pork

Serious Texas B-B-Q

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8/10 and Yes. Sitting almost directly in the middle between Loveland & Fort Collins, Serious Texas B-B-Q sits on a large property and building, with great views of the surrounding Front Range Mountains, and a great outdoor patio area with a mini waterfall and space for your furry friends. Very much a Texas style interior, with corrugated steel along the walls and large wooden tables for dining, with red metal fold-up chairs. While the BBQ is okay overall, the setting and views give them some extra points towards being worth a recommendation. A cool place for Colorado BBQ where you can have a great view of the Front Range, enjoy some good food next to a running hardscape waterfall, and can bring along your dog for the patio seating. Would stop by again if in the area

Date Visited: 9/8/2024

Address: 201 W 71st St, Loveland, CO 80538

Day of the Week: Saturday

Time of Day: 1:30 PM. Open at 11:00 AM

Owner: Hunter Swanson. Took over for his parents that started it, Joe & Cookie

Website: https://www.serioustexasbbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: Founded in 1998 in Durango, CO. This is one of their 4 locations, with one 2 in Durango, 1 in Fort Collins, and 1 in Loveland

Number of People in Line: 4 in front of us and about 20-30 sitting down already

Regional Style of BBQ: Texas Style

Total Cost: $48 with Tip. Got brisket, ribs, pulled pork, turkey, chicken wings, chipotle coleslaw, mac & cheese, and apple crumble

Type of Wood: Unsure, but I believe it was either Oak or Hickory

Type of Smoker: Electric smoker in the back it appears

Type of Seasoning: Salt, pepper, maybe others

Best Dish: Pulled Pork

Best Sauce: Original

Best Side: Apple Cobbler

Interior Description: It has a nice smell of smoke when you walk in with a pleasant staff and comfortable seating for probably over 100 people. Switch back lines for ordering your food at the counter and then you can take it back to your seat, either inside or out. Rustic setting with exposed ceilings and several bar signs, vintage gas station apparel, and stickers lining the walls with 90s rock music playing when we came in. Had an electric smoker in the back with sweet and unsweetened tea, and grab-and-go cooler beers as you’re waiting in line, which definitely lives up to the Texas influence

Pro Tip: Visit this location for the views if nothing else, but the BBQ is pretty good too. Sit outside on the patio if possible, and go with the pulled pork, ribs, and the apple cobbler

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.25/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, maybe some others

Description: The brisket had a good smoke flavor to it with minimal seasoning and bark. Had about a 1/4-inch smoke ring, but was slightly tough to the bite and was slightly chewy with more thick-cut pieces. Would get it again though, especially if visiting earlier in the day, but it does need more seasoning to it overall and was oddly cut

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8.25/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, maybe others

Description: Fall off the bone tender with a nice smoke flavor and level of seasoning, but could use a bit more of both to take it to the next tier. Would get it again though

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.25 to 8.5/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: It had some bark to it, with moderate smoke flavor coming through in each bite. Slightly dry, but also good on its own. Would recommend the original sauce with it among all the options available

Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Creamy interior texture with a slight snap in the casing. It had a little bit of spice and heat to it, which was enjoyable and tasty. Had a nice meat-to-fat ratio but could use a little more smokiness to them. Would get again

Turkey

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Peppery with mild to moderate smokiness. The bird was tender and juicy, but not the best of the best for Colorado. Would get again through if in the mood for smoked turkey

Chicken Wings

0/10 Ranking: 8.25 to 8.5/10

Seasoning: Unsure, multiple spices

Description: They were crisp to each bite, with a light smokiness and a juicy wing overall. They had a dry rub on them as well, with crispy, but not rubbery skin. Good on its own or with ranch, would get these again, and they are one of the rare spots that does chicken wings, so grab them if you’re craving a smoked wing option

Sauces – Didn’t review them, but the Original was good for the pulled pork

Sides – Chipotle Coleslaw

0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10

Description: It was okay, but nothing special at all, with pretty mild flavor in general. Light mayo and acidity to it, needs more seasoning/flavoring to everything overall. Free tree to skip this one as a side

Sides – Mac & Cheese

0/10 Ranking: 7.75/10

Description: Thin and runny sauce, but good overall flavor and cooked al dente. Could skip for the next time as this also needs extra seasoning or thicker base sauce for it to be worth a reorder

