Smoking

Switchback Smokehouse

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8/10 and Yes. Ended up stopping here after a warm winter day hike and was pleasantly surprised by what we found. Nestled right between Bear Creek Road and Bear Creek itself, Switchback is a cozy little spot with indoor and outdoor picnic table seating. One of the only places I’ve ever seen with smoked duck as an option, I would recommend to anyone driving by, but would also say it’s worth making the short trip from Denver for a destination visit as well. Wide-ranging and non-traditional BBQ menu that should please almost anyone in your group, with a dog-friendly patio that makes a great spot for a post-hike bite. Would recommend making a stop

Date Visited: 2/26/2022

Address: 26220 Colorado 74 Frontage, Evergreen, CO 80439

Day of the Week: Saturday

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

Owner: Darryl Swartz and his wife Rachel Sanford

Website: https://switchbacksmokehouse.com/

Number of Years in Business: Since 2012

Number of People in Line: About 15 people already sitting down

Regional Style of BBQ: Doesn’t claim on specific style and blends several together for a unique offering. They do make the brisket Montreal style, so more of a thinly sliced pastrami than traditional brisket

Total Cost: N/A

Type of Wood: Colorado fruit woods

Type of Smoker: Unsure

Best Dish: Duck

Best Sauce: Mule Sauce

Best Side: Didn’t order any

Interior Description: Small cozy interior with walk-up ordering, which has interior and exterior picnic tables for you to sit down and enjoy your BBQ at. Picturesque views along Bear Creek make this a fantastic spot to grab a tasty bite of BBQ

Pro Tip: Don’t skip on the duck, as one of the only places you can find it and is top quality on top of it.

St Louis Style Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Really solid rib overall, that was fall off the bone tender, but at the same time had a nice crispy exterior as well. That said, the rib had minimal seasoning to it, which left it a little bland, but it had really great smoke flavor running through it. Would recommend adding The Mule hot sauce, which they make in-house, for the best combination. Would order this one again

Duck

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Good apple smoke coming through in each bite. Extremely tender and juicy with a nice light gaminess, with the natural duck essence coming through. Had a mild seasoning on the outside, which was tasty, but had it been more powerful/intense, it would have put the duck over the top, almost making it perfect. Would absolutely order this one again

Sauces – Mule Sauce (Hot) – Need official review

Sides – None ordered

Interior & Menu Photos:

Hogback BBQ & Grill

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.5/10 and Yes. Located right off of 470 in a short little strip mall, these guys are turning out some of the top brisket and smoked chicken around. Laid back vibe, with good food and reasonable prices, would recommend this place to anyone who is in the area and looking to get their BBQ fix taken care of

Date Visited: 1/21/2023

Address: 7986 S Depew St, Littleton, CO 80128

Day of the Week: Saturday

Time of Day: 12:15 PM. Opens at 11:00 AM

Owner: Andrew Petrone and Greg Petrone (originally from Littleton, with a catering business as well)

Website: https://hogbackbbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened in 2015

Number of People in Line: No line, but 15 people sitting down already

Regional Style of BBQ:

Total Cost: $57.54 pre tax and tip for 1/2 lb brisket, Half rack of Baby Back Ribs, 1/4 lb of pulled pork, 1 hot link sausage, 1/2 chicken, and a Colorado Native Amber

Type of Wood: Apple & hickory

Type of Smoker: Reverse Flow Off-set Smoker

Type of Seasoning: Blend of several

Best Dish: Brisket or chicken

Best Side: Fried Okra

Best Sauce: Maybe the Spicy but noting special

Interior Description: Modern and clean interior, with a good amount of seating, both inside and out. Wood paneling and sports flags line the walls and create a laidback vibe

Pro Tip: Stick with the brisket, chicken, and hot links, but feel free to skip the ribs and pulled pork

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt & pepper

Description: They cut it fatty and lean. Super juicy with a moderate level of smoke pulling through each bite. Fatty pieces were properly trimmed and good thickness for each cut. Would order again, and one of the better briskets in Denver

