 5 BBQ spot in Colorado worth the visit. As Mike, Juan, & Esteban learned the Texas BBQ ways from their previous restaurant owner/boss Karl Fallenius, who learned from his Pit Master boss before him, the Legendary Aaron Franklin, Pit Fiend delivers for anyone looking for a Central Texas BBQ experience while visiting Colorado. Simultaneously nailing the classics/staples like the brisket, sausages, and mac & cheese, while also rocking one of the more experimental and unique BBQ menus out there, you’re sure to find something you like. Offering great daily specials with some seriously creative options and delivering tasty vegan choices such as jackfruit and mushrooms for your meat-averse friends, Pit Fiend has something for everyone in the group. Would recommend and will be back again

Date Visited: 2/24/2024

Address: 2826 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205

Day of the Week: Saturday

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

Owner: Michael Graunke, Juan Pablo Llano, & Esteban Gallardo

Website: https://www.pitfiendbbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: May 20th, 2022. Was previously Owlbear Barbecue

Number of People in Line: 2 ahead of me and 1 sitting down

Regional Style of BBQ: Central Texas, but experiment with several other styles as well

Total Cost: $57.90 with Tip. 1/4lb brisket, 1/4lb burnt ends, 1/4 jackfruit, 1 Colombian sausage, Mac & Cheese, Coleslaw, & Jalapeno Cornbread Muffin

Type of Wood: Post Oak

Type of Smoker: Custom built Off-sets

Type of Seasoning: Salt & Pepper for brisket and then several others depending on the meats

Best Dish: Brisket

Best Sauce: Owlbear

Best Side: Mac & Cheese

Interior Description: Small little walk-up spot, tucked in off the road behind Our Mutual Friend Brewing. Similar to when it was still Owlbear, they have kept the Dungeons and Dragons themes going with characters lining the walls and the names of their BBQ sauces. Interior has classic walk-up cafeteria-style ordering, with daily specials not found anywhere else, rice bowls, sandwiches, & meats sold by the pound. Can seat maybe 10-15 max inside, but you can order and walk next door to OMF Brewing and grab a table there with your tray, as long as you’re buying a beer from them that is

Pro Tip: Rare sighting of smoked Jackfruit, so would recommend ordering. Can’t go wrong with their brisket or burnt ends, but also are always experimenting with something new on a regular basis

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Seasoning: Salt & pepper

Description: Sliced lean or fatty, I opted for the fatty. Can request burnt ends as well, which I ended up going for in addition to the fatty. Very juicy overall, with a good bark and nice salt and pepper blend to it. Needs a little more smoke and seasoning to make it a lock for Top 3 in the state, but is a Top 5 contender for sure

Burnt Ends

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Seasoning: Salt and pepper, but sometimes they do chop them off and cook again with bbq sauce, but only on random times

Description: Great bark with about a 3/4″ red ring in it. Mild smoke that is subtle, but very enjoyable. Salt and pepper blend that’s well balanced, with a good fat-to-meat ratio in each bite of the burnt ends. Easily one of the best in Colorado, and would order these again

Pork Spare Ribs – Didn’t order this round

Pulled Lamb – Didn’t order, but want to try next time. The only place outside of Roaming Buffalo BBQ I’ve seen offer this

Pulled Pork – Didn’t order

Colombian Sausage

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Nice snap to the casing and good meat-to-fat blend to the sausage. Mild flavor with good smokiness running through it. Was slightly dry, but would order it again

Jackfruit

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Lots of unknown seasoning upon first bite, but it has a really tasty flavor to it. Has a consistency that is a little bit similar to artichoke hearts, but does get it close to the pulled pork imitation goal. Good on its own, but it is even better with the Owlbear sauce. One of their vegan options, and the only place I’ve ever seen this in Colorado