Sides – Apple Cobbler

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Sweet, but not overly so, with a nice crunch to the crumble and good crispness to the apples. Would get again, but a small order is all you need

Interior & Menu Photos:

Burnt End BBQ

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8/10 and Yes. For being down in the corporate wasteland that is DTC, admittedly my expectations were tempered with this visit. When I rolled up at 11:40 AM, the sign still said closed and I wasn’t sure if they were still operating, but when I peeked inside, some staff saw me and came out to confirm that they were open, but they had forgotten to unlock the door that morning. Upon walking in, there wasn’t any smoke smell to speak of, but the place had chill and comfortable vibes to it, with reclaimed wood along the walls, concrete floors, and seating for about 100, with some outdoor options as well. While nothing really blew me away with the barbecue, I have to give them credit that everything was pretty solid and had a good floor to its flavors across the board. With burnt ends being less common to find in Colorado, it was nice to see them a staple on the menu and the they were also the only place I’ve seen offering a pork burnt end option and only the second place in Colorado behind Pit Fiend, that I’ve seen offer smoked jackfruit. For being corporate owned, I’m pleasantly surprised at the quality and would recommend it if you’re in town for a conference and craving some bbq

Date Visited: 7/7/2024

Address: 5332 DTC Blvd #100, Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Day of the Week: Sunday

Time of Day: 11:40 AM. Open at 11:00 AM

Owner: PB&J Restaurants Group aka Paul Khoury. Paul partnered with Pit Master, Stephen “Smokey” Schwartz (Who worked at Joe’s Kansas City BBQ, Jack Stack BBQ, & The Golden Ox, all Kansas City meat legends)

Website: https://www.burntendbbqdenver.com/

Number of Years in Business: Unsure, but I somewhere between 2010 and 2015

Number of People in Line: 0 in front of me and no one had been there yet before me, since the doors were locked. Did have 8 people come in after

Regional Style of BBQ: Kansas City Style

Total Cost: $86.76 with tip. Ordered 1/4 lb of brisket, burnt ends, sausage, turkey, pulled pork, and 1/4 rack of ribs. For sides, added in mac & cheese and coleslaw. Came with 6 pieces of Texas Toast and a Kona beer

Type of Wood: Hickory

Type of Smoker: Vertical Electric (I believe)

Type of Seasoning: Several blends

Best Dish: Pulled Pork or Burnt Ends

Best Sauce: Southwest

Best Side: Pickles

Interior Description: Sitting in a DTC business park area inside an upscale strip mall. Cafeteria style ordering with meats broken out down to the quarter pound. They also have bowls, platters, salads, wings, and even some taco options. Seating for about 100 and a familiar layout and feel to a Qdoba or Chipotle. Music was 70s and 80s pop and soft rock hits, which wasn’t exactly the type of bbq vibe I’m usually looking for

Pro Tip: Go for the burnt ends, pulled pork, and grab the pickles for a nice crisp and balanced acidity hit

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Seasoning: Salt and pepper, possibly others

Description: Thinly cut with a light smoke ring to each piece. Was juicy for both the fatty and lean sections, but was a little tough to chew. Not much for smoke or seasoning coming through either. Serviceable but nothing special either, I’m 50/50 on needing to order this again

Burnt Ends

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Salt and pepper, possibly others

Description: More tender than the brisket and with better smoke and seasoning coming through each bite, but still pretty light on both. For a place called Burnt Ends, this was the better of the two brisket options and I would get again. 1/4lb is plenty for ordering next time

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, possibly others, and bbq sauce

Description: Fall off the bone tender, but not overcooked and still had a good bite to it. Not a ton of seasoning coming through and a light amount of smoke to them, most of the flavor seems to be coming from the sauce. Cooked really well, but needs more smoke and seasoning to them. Would get the again though, with 1/4 lb being enough with 3 ribs

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Super juicy and smoky flavor coming through in each and every bite. Not much for seasoning, but cooked perfectly and one of the smokier pulled porks in Colorado and definitely a top 3 for juiciest. Would order again

Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Description: Chopped into bite sized pieces, the sausage was a little mushy and leaning a little fatty for its internal blend. Had good flavor and seasoning to it though, with a nice bit of heat as well. Would get again to share with the table, but also not one that I would probably order again for just myself

Turkey

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Juicy through most, but not all of the pieces. This was the smokiest meat they served, but needs more seasoning and for it to be cooked just a little bit less. Would probably get again if in the mood for turkey, but not a necessity either