Burnt Ends – Not usually served here, but can request end pieces of the brisket

Baby Back Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Seasoning: Sauced with some unknown seasoning

Description: Juicy and moist with good texture in each bite. No real smoke flavor comes through, though, as the sauce flavoring dominates everything else. A good, but average rib, nothing special, and doesn’t need to order again

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10

Description: Mild smoke coming through, but it was juicy on its own. Not much for seasoning/flavor, and does need a little of the original sauce to bring it up a level. Could skip this one next time

Sausage – Hot Link

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Split sausage that’s brushed with sauce. Slightly dried out, but good overall heat level and spice flavor. Would order again if in the mood for a hot link

Smoked Chicken

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Description: Well-cooked with a good, crispy seasoned skin to it, served as a legit half chicken. Had a light and pleasant smoke flavor coming through. It might be one of the juicier chickens I’ve had in a while, but does need more smoke flavor internally to take it over the top. Would order again, and one of the best smoked chickens in Colorado

Sauces – Original, Spicy, & Carolina

0/10 Ranking: 7/10

Description: The Original is a pretty basic barbecue sauce, with nothing really unique about it. Reminds me of a Sweet Baby Rays or store-bought option. The spicy has a little bit of a kick to it, but also nothing too special. Lastly, the Carolina is closer to a Heinz Yellow Mustard than anything else, with maybe a little too much vinegar to it. Wouldn’t necessarily recommend any of them

Sides – Fried Okra

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Description: Lightly fried with a good, crunchy texture. Could use more seasoning, but tasty overall. One of the few places in Denver offering this, so I would recommend grabbing it if you have a chance

Interior & Menu Photos:

Roaming Buffalo Bar-B-Q

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 7.5 to 8/10 and Yes. Bison ribs are the main reason to come here, along with their lamb, as both meats are a rarity to find in most BBQ places. Overall, nothing special for the standard BBQ meat options, but the specialty cuts do shine through. Customer service was top-notch from ownership as well, especially with comping a half rack of Bison ribs after the first order was not up to their usual standards. Would go back again

Date Visited: 4/1/2021

Address: 2387 S Downing St, Denver, CO 80210

Day of the Week: Thursday

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

Owner: Coy & Rachael Webb

Website: https://roamingbuffalobbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened in January 2015. Had a second location in Golden, CO but it has since closed down

Number of People in Line: 1 ahead of me

Regional Style of BBQ: Self-described “Colorado Style”. Coy is originally from Texas though.

Total Cost: $25 with tip. 1/4 lb of burnt ends, 1/4 lb of pulled lamb shank, 1 bison jalapeno cheddar sausage. (I did also order a 1/2 a rack of bison ribs, but they were comped by Rachael for the miss order on the first round of ribs I got)

Type of Wood: Pecan

Type of Smoker: N/A

Type of Seasoning: Blends of several seasonings

Best Dish: Bison Ribs

Best Sauce: Hot

Interior Description: Small interior with only 4 tables, but it does have outdoor seating options. Very small kitchen/BBQ prep area for them, which creates a cozy atmosphere while waiting in line

Pro Tip: Get the bison ribs and lamb options, as one of the only place you can find either

Burnt Ends – Thursday only

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and other blends with BBQ sauce. Cooks them for an extra 3 hours after separating and coating with the sauce

Description: While the burnt ends are moist, with good seasoning and flavor overall, it does taste slightly different than most other burnt ends around. The flavor that comes through ends up tasting more closely to a beef roast, which was still enjoyable, but not the traditional expectation. The cuts are massive and could be trimmed a bit more of some of their fat, as some were almost completely fat with no meat to them. Said they chop off half of the point to make the burnt ends and then leave the remaining portion to be sliced fatty or lean. Overall, nothing too special and 50/50 on ordering again