Chicken – Didn’t order

Sauces

Sides – Mac & Cheese

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Description: Cooked perfectly al dente, with a nice creaminess to it. Seems like several cheeses mixed together, with a strong potency coming through, maybe a gruyere or blue cheese. Would order again

Sides – Coleslaw

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Description: Lightly sauced and leaning into an Asian slaw flavoring with sesame seeds being a strong flavor, maybe a little sesame seed oil. Bright and light with its flavors, easy to eat on its own or accompany your favorite meats of the day. Would recommend ordering

Sides – Jalapeno Cornbread

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Description: Crispy top and moist throughout each bite, with a really good flavor that’s not too spicy, but has a mild heat to it. Worth getting again and try with the hot honey next time

Interior & Menu Photos:

Scooter’s Smokehouse & Grill

February 19, 2024January 13, 2026 / 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

Smokin’ Yards BBQ

February 18, 2024January 11, 2026 / Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8/10. Yes, worth a stop, but nothing over the top special about the place other than good burnt ends and pulled pork. Still need to try out their original location in Idaho Springs

Date Visited: 12/20/2020

Address: 900 W 1st Ave, Denver, CO 80223

Day of the Week: Thursday

Time of Day: 11:15 AM open at 11:00 AM

Owner: Father and sons team of Alan, Ian, Scott, and Andrew Yard

Website: https://www.smokinyards.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened in 2008 for original location in Idaho Springs, 2018 for this location

Number of People in Line: 0

Regional Style of BBQ: “High Elevation BBQ” with methods pulled from several regions

Total Cost: N/A

Type of Wood: White Oak and hickory for pulled pork

Type of Smoker: N/A

Type of Seasoning: Salt and pepper blend for brisket and then other blends for different meats

Best Dish: Burnt ends or pulled pork

Best Sauce: Tangy

Best Side: None ordered

Interior Description:

Pro Tip: Stick with the burnt ends and pulled pork, skip the ribs, and if sauce is needed, go with the tangy

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 7/10

Seasoning: Salt & pepper only

Description: Bought at 11:15 AM, and it was already dry. Needs sauce to be good, with the tangy being better than the original sauce. Had a solid smoke ring, but the flavor didn’t pull through

Burnt Ends

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Seasoning: Salt & pepper only

Description: Maybe the top burnt ends in Colorado, but Owl Bear (R.I.P) had slightly better at the time. Good balance of meat and fat, with the salt and pepper rub being spot on. Very tasty, but it was ever so slightly dried out as the only knock on it. Very tasty smoke and pepper flavor running through it, and would order again, no question

St. Louis Style Pork Ribs

0/10 Ranking: 7/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and a few other spices that were lightly rubbed over the ribs

Description: Nothing special, as they were slightly chewy and did not melt off the bone by any means. Seasoning was okay, but not anything too intriguing

Baby Back Ribs

0/10 Ranking: 7/10

Seasoning: Same as the St. Louis, it seemed, with salt, pepper, and a few other spices that were lightly rubbed over the ribs

Description: Barely a difference between this one and the St. Louis ribs. Both are pretty skippable

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.5/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Some of the better pulled pork in Colorado, as it had some good smoke flavor running through it, and it was still juicy. Needs a bit more flavor overall, but still one of the better pulled porks out there

Interior & Menu Photos

Rollin’ Bones BBQ

July 25, 2021January 13, 2026 / Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 9/10 and Yes. If you see this food truck, do yourself a favor and walk over and order from them immediately. For a food truck slinging barbecue, you won’t find better in Colorado. They have the best ribs in the state, in my opinion, and they are one of the only places that make jerk chicken, which they marinate in a jerk sauce made by Tony-Mon at 1 & 1 Exotic Coffee & Spices. Not only do they make up some kickass food, the owner, Eric Holinger, is also a super nice and laid back guy who is always ready to talk barbecue and answer any questions you may have

Date Visited: 10/24/2020 & 2/18/2021

Address: 2775 Valmont Rd, Boulder, CO at the Rayback Collective. Also can be found at Cannonball Brewing depending on the weekend