Sauces – Didn’t review, but tried all three with the Southwest being the best one

Sides – Mac & Cheese

0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10

Description: Noodles were cooked perfectly and the sauce was creamy without being thin. However, the mac & cheese was way under seasoned. Added some salt which made it better, but could skip the next time

Sides – Coleslaw

0/10 Ranking: 7 to 7.5/10

Description: Light and crisp, with more of a mayo base to it. More sweet than acidic, it was an okay slaw but nothing special either

Interior & Menu Photos:

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 art work 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 this 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 says 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. 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:

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 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 over cooked and a little dried out for my order. May have just gotten a bad piece, but definitely a little tougher and drier then 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 to each one. Were slightly over season 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 comes 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 at least was 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: 8/10 and Yes. With multiple locations across the front range, GQue has certainly earned their 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 on 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. Once of the juicer briskets in Denver, with good hickory smoke flavor running through it. That said, 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 an 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. Were a little tough to chew on some of the cuts however, say 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 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

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 for 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 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 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 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: First batch I ordered were 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 wrack 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 sparingly

Bison Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Good snap to the casing. 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 flavoring 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

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 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 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 sale 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 slices, it may be Top 3 if not 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 would absolutely get this one again

Interior & Menu Photos

Post Oak Barbecue

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 9/10 and Yes. Absolutely worth a stop, with almost every one of their meats being a top option for Colorado. May be the best spot in the state on any given day, as it will scratch the itch of anyone craving some Texas style BBQ. Always one of my first recommendations for anyone asking where to go in Denver, as it’s never left me disappointed. That said, get there early, because this place always fills up fast

Date Visited: 3/5/2021 and 6/26/2021 for their anniversary party (with suckling pig)

Address: 4000 Tennyson St, Denver, CO 80212

Day of the Week: Friday for first visit and Saturday for second visit

Time of Day: 11:08 AM for first visit and 10:38 AM for second visit. They 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: 7 people the first time and 5 people the second time

Regional Style of BBQ: Central Texas

Total Cost: $42 with tip. 1/4lb of brisket, 1/4lb burnt ends, 1/4lb pulled pork, 1 sausage, 1 spare rib, 1 Shiner Bock

Type of Wood: Post Oak and mesquite

Type of Smoker: Offset smoker and electric combination

Type of Seasoning: Salt, pepper, & garlic for brisket but additional blends for other meats

Best Dish: Brisket or burnt ends

Best Sauce: Texas

Best Side: Coleslaw

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

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, & garlic

Description: Smoked for 14 hours with Prime Angus cuts. They had a good 1/2 smoke ring around each piece and had a nice smoky and peppery flavor running through it. A very juicy and moist brisket, easily a top 3 in the state and worth an order every visit

Burnt Ends

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, & garlic

Description: Only served on Fridays. The seasoning and smokiness make for a great flavor running through each piece. Juicy and mostly meaty, they add their own blend of Texas sauce and few other ingredients to it before tossing them back in the smoker for another hour and half to caramelize. Would order again

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Seasoning: 8 different spices

Description: St. Louis cut heritage pork. Fall off the bone tender with good smoker and flavor running through the entire rib. This one sits behind Rollin’ Bones and Smok for best in Colorado, but it is a very close number 3

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 7/10

Description: While the pork was juicy, it had little smoke or seasoning coming through each bite. Was a good, but pretty middle of the road pulled pork and needs some sauce to improve it. Could be skipped for other meats or sides next time around

Jalapeno Cotija Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Description: Made in-house with a balanced spice, meat, and fat blend to it. Had a good crunch to the casing with subtle smoke notes and a creamy texture running through each bite. The spice level with the jalapeno was right on point. Would order again

Sauces

Sides – Coleslaw

Sides – Mac & Cheese

Interior & Menu Photos

Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8/10 and Yes. Worth a visit if you’ve never been, as the BBQ was decent overall, although not spectacular, but the ambiance and the vibes make up for it. Ordered the redneck taco with pulled pork and the Big Brother Sampler on a local’s recommendation and neither disappointed. Portions and sides were great for the price and will leave you full at the end of your meal. Worth stopping in you’re nearby one, but lean more towards pork than beef options

