Barbecue is one of those meals that turns choosing lunch into a serious personality test. Do you chase peppery bark, sticky ribs, brisket with a perfect smoke ring, or sides strong enough to earn their own fan club?
The fun gets wonderfully complicated in Colorado, where pitmasters borrow from several regional traditions without pretending there is only one correct way to smoke meat. Some counters lean bold and messy, others keep things stripped down, and a few make you rethink what you thought barbecue was supposed to taste like.
That is exactly why ranking these spots gets interesting. You are not just comparing plates…