Day of the Week: Saturday and Thursday

Time of Day: 3:30 PM and 12:00 PM. Typically open at 12:00 PM

Owner: Eric Holinger

Website: https://rollinbonesbbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened in 2016

Number of People in Line: 4 the first time and then 2 the second visit

Regional Style of BBQ: Mix of several styles

Total Cost: Reasonable prices

Type of Wood: Apple, cherry, mesquite, oak, and other fruitwoods

Type of Smoker: Offset custom-made smoker combo, with rotisserie wheel and a gas fired burn box attached (Eric is the 4th owner)

Type of Seasoning: Salt, pepper, paprika, and others

Best Dish: Spare ribs or jerk chicken

Best Sauce: Have not tried this yet, need further review

Best Side: Mac & cheese with the green chili sauce

Interior Description: Food truck, so wherever they roll up to

Pro Tip: House-made pickles and coleslaw are delicious, as well as having arguably the best ribs in the state. Order the jerk chicken every time it’s available

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, & a few other spices

Description: A good 1/4 inch of red ring on the brisket. What was most surprising was that even though I ordered at 3:30, the brisket was moist and still had a good bark to it. The fat and meat balance was on point and was a nice blend of the two in each bite. Tried the BBQ sauce with it, but doesn’t really add anything more to it. Good overall brisket, but Owl Bear, Smok, Post Oak, & Hank’s are all ahead of them

Burnt Ends

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, & a few other spices

Description: Nice blend of fat and meat with an enjoyable mild seasoning, but overall nothing too special to write home about. Eric said he separates the flat and the point, then chops it up, but doesn’t add anything extra to them, and doesn’t place them back in the smoker

Pork Spare Ribs

0/10 Ranking: 9.5/10

Description: Fall off the bone tender and smoked to perfection. Great flavor running through them with almost a cinnamon flavor and warmth coming out in each bite. Zero sauce needed, and arguably the best ribs in Colorado

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Juicy with good overall taste, but nothing too unique as far as smoke or seasoning flavors coming through. That said, this is one of the juiciest pulled pork in the state, but needs more intense seasoning and smoke essence to put it as one of the best

Cheddar Chipotle Sausage

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Description: Smoky and delicious with a great meat-to-fat ratio. Had a unique taste running through it that I couldn’t quite place, but it was very enjoyable overall. A nice, taught casing with good snap, would recommend ordering again

Jerk Chicken

0/10 Ranking: 9.5/10

Seasoning: Gets his from Tony-Mon at 1 & 1 Exotic Coffees and Spices. He visits his family in Jamaica several times a year and brings back fresh ingredients to make his jerk sauce and marinade

Description: Literally the best jerk chicken I’ve had outside of Jamaica. While I am a sucker for jerk sauce, I almost always end up leaving disappointed when ordering it, as no restaurant or BBQ joint has quite come close to my memory of authentic jerk chicken flavors. As such, when I took my first bite, I was instantly transported back to Negril and the roadside shanty that produced the best chicken I’ve eaten in my life. While the memory may be stronger than the reality these days regarding the jerk taste, this was the closest I’ve ever gotten to reclaiming that euphoric taste experience that I had during my youth. Do yourself a favor and order this every time it is available, and be prepared to go back for seconds, which I inevitably always end up doing

Sides – Coleslaw

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Description: Uses no mayo for this and is instead a vinegar-based sauce. A very enjoyable, crunchy, and light option to accompany the meat, without the typical guilt that comes with your normal mayo-based slaw

Interior & Menu Photos

Smok Barbecue

July 25, 2021January 13, 2026 / Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 9/10. Yes it is worth the visit. Great barbecue, reasonable prices, and good, cheap beer options make it so you can’t go wrong coming here. While it feels weird saying, due to Smok being located in The Source and the slightly bougie atmosphere of the area, this may be the best overall barbecue joint in all of Colorado, even if it is missing the classic BBQ vibe. No matter what style of barbecue is your favorite, you’ll be able to find a solid option when you venture into Smok with your group or just by yourself