Date Visited: 2/9/2023

Address: 3108 Belmont Blvd, Nashville, TN 37212

Day of the Week: Thursday

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

Owner: Pat Martin

Website: https://www.martinsbbqjoint.com/

Number of Years in Business: Since 2006, with multiple locations in multiple states

Number of People in Line: 3 in line, with 15 people already sitting down

Regional Style of BBQ: Tennessee

Total Cost: $51.91 plus tip

Type of Wood: Hickory

Type of Smoker: Coffin smoker, similar to Lockhart BBQ joints

Type of Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and several others

Best Dish: Ribs or redneck taco

Best Sauce: White sauce

Best Side: Mac & cheese

Interior Description: Old school BBQ style, with road signs, license plates celebrity photos, and posters lining the walls. Light country music playing with a nice smokey smell hitting you as soon as you walk in

Pro Tip: Try the white sauce, as it’s not something you get everywhere, as well as order the redneck taco

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and maybe others?

Description: Served fatty or lean, ended up ordering the fatty pieces. Light smoke and seasoning through the piece, but good flavor overall. Needs more bark and more smoke to come through though. Good, but nothing special

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Dry rub and wet rub options available

Description: Really good smoke flavor running through it, one of the smokiest I’ve ever had, but not overpowering. Fall off the bone tender, without being mushy and over cooked. Light seasoning for the the wet rub, that needs more overall to take it to the next level. The dry rub was a little too much dusty seasoning on the tip and the rib being a little over cooked as well. While good, make sure you go with the wet option

Sauces – Jack’s Creek

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Classic west TN style, with a sweet vinegar & pepper sauce from their description on the bottle, which was accurate as described. Good heat blend and a very watery sauce, but good on the pulled pork and the brisket

Sauces – Alabama White

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Description: Creamy, with a cinnamon or nutmeg finish and just a smidge of pepper to it. Very unique flavor, but I think it would go best with a chicken dish

Interior & Menu Photos

Piggin’ Out Smokehouse

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 7.5 to 8/10 and Maybe. Cool spot in the burbs, but nothing good enough to warrant a special trip, besides maybe the pulled pork. Can’t say I need to come back, but worth a stop if you’re in the area, as that part of town has limited bbq options available. Would recommend coming during a nice weather day to take advantage of the outdoor seating and views of the mountains

Date Visited: 4/20/2021

Address: 9987 Morrison Rd, Lakewood, CO 80227

Day of the Week: Tuesday

Time of Day: 12:32 PM. Open at 11:00 AM

Owner: Zack Anderson

Website: https://www.pigginout.com/

Number of Years in Business: At least since 2014

Number of People in Line: 1 person sitting and 1 person ahead of me in line

Regional Style of BBQ: From Ohio originally, so blends several styles together

Total Cost: $36.00 with tip. 1/2lb brisket, 1/2lb pulled pork, 1/2lb chicken, and 1 Fat Tire

Type of Wood: N/A

Type of Smoker: N/A

Type of Seasoning: N/A

Best Dish: Pulled Pork

Best Sauce: N/A

Best Side: N/A

Interior Description: Small interior with only 4 indoor eating spots. Has a bunch of outdoor seating though, with picnic tables wrapping around the entire building. Had good music and blues playing. Very much gives off low key and old school bbq vibes

Pro Tip: Stick with the pulled pork

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Seasoning: Unsure, but minimal

Description: They keep the point and flat together, then soak it in an au jus sauce and chop it. Brisket was juicy, but was slightly over cooked. With the soaking, it leaves the bark without any crunch, but the seasoning is reasonably good, but nothing special at all. Little smoke flavor coming through, and reminds me more of beef shoulder than of solid brisket. Some good pepper flavor on one of the few barks pieces that weren’t soft

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Good combination of crunchy and juicy meat pieces. Had a smoky and tasty exterior skin that ran through the pork. Didn’t need any sauce for it. Easily a Top 10, but probably a Top 5 pulled pork in Colorado. If a saucier pulled pork is desired, the mild bbq sauce is the way to go, but the sauce is very sweet and too much can overtake the meat. Would get again

Pulled Chicken

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Really good smoke flavor coming through the chicken, but that’s where the positives end. Chicken was slightly over cooked with minimal exterior seasoning. That said, one of the more flavorful chicken pieces in Colorado, but still nothing over the top. Smoke tasted like hickory

Sauces – Needs review

Sides – None ordered, needs review

Interior & Menu Photos