Winter Park BBQ Guide

So you are up here in the mountains and its cold and you been skiing or maybe just hanging out and you get that hunger. Not just any hunger but you want meat. Smoked meat. You want that smell of wood smoke sticking to your clothes and the taste of bbq sauce on your fingers. It is a specific craving i think everyone gets when they are at high altitude.

Finding good bbq in the mountains is not always easy because lets be honest this isn’t texas or kansas city but there are some spots that really hit the spot when you need them too. Winter Park and the whole Grand County area actually has a few places that are definately worth checking out if you are starving after a long day on the slopes or just driving through.

I have eaten at pretty much all of them over the years and i have some thoughts on where you should go depending on what you are looking for. Sometimes you want a sit down meal and sometimes you just want to grab a styrofoam box of ribs and go back to your condo and pass out.

The Scene in Winter Park

When people think of Winter Park dining they usually think of pizza or burgers but the bbq scene is actually pretty decent for a ski town. You have a couple of main options right in town and they are easy to get to.

One of the places that has been around for a long time is Smokin Moes. It is located right in Cooper Creek Square which is super convienient if you are already walking around looking for shops or getting off the bus. Smokin Moes is kind of exactly what you expect a mountain bbq joint to be. It is casual and loud and smells like meat the second you walk in the door.

I really like their ribs. They are usually pretty tender and the sauce they use has a good kick to it without being too spicy for regular people. If you go there you should probly get the slab of ribs or at least a half slab because you will regret it if you just get a sandwich. Although the sandwiches are good too especially the brisket one.

The thing about bbq in colorado is that it is usually a mix of styles. You don’t get just pure texas style or pure carolina style. It is a mountain mish mash of whatever the chef likes. At Smokin Moes they have different sauces you can try which is nice if you are picky. I usually just drown everything in the spicy sauce anyway so it doesn’t matter too much to me.

Another spot in Winter Park that people talk about a lot is The Smokehouse. It is a different place than Moes so don’t get them confused. The Smokehouse is more of a quick stop sometimes or a place to grab takeout. Their brisket is pretty solid. Sometimes brisket in the mountains can get dry because of the altitude or just sitting around but these guys usually keep it pretty juicy. I think they use a dry rub that is really tasty even without sauce but adding sauce makes it better.

If you are staying in a rental or a hotel in winter park it is really nice to just pick up a big family pack from one of these places. BBQ travels well. Pizza gets cold and soggy but bbq just kind of steams in the box and stays warm for a long time. Plus you can get sides like mac and cheese and beans which are essential for a good meal.

Heading Down the Road to Granby

If you are willing to drive a little bit or if you are staying further down the valley in Granby there are more options. Granby is less of a tourist trap than Winter Park so the food can be a bit more down to earth sometimes.

One thing to look out for in Granby is the food trucks. In the summer especially there is the Colorado Pig Rig which is an awesome name for a truck. They park around town and serve up some seriously good bbq. Food truck bbq is honestly some of the best because you know they don’t have a huge kitchen to hide behind. They just have a smoker and a window. If you see them parked somewhere you should definately stop.

If you want a sit down place in Granby you might not find a dedicated bbq shack open all year round like in the big cities but a lot of the restaurants have great bbq items on the menu. Places like Maverick’s Grille often have smoked meats or ribs that are really hearty. Maverick’s is cool because it feels very colorado. It has that old west vibe and the food matches.

Another spot is Brickhouse 40. It is a bit more upscale i guess compared to a shack but they know how to cook meat. If they have a pork chop or ribs on the special menu you should get it. It’s nice to have a cocktail with your bbq sometimes instead of just a plastic cup of soda.

Driving from Winter Park to Granby takes about twenty minutes or so depending on the weather. If it is snowing it might take longer. This is where having a driver or a service like Winter Wagon comes in handy because you don’t want to be driving on icy roads when you are full of ribs and maybe had a couple of beers. It is way better to just sit back and look at the mountains while someone else drives.

The Grand Lake Experience

Now if you go all the way to Grand Lake which is at the end of the road basically you have to go to Sagebrush BBQ & Grill. This place is legendary in the county. It has been there forever.

Sagebrush is an experience. You walk in and it looks like an old saloon. There is stuff on the walls and it feels like a movie set almost but it is real. They are famous for having peanuts that you can throw the shells on the floor. I am not sure if they still let you do that every single night because rules change but the vibe is still there.

The menu at Sagebrush is huge. They have everything. But you are there for the bbq. They do this thing called the wild game sausage which is really interesting. If you want to try elk or buffalo this is a good place to do it. It tastes a little different than beef or pork but it is good.

Their ribs are also very popular. They come out on these metal plates or baskets and are covered in sauce. It is messy eating but that is how bbq should be. If you have a clean face after eating bbq you did it wrong.

One thing i love about Sagebrush is the sides. They have this cornbread that comes in a little skillet sometimes or just big chunks of it and it is sweet and crumbly. You have to put honey butter on it. It is not optional.

Grand Lake is a really pretty town to walk around in after you eat. You can walk down to the lake and look at the water. It helps you digest all that heavy food. The air is fresh and cold and it wakes you up after the meat sweats set in.

Why BBQ Tastes Better in the Mountains

I have a theory that bbq actually tastes better at high altitude. I don’t know if there is any science to back this up but i feel like when it is cold outside your body craves fat and protein. You need the energy to keep warm.

