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
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
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
Number of People in Line: About 15 people already sitting down
Regional Style of BBQ: Doesn’t claim on specific style and blends several together for a unique offering. They do make the brisket Montreal style, so more of a thinly sliced pastrami than traditional brisket
Total Cost: N/A
Type of Wood: Colorado fruit woods
Type of Smoker: Unsure
Best Dish: Duck
Best Sauce: Mule Sauce
Best Side: Didn’t order any
Interior Description: Small cozy interior with walk-up ordering, which has interior and exterior picnic tables for you to sit down and enjoy your BBQ at. Picturesque views along Bear Creek make this a fantastic spot to grab a tasty bite of BBQ
Pro Tip: Don’t skip on the duck, as one of the only places you can find it and is top quality on top of it.
St Louis Style Spare Ribs
0/10 Ranking: 8/10
Seasoning: Unsure
Description: Really solid rib overall, that was fall off the bone tender, but at the same time had a nice crispy exterior as well. That said, the rib had minimal seasoning to it, which left it a little bland, but it had really great smoke flavor running through it. Would recommend adding The Mule hot sauce, which they make in-house, for the best combination. Would order this one again
Duck
0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10
Seasoning: Unsure
Description: Good apple smoke coming through in each bite. Extremely tender and juicy with a nice light gaminess, with the natural duck essence coming through. Had a mild seasoning on the outside, which was tasty, but had it been more powerful/intense, it would have put the duck over the top, almost making it perfect. Would absolutely order this one again
Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.5/10 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)
Number of People in Line: No line, but 15 people sitting down already
Regional Style of BBQ:
Total Cost: $57.54 pre tax and tip for 1/2 lb brisket, Half rack of Baby Back Ribs, 1/4 lb of pulled pork, 1 hot link sausage, 1/2 chicken, and a Colorado Native Amber
Type of Wood: Apple & hickory
Type of Smoker: Reverse Flow Off-set Smoker
Type of Seasoning: Blend of several
Best Dish: Brisket or chicken
Best Side: Fried Okra
Best Sauce: Maybe the Spicy but noting special
Interior Description: Modern and clean interior, with a good amount of seating, both inside and out. Wood paneling and sports flags line the walls and create a laidback vibe
Pro Tip: Stick with the brisket, chicken, and hot links, but feel free to skip the ribs and pulled pork
Brisket
0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10
Seasoning: Salt & pepper
Description: They cut it fatty and lean. Super juicy with a moderate level of smoke pulling through each bite. Fatty pieces were properly trimmed and good thickness for each cut. Would order again, and one of the better briskets in Denver
Burnt Ends – Not usually served here, but can request end pieces of the brisket
Baby Back Ribs
0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10
Seasoning: Sauced with some unknown seasoning
Description: Juicy and moist with good texture in each bite. No real smoke flavor comes through, though, as the sauce flavoring dominates everything else. A good, but average rib, nothing special, and doesn’t need to order again
Pulled Pork
0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10
Description: Mild smoke coming through, but it was juicy on its own. Not much for seasoning/flavor, and does need a little of the original sauce to bring it up a level. Could skip this one next time
Sausage – Hot Link
0/10 Ranking: 8/10
Description: Split sausage that’s brushed with sauce. Slightly dried out, but good overall heat level and spice flavor. Would order again if in the mood for a hot link
Smoked Chicken
0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10
Description: Well-cooked with a good, crispy seasoned skin to it, served as a legit half chicken. Had a light and pleasant smoke flavor coming through. It might be one of the juicier chickens I’ve had in a while, but does need more smoke flavor internally to take it over the top. Would order again, and one of the best smoked chickens in Colorado
Sauces – Original, Spicy, & Carolina
0/10 Ranking: 7/10
Description: The Original is a pretty basic barbecue sauce, with nothing really unique about it. Reminds me of a Sweet Baby Rays or store-bought option. The spicy has a little bit of a kick to it, but also nothing too special. Lastly, the Carolina is closer to a Heinz Yellow Mustard than anything else, with maybe a little too much vinegar to it. Wouldn’t necessarily recommend any of them
Sides – Fried Okra
0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10
Description: Lightly fried with a good, crunchy texture. Could use more seasoning, but tasty overall. One of the few places in Denver offering this, so I would recommend grabbing it if you have a chance
Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8/10 and Yes. Good spot for some BBQ while up in Louisville. The service and wait staff were extremely friendly, and the restaurant has a welcoming feel overall. The brisket was definitely the best meat ordered, with the ribs coming in second. Seeing as how there was about a foot of snow on the ground at the time I visited and around 25 degrees outside, would be interested in going back to see if warmer temperatures would lead to better BBQ flavoring and to check out the outdoor seating options. Overall, it’s worth a stop if you’re in the area and feeling like you want a taste of Texas. They are also planning a second location in Arvada for 2024, so will be trying the new location a little closer to home once it opens
Number of People in Line: No line, but 30 people already sitting down when I got there
Regional Style of BBQ: Central Texas
Total Cost: $58.50 plus tip
Type of Wood: Post Oak
Type of Smoker: Off-set
Type of Seasoning: Salt & pepper
Best Dish: Brisket
Best Sauce: Original
Best Side: None ordered, but relish was 8.5/10
Interior Description: BBQ sheet metal sheds, road signs, and Texas stars cover the walls. Large outdoor seating options in the front and back as well. No music playing, so quiet vibe, with a faint smoke smell hanging in the air
Pro Tip: Go for the brisket and request burnt ends if possible
Brisket
0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.5/10
Seasoning: Salt & pepper
Description: Lean pieces for the half a pound, with 3/4 inch red ring on each piece. Good flavor overall, but needs more smoke and seasoning flavor to come through to take it to the next level. Moisture level is on point, but just a little bit on the dry side. Would get again and was the best meat from today. A friend recommended that I order the burnt ends next time
Pork Spare Ribs
0/10 Ranking: 8/10
Seasoning: Salt & pepper with a little of the sweet and mild sauce added at the end
Description: Tender to the bite, with a heavy pepper flavoring coming through, but not much for smoke flavor. Cooked well, but flavor and smokiness are coming up a little short. Would try them again, though
Pulled Pork
0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10
Seasoning: Salt & pepper, but minimal overall
Description: Juicy on its own, but the sauce makes it better. Not a ton of smoke flavor or seasoning, and somewhat bland on its own. Sweet and mild sauce is a good addition, but no need to order this one again
Sausage
0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10
Seasoning: Unknown
Description: Okay flavor with a little bit of spiciness to it, but nothing special. Casing had a good snap, but overall not blown away by the flavor or seasoning. Good fat-to-meat ratio, though. Not made in-house, as Old Style Sausage makes them down the street. Skip for the next time
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
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
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
1st Visit
2nd Visit
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
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
Sides – Baked Beans
0/10 Ranking: 9/10
Description: Black and kidney bean combo with onions, peppers, and pulled pork in it. Smoky essence with a good creamy texture, would recommend
The House of Salt & Smoke 