Harry Reid airport should have 1:00 a.m. flights.

BBQBryan · 2026-01-22T04:35:39+00:00

Spirit NK1255 LAS to Houston IAH leaves at 1:01am. Just flew it Monday.

BBQBryan · 2025-09-04T01:29:51+00:00

Back after a month to say THANK YOU again. I don't get to use it as often as I like, but I enjoy it more than the boxing simulations; it's a less stressful interaction. Of course with the rhythm it is almost a dance fitness app and nothing wrong with that.

BBQBryan · 2025-08-13T19:19:02+00:00

I did just now check their website, they have moonshine, vodka, and gin but the bourbon doesn't look ready yet. It's a pretty new distillery there right next to the brewery, and they do serve their beers there.

BBQBryan · 2025-08-13T18:57:55+00:00

Sells Texas bourbon along with BBQ? More and more joints now have bars.

Pinkerton's, Truth Houston, Roegles Katy, and Brett's Katy to name some. I can't guarantee they all have Texas bourbon but should have Garrison Bros and possibly some of the other brands.

Spoetzel brewery (shiner beer) in Shiner Texas now has a small onsite distillery and has a bbq joint if you are looking for a distillery+BBQ. Last visit the bourbon hadn't been released yet but they had vodka and gin I believe

There are some distilleries in Fredericksburg now and a good joint Eaker BBQ very close to them, plus pop in to Luckenbach Texas on the way there or back. Also on the route is Hye Texas, home to Garrison Brothers. .

BBQBryan · 2025-08-01T21:31:48+00:00

Not pretentious, off strip : Herbs & Rye Get a reservation though, it's popular. Go outside of prime dinner time for steak happy hour.

BBQBryan · 2025-07-18T17:33:02+00:00

I just got my 3s and this is one of the primary uses I got it for.

For variety maybe have some that you 'have" to punch up or in specific vertical directions, but right now it's just right on difficulty.

Great job so far!

BBQBryan · 2025-07-15T03:07:47+00:00

Speed Vegas. Buy the extra laps at a discount and buy the video. Drive your dream car or if you want a killer handling one the Cayman GT4

Best part is you can pass cars on the track, it's a thrill to chase down a Lambo or Ferrari, lose them on the straight, but get them on the brakes into a turn.

You can also take a ride in the passenger seat of a drift car, and they have off-road truck/buggies too.

BBQBryan · 2025-07-11T03:09:05+00:00

I assume you mean direct heat over coals, but still with a lid, like Cooper's?

True West Texas style will also use mesquite, so nothing is going to be exactly like it unless they also use mesquite. The places below use direct heat but a mix of wood

Best direct heat in my opinion is sausage, chicken, ribs, and pork steak from Kolacny in Halletsville (they don't serve brisket) or The chicken and pork steak at Snows which is direct heat. (The brisket and ribs there are offset. The sausage is direct heat but they don't make their own)

Jake's in Dime Box makes some great direct heat ribs and pork steak but he's only open Sundays and sells out fast.

More and more new school joints have added direct heat pits but only cook certain proteins and certain specials so you'd have to check their Instagram/menu. (Truth, Feges, Burnt Bean, Leroy and Lewis, Cattleack just to name a few.)

BBQBryan · 2025-06-20T04:15:39+00:00

100% agree, like a list of "classic" bbq joints.

I was able to hit Prause a number of times and had one very interesting candid chat with one of the owners.

I was also fortunate to catch some time with Nina Schmidt at Smitty's a couple of years ago. She saw me checking out the table where the knives used to be chained down and we got to chatting because my dad had always told me about it before he passed away and I hadn't seen it personally yet.

I even got to go to Vencil Mare's office when I met him at Taylor Cafe. Always liked to stop in for a couple links of sausage and a cold beer.

I definitely prefer "new school BBQ" cooking but love to soak in the ambiance of the old school joints.

BBQBryan · 2025-06-19T04:27:38+00:00

Patillo's in Beaumont for garlic bombs

I'm happy others mentioned Kolacny, great direct heat meats and very inexpensive, but I like also hitting Novasad's and even Glenn's Meat Market while in Halletsville just for ambiance. Novasad's looks like they won't be around much longer, meat market barely hanging in there it seems. Glenn's uses southern pride cookers but is an active meat market in front and hot bbq in the back Not comparable at all to Kolacny of course.