Date Visited: 3/1/2021 and 3/18/2021

Address: 3330 Brighton Blvd #202, Denver, CO 80216

Day of the Week: Monday and Thursday

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

Owner: William “Bill” Espiricueta

Website: https://www.denversmok.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened in August 2018

Number of People in Line: 0 both times, but people starting coming in within the first 5 minutes

Regional Style of BBQ: Owner is originally from Kansas City, but takes his inspiration from several bbq styles

Total Cost: $42 with tip. 1/4lb brisket, 1/4lb burnt ends, 1/4lb smoked turkey, 1/2lb pork spare ribs (2 of them), & mac & cheese. Also had 1 Shiner Bock and was given 1/4lb pulled pork for free as they originally forgot to bring it out to me

Type of Wood: White American Oak

Type of Smoker: Steel Box upright smoker with off-set smoke connector

Type of Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and a custom blend of seasonings for everything that isn’t the brisket or burnt ends

Best Dish: Brisket

Best Sauce: Original (It’s the only one they make)

Best Side: Mac & Cheese

Interior Description: Inside The Source, so it has an industrial concrete feel and vibe to it. With the upscale location and feel to Smok, it’s a welcome surprise to see the meat and beer prices not reflect the environment

Pro Tip: Don’t sleep on the turkey, but brisket is king here.

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Seasoning: Salt and pepper

Description: Smoky with good pepper flavoring running through it. I chose the lean option, and even still, it had a perfect fat ring enclosing almost the entire piece. With a great blend of meat and fat in each bite, this may be the top brisket in Colorado. Zero sauce needed for enjoyment, each piece had a solid smoke ring running through it

Burnt Ends

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Seasoning: Salt and pepper

Description: Good smoke and pepper flavor coming through, but they were slightly overdone. That said, they were extremely tasty and might have the most complex and deep-flavored burnt ends in Colorado. Would order them again, no question. For my second visit ordering them, I would say they were just as good as the 1st round, but the pieces were too big overall, leading them to being a little under seasoned. While they are a top 5 burnt end in the state, they need some more consistency before they take the number 1 spot

Pork Spare Ribs

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and bbq rub

Description: Juicy with a good blend of fat and meat in each rib. While they were slightly overcooked and not fall-off-the-bone tender, they had great flavor and smokiness that carried through each bite. Would put them in the top 5 for ribs in the state

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and a bbq in-house blend

Description: Juicy with some bark, and a mild taste of smoke coming through each bite. Seems to be sprinkled with some seasoning post-smoke session, but could use some more to increase the taste. While the pulled pork can be enjoyed by itself, it’s best with a little bit of their BBQ sauce. It was also delicious when I reheated it for lunch the following day

Cheddar Sausage

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Description: Good blend of meat and fat, with the most cheese running through it of any sausage I’ve had. Good backend smoke flavor as well, with a slight kick of heat. Almost had an andouille sausage type flavoring to it

Turkey

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and in-house blend of spices

Description: Solid flavor and smoke come through the entire piece of turkey. The skin had an extra kick of flavor to it, and the meat was juicy, but just ever so slightly overdone. Would recommend though as a nice change up to the more traditional BBQ items, especially as most places don’t have turkey on their menu

Sauces – Original

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Description: Sweet and tangy with some slight smokiness to it. Had a thicker viscosity than most sauces and one of the better ones I’ve had anywhere

Sides – Mac & Cheese

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: White cheddar and black pepper style. Creamy texture with a spiral pasta that was cooked perfectly al dente, and had a good coating of pepper. Would order again

Sides – Creamed Corn

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Creamy sauce with crisp corn kernels, with a nice sprinkling of seasoning on top. Very enjoyable and flavorful dish, and would order again