When you smell that wood smoke wafting through the air in Winter Park or Grand Lake it triggers something primal. It’s not like eating a salad. Nobody craves a salad when it is ten degrees outside and snowing. You want something hot and sticky and filling.

Also the wood they use for smoking up here might be different. I dont know if they use local aspen or pine or if they import hickory but whatever they are doing works. The smoke flavor cuts through the cold air.

Quick List of What to Order

If you are overwhelmed by the menus here is a quick breakdown of what i usually go for at these places.

Smokin Moes:

• The Ribs (half rack is usually enough for lunch but get full for dinner)
• Brisket sandwich
• Wings (smoked wings are underrated)
• Mac and cheese side

Sagebrush BBQ:

• The Wild Game Combo (try the elk)
• BBQ Chicken (sometimes chicken is dry but theirs is good)
• Cornbread (lots of it)
• Fries (they are good for dipping in extra sauce)

The Smokehouse:

• Takeout family pack
• Pulled pork
• Baked beans

Getting Around to Eat

The only problem with wanting to try all these places is that they are spread out. Winter Park and Grand Lake are like forty five minutes apart. If you are staying in Winter Park you might not want to drive all the way to Grand Lake just for dinner especially if it is dark and icy.

But it is totally worth it for the experience. The drive through the valley is beautiful even at night you can see the stars.

This is why i usually tell people to figure out their transport before they get hungry. If you are using a service like Winter Wagon you can plan a whole evening out of it. You can get picked up at your condo in Winter Park drive to Grand Lake for a big dinner at Sagebrush walk around the town a little bit and then get driven back.

It makes the night feel like a vacation instead of a chore. Plus you can have a few drinks with your bbq which always helps.

The Sides Matter

We need to talk about sides for a minute. I feel like a bbq place is only as good as its sides. You can have great meat but if the coleslaw is soggy or the beans are hard it ruins the meal.

In Grand County the sides are usually pretty traditional. You will see a lot of coleslaw, potato salad, beans, and fries.

I am a big fan of bbq beans. They need to be sweet but also have a little bit of spice. Sometimes places put chunks of brisket in the beans which is the best thing ever. It adds so much flavor.

Potato salad is hit or miss for me. I like the mustard based kind better than the mayo based kind but that is just personal preference. I think most places up here do a mix.

And french fries. Fries with bbq sauce is a combination that does not get enough love. You dip the fry in the red sauce and it is perfect.

Lunch vs Dinner

Most of these places are open for both lunch and dinner. Lunch is usually quicker and cheaper. If you are skiing at Winter Park resort you can come down to town for lunch but it takes time. You might miss an hour of skiing.

It is usually better to wait for dinner. You are tired your legs hurt and you just want to sit down. The atmosphere at night is better too. Places like Sagebrush get really cozy at night with the lights low and the noise of people talking.

If you do go for lunch though it is usually less crowded. You can get a table right away. At dinner time especially on weekends or holidays you might have to wait.

Special Mentions

There are a few other places that pop up now and then. Sometimes the ski resort itself has a bbq station on the mountain. It is usually expensive because it is on the mountain but eating a pulled pork sandwich on a deck at 10,000 feet is a cool experience.

Also the local grocery stores sometimes have smokers going out front in the summer. It sounds weird to buy bbq from a grocery store parking lot but trust me it smells amazing.

There is also a place called Vertical Bistro in the village sometimes they have meat specials. And Randi’s Irish Pub in Winter Park is obviously irish food but they do a lot of heavy meat dishes that satisfy the same craving even if it isn’t technically bbq.

What to Expect with Service

Service in mountain towns is generally friendly but laid back. These are not high stress environments. The servers are usually people who moved here to ski or hike. They are nice and they want you to have a good time but don’t expect new york city speed.

Relax. You are on vacation. Drink your beer and wait for your ribs. It will come out when it is ready.

Sometimes they run out of certain meats. This happens at real bbq places. If you show up at 8pm and they are out of brisket do not get mad. It just means they cooked it fresh that day and people ate it all. That is actually a good sign. It means they aren’t just microwaving frozen meat from last week.

A Note on Prices

Everything in ski towns costs a little more. That is just how it is. BBQ is usually a decent value though compared to like a fancy steakhouse. You get a lot of food for your money.

A full rack of ribs might seem expensive but it can feed two people if you aren’t super hungry. Or one person if you are me.

Just be prepared that it won’t be cheap fast food prices. You are paying for the location and the effort of smoking meat for twelve hours.

Final Thoughts on the BBQ Hunt

So if you are in Winter Park or anywhere in Grand County do not settle for bad food. There is good bbq to be found.

I think my perfect day would be skiing all morning getting cleaned up and then taking a ride up to Grand Lake for a feast at Sagebrush. But honestly a quick sandwich at Smokin Moes is pretty great too.

Just remember to bring your appetite and maybe some wet naps because it is going to get messy. And that is the whole point.

Here is a little breakdown of the vibes to help you choose.

I hope this helps you find some good eats while you are up here. The mountains are a great place to be hungry.

The air is thin but the sauce is thick. That sounds like a saying on a t-shirt but it is true. Enjoy the food and the views and try not to get too much sauce on your ski jacket because that stuff never comes out.