Bison Short Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and BBQ sauce

Description: The First batch I ordered was insanely tough and dried out to the point that I actually took it back. The owner, Rachael agreed that they were a pretty rough batch and gave me a new one right away and even comped them. Have to give her big points for customer service on that one. The second batch of ribs had good flavor to them, with a nice light gaminess coming through along with smokiness. Had a good texture to it, where they were almost fall off the bone, but still had a little bit of bite to them. Would order these again, but a half rack would be all you need

Pulled Lamb Shank

0/10 Ranking: 7.5 to 8/10

Seasoning: Not sure if there was any

Description: Moist, with minimal seasoning, if any to it, which does allow the natural lamb flavor to really shine through. Needs some of the sauce, though, as it can’t stand on its own without either a side dish to combine with it, like a coleslaw or a little sauce added. Both the hot BBQ and sweet sauces can quickly overpower the lamb, though, so use them sparingly

Bison Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Good snap to the casing. The interior has a creamy, but still structurally sound, blend of fat and meat. Little heavier on the fat than usual and almost has a chorizo-type flavor coming through. Can definitely pick up on the cheddar though. Good overall, but a little salty, so 50/50 on if I would get it again, as it was tough to finish a whole one due to the saltiness

Interior & Menu Photos

A Bit Twisted Brewpub & BBQ

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 8.5/10 and Yes. A rare BBQ brewery blend, where both of the crafts are churning out delicious options. The BBQ is worth a stop on its own, but with a large tap list of tasty beers as well, would recommend popping by if you’re in the area

Date Visited: 3/10/2024

Address: 3095 S Peoria St # B, Aurora, CO 80014

Day of the Week: Sunday

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

Owner: 4 Owners, two from Texas & two from Colorado. Matt Vargocko, Brandon Foreman, Michael Richie and one more

Number of Years in Business: Opened September 25th, 2021. Looking to open two more locations as well

Number of People in Line: 0, but about 8 rolled in after me

Regional Style of BBQ: Central Texas

Total Cost: $49.89 with 20% tip. Ordered the two-meat platter with smoked chicken and pulled pork, with a 1/4 lb of the brisket and a flight of 4 beers. Came with Texas Toast, potato salad, and baked beans for the combo

Type of Wood: Post Oak

Type of Smoker: Offset Smoker and several upright smokers out back

Best Dish: Pulled Pork

Best Side: Baked Beans

Interior Description: Small little strip mall spot from the outside, with a Texas BBQ meets Colorado craft beer themed interior with seating for 30-40. Nice walk-up bar, with a large tap list of house-made beers to choose from. Just a hint of smoke smell in the air, with laid-back rock music playing in the background. Multiple TVs also give a slightly sports bar theme as well, but definitely a chill spot to grab some beers and BBQ

Pro Tip: Get the pulled pork and brisket, skip the chicken and order the in-house beers, which are solid all around.

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt & pepper

Description: They keep the point and the flat together for slicing the brisket, but you aren’t able to request fatty or lean, just whatever they give you. Ended up getting two fatty pieces served to me, which was fine on my end, as they don’t have burnt end options. The brisket was a little on the thicker side for its cut of each slice, but it had good smoke flavor running through it and a nice light seasoning of salt and pepper. That said, it needs more of the seasoning to come through overall. Minimal red ring and could use a little more fat left on the brisket during trimming, as some of the leaner sections were a little tougher and dried out at the ends. Would order again though

Burnt Ends – Not served here

Pork Spare Ribs – Only served on special occasions

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and possibly some others

Description: Very juicy, with good smoke flavor, and large chunks of the bark and meat mixed in each bite. Sauce isn’t needed, but it could use a little more seasoning to it. One of the better pulled porks in Colorado though, and would order again

Smoked Chicken

0/10 Ranking: 7/10

Seasoning: Unsure

Description: Pretty dried out, but has good smoke and pepper flavor to it. Needed some sauce to give it a little bit of moisture, but then the sauce overpowers the chicken flavor, which is a shame, because the smokiness and seasoning were actually really good. If it were juicier, I could bump this up 1 to 2 spots in its ratings. Would be down to give it another try, though, as the flavor was there, just not the juiciness desired