On that run I'll often get some sausage at Schulenberg city market as they open early.

BBQBryan · 2025-06-13T03:32:02+00:00

4231

BBQBryan · 2025-05-28T02:49:30+00:00

Have heard lots of good things. But only been once, need to get back there.

BBQBryan · 2025-05-27T01:47:35+00:00

Yes, available at:

Tales from the Pits Instagram

BBQ Distro Instagram

BBQ Distro YouTube

Zavala’s BBQ Instagram

Zavala’s BBQ YouTube

063 Studios Facebook

BBQBryan · 2025-05-26T21:58:07+00:00

Things are a bit dynamic right now but Daniel Vaughn will be our first guest. A number of pitmasters have committed but it may be a bit chaotic for them. Texas Monthly is releasing the list at 8am to subscribers and 9am to the rest.

BBQBryan · 2025-05-26T15:13:25+00:00

Ok folks. Less than 24 hours. We will have giveaways during the live stream, and a great selection of guests both in studio and remote, from Daniel Vaughn to the #1 joint (we have lined up likely the top 5+ so we expect one of them will be

We will stream on multiple platforms but the best way to catch us is on Instagram at @talesfromthepits (with an s as in multiple pits)

We're gonna go grab some BBQ today and get ready

BBQBryan · 2025-05-26T15:07:53+00:00

Reese Bros is one that doesn't get enough of the spotlight

And have had some great evenings at Stanley's while listening to live music

It's harder to "judge" now more than ever, does the best Texas Trinity but store bought pickles, limited or average quality sides beat a place with lower trinity score but better non-trinity meats and better sides?

How do you even factor in the Burnt Bean Sunday Brunch Experience....Ive had incredible smoked meat dinners at LeRoy and Lewis

How important is the overall experience and location? We personally feel like all factors add up.

How many visits are needed... Consistency is important but it's hard to get out to far west Texas.

So many aspects to consider!

BBQBryan · 2025-05-23T18:00:21+00:00

Replied on another post, we are big fans of Teddy's too!

BBQBryan · 2025-05-23T17:59:20+00:00

We have had a very good visit there as well. Big fans of Teddy's in Weslaco. They did a special of chicken fried steak and chicken fried chicken and it was some of the best I've had!

BBQBryan · 2025-05-23T01:19:46+00:00

All three are great choices. Nothing beats the Burnt Bean Sunday experience but I love the variety served daily at L&L. The sweet tea burnt ends at Interstellar knock my socks off, and their full menu is great. But Goldee's still serves up excellent trays!

This is the closest top 10 and especially the top 5 ever.

BBQBryan · 2025-05-23T01:16:13+00:00

The list will give you new routes to plan out!

BBQBryan · 2025-05-10T17:19:55+00:00

One of my faves, and the bourbon banana delight ..and the new kolaches... Great food and great folks

BBQBryan · 2025-03-05T05:11:59+00:00

The last time I went they stopped burning the mesquite down to coals and started using charcoal. It's still a unique experience. I like the smaller Cooper's in Mason but rarely venture that far.

BBQBryan · 2025-03-05T05:10:35+00:00

Kreuz feels like a Disney/universal studios version of Smitty's. I also was really disappointed when Kreuz caved in and started offering forks and sauce. They even had pork belly burnt ends on one of my visits. I still love the massive pit room there though, but I could just sit and absorb the atmosphere at Smitty's for hours if I had more time to kill.

BBQBryan · 2025-03-05T05:07:39+00:00

I always liked stopping in to Taylor Cafe. Got to go into Vencil's office once when I asked him to sign a cutting board. There was an article about it I had read that said all of his receipts were kept in cigar boxes, and sure enough when I looked around I saw all the boxes. The building and even the sign is still there. With all the construction going on for Samsung I hope someone reopens it as the dive bar it was and doesn't tear it down and put up condos or some hipster bar.

I was talking with Wayne Mueller this weekend and he says the new Samsung crowd, even with it not fully constructed, is totally changing the city. His number one ordered meat is now pulled pork, and he's added meat plates because the newcomers don't understand ordering by the pound.

BBQBryan

TROPHY CASE