Sauces – Had two options, but didn’t rate them

Sides – Potato Salad

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.5/10

Description: While I typically don’t get potato salad, this one came with the combo meal I ordered, so I figured I’d try it out. Even though I’m not a fan of potato salads, this one did have good overall taste, and the potatoes were cooked perfectly. Not something I’d order again based on my preferences, but for people that like this type of dish, it is one of the better ones I’ve ever had

Sides – Baked Beans

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Description: Smoky and very tasty, as they add a little bit of bacon to it as well. Very much appreciated that it wasn’t overly sweet like some baked beans can be, but had a light and balanced sweetness to it. Similar to the potato salad, I’m not typically a big baked bean fan, but would order these again as a side

Interior & Menu Photos:

Scooter’s Smokehouse & Grill

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

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

Date Visited: 6/4/2021

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

Day of the Week: Friday

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

Owner: Tyler, Kathy, & Mike Barnette

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

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

Number of People in Line: 6 with 6 more seated

Regional Style of BBQ: Texas

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

Type of Wood: Hickory

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

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

Best Dish: Turkey or Pulled Pork

Best Sauce: Didn’t try any

Best Side: Didn’t order any

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

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

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Salt and pepper only

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

Burnt Ends

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Salt and pepper

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

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8.5/10

Seasoning: Unsure

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

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

Seasoning: Unsure

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

Turkey

0/10 Ranking: 9 to 9.5/10

Seasoning: Unsure

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

Interior & Menu Photos

Hank’s Texas BBQ

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

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

Date Visited: 5/12/2021

Address: 5410 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80220

Day of the Week: Wednesday

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

Owner: Christopher Nicki

Number of Years in Business: Opened in 2019

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

Regional Style of BBQ: Texas

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

Type of Wood: Post Oak

Type of Smoker: Offset reverse flow

Type of Seasoning:

Best Dish: Brisket

Best Sauce: Hot/Smokey

Best Side: (Needs review)

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

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

Brisket

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Seasoning: Salt & pepper

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

Burnt Ends

Description: Not served here

Pork Spare Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, onion powder

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

Pulled Pork

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Seasoning: Salt, pepper, maybe cumin and others?

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

Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 8 to 8.5/10

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

Sauces – Hot

0/10 Ranking: 8.5 to 9/10

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

Sauces – Carolina

0/10 Ranking: 7.5/10

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

Interior & Menu Photos

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 seem 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 a few other ingredients to it before tossing them back in the smoker for another hour and a 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 smoke 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. It was a good, but pretty middle-of-the-road pulled pork, and needed 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

LuLu’s BBQ

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

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

Date Visited: 2/10/24

Address: 701 Main St, Louisville, CO 80027

Day of the Week: Saturday

Time of Day: 1:03 PM. Opens at 12:00

Owner: Kevin Herrington

Website: https://www.lulusbbq.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened in 2011

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

Interior & Menu Photos

Louie Mueller Barbecue

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 9/10. Yes, absolutely worth the drive. Sitting on Main Street of Taylor, right from the start, it gives off a small-town Texas vibe. As soon as you step inside, you’re hit with the strong smell of smoke, and your eyes swallow in the impossibly blackened walls that have been naturally created after decades of barbecue having flowed through it. As you roll up to the counter to order, you can see Wayne in the back working diligently and moving around like a man 20 years his junior, still perfecting his art of barbecue and maintaining quality control all the way down to slicing the brisket. It was a true pleasure to see a 4th-generation pit master continuing on with his family’s traditions and legacy, and after sampling the beef rib, I have a feeling they would be proud of the way he is carrying the torch. Do yourself a favor and make your way over here to find one of the best beef ribs in Texas and one of the few Texas barbecue institutions still being served up by the owners

Date Visited: 1/29/2021

Address: 206 W 2nd St, Taylor, TX 76574

Day of the Week: Friday

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

Owner: Wayne Mueller (4th generation, still working the pits himself)

Website: https://www.louiemuellerbarbecue.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened in 1949 (72 years)

Number of People in Line: 6 people ahead of us

Regional Style of BBQ: Central Texas

Total Cost: $62 with tip for one large beef rib and two drinks

Type of Wood: Post Oak

Type of Smoker: Indirect-heat pit

Type of Seasoning: Salt & pepper

Best Dish: Beef Rib

Best Sauce: Original

Best Side: Didn’t order any, need review

Interior Description: Main area has what appear to be original wood floor boards that are slightly uneven, giving off the vibe that this place has been around as long as the town itself, with no major upgrades needed. In addition to the interior seating section, there is plenty of great outdoor seating on the patio as well

Pro Tip: Famous for their beef ribs for a reason

Beef Ribs 

0/10 Ranking: 9/10

Seasoning: Salt & pepper

Description: Melt in your mouth and fall off the bone tenderness. 1 rib was about 3lbs and was enough for 3 of us to eat. Had a solid seasoning and smoke flavor running throughout the rib, letting you know it’s there, without being too over the top. Adding a little bit of the original sauce makes for an interesting and tasty flavor combo, but I would say this rib is best eaten on its own, unadulterated by sauce

Sauces

0/10 Ranking: 8/10

Description: Soupy consistency with some onions in there as well. Had a strong tomato taste with a nice acidity to it, with good flavor overall. Not your typical barbecue sauce given how thin it is, but worth a try for its uniqueness

Interior & Menu Photos

Smitty’s Market

/ Mitch Clark / Leave a comment

Overall Rating and is it worth a visit: 7/10 and a half-hearted yes. It’s worth a visit for the history, but not for the food. Similar to the rest of the Lockhart BBQ places I visited, the employees I encountered seemed upset to even be working, as I was met with eye rolls when I asked what was available for purchase that morning. Obviously, with me being from out of town, I had no idea that 90% of the smoked meats aren’t done until after 10:30 AM, as nothing was listed on their website to suggest otherwise. As such, I got there in the morning to get a jump start on my barbecue tour for the day, only to be greeted with slight discontent and annoyance by the staff for me arriving before the full offerings of meat were available. While walking past the pits and seeing the walls that are caked in black smoke from years of barbecuing is an absolute experience for any enthusiast, the food and the service left much to be desired, and I would say pop in for a photo and then get back to Austin for better options

Date Visited: 1/28/2021

Address: 208 S Commerce St, Lockhart, TX 78644

Day of the Week: Thursday

Time of Day: 8:45 AM, but only have sausage available until 10:30 AM. Opens at 7:00 AM

Owner: Nine Schmidt Sells (Daughter of Edgar “Smitty” Schmidt)

Website: http://smittysmarket.com/

Number of Years in Business: Opened in 1948 (73 years)

Number of People in Line: 0

Regional Style of BBQ: Central Texas

Total Cost: $6.00 for a sausage, cash only

Type of Wood: Oak

Type of Smoker: Coffin. Indirect-heat brick pit

Type of Seasoning: Salt & pepper

Best Dish: Only had a sausage and was not impressed

Best Sauce: Need Review

Best Side: Need Review

Interior Description: Black caked walls from decades of smoking. They had large open seating sections inside right off of Main Street, which gives a throwback to the past feel to it. Authentic is probably the only word that gives it justice

Pro Tip: Bring cash to pay with as they don’t accept credit cards

Sausage 

0/10 Ranking: 6 to 6.5/10

Description: One of the greasiest sausages I have ever had. While the casing had a nice snap to it, as soon as I bit into it, a puddle of grease and loose meat began forming on my butcher paper. The flavor of the sausage was okay overall, but not enough to salvage a good review

Interior & Menu Photos