The rest from Sharon's

Pics from first trip to Sharon's Barbeque in Abilene

Man Up's Google Map is updated.

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Jason and Rex visit Kreuz, Smitty's, and Chisholm Trail for lunch.

Email from Jason:

So Rex and I ventured to Lockhart Texas this past Saturday!

As usual we hit up Kruez. I ordered a slice of beef brisket, beef rib and jalapeno cheese sausage! Beef brisket – was excellent; super tender! Great flavor, texture! 9.8. Beef brisket – was kind of skimpy on the meat, but awesome taste and flavor; great balance of fattiness to make it so tasty! It was a little salty though… but great. 9.6. Jalapeno sausage – solid; always solid. 9.5. Iced tea – 9.8 good brew…perfect balance…Overall 9.7

Up next is my favorite: Smitty’s. Ordered only pork rib and lone star. Pork rib – I like them cooked a little longer I can usually tell by the toughness and how hard the cartilage is. Great flavor and perfect amount of sauce 9.5. Lone star – 10. Part of Rex’s Avocado – 8.5. Overall – 9.5

Lastly you know where I like to end it; the old Chisholm Trail for some peach cobbler w/ soft serve ice cream! 9.5 hit the spot nicely!

First pic w/ bread is Kruez. Pics w/ just ribs – Smitty’s. Pic w/ Rex – Smitty’s. Cobbler – Chisholm trail

Man Up's 1-year anniversary!!!

It's been one year to the day since the blog's first post, and Year 1 has been greater than we could have imagined...actually, nobody was probably thinking it would even last a year, so I guess the bar wasn't set too high. Read the first post to see how it all began!

2009 rankings through July

1. The Salt Lick (visit #3): 9.9525
2. Opie’s Barbecue (visit #1): 9.8925
3. Louie Mueller Barbecue (visit #2): 9.795
4. Louie Mueller Barbecue (visit #1): 9.778
5. Mills County BBQ Company: 9.765
6. Smitty's Market: 9.7
7. Schoepf’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que (visit #2): 9.59
8. Schoepf's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que (visit #3): 9.57
9. Opie's Barbecue (visit #2): 9.55875
10. The Salt Lick (visit #1): 9.23
11. The Salt Lick (visit #2): 9.21
12. Schoepf’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que (visit #1): 9.166
13. Rudy’s “Country Store” and Bar-B-Q: 9.14
14. Miss Mae's Bar-B-Q: 9.067
15. Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que: 9.018
16. Black's Barbecue: 8.945
17. Hill’s Cafe: 8.7733
18. The Pit Barbeque: 8.38
19. Donn's BBQ: 8.21
20. Riley's Bar-B-Q: 8.147
21. Chisholm Trail Barbeque: 7.895
22. The Old Coupland Inn & Dancehall: 7.82
23. The Smokehouse: 7.025
24. Sam's Bar-B-Cue: 4.7467

Merchandise Spotlight: Mug

View all merchandise here.

Texas Take Out

First trip to Boerne

Just back from a day trip to Boerne, where I hit up 3 BBQ joints on Main Street in the span of 2 hours: Bar D, Riverside Market, and Fritze's. Thoughts and pictures will be posted later.

R.P. hits up Schoepf's & Johnny T's in one evening.

A recent email from Russell:

Had to run to Waco this evening. So figured I better man up @ Schoepf’s & Johnny T’s while up this way.

Can't beat new atmosphere of Schoepf’s. They actually had a bluegrass country gospel jam session going on back patio. Their pork ribs r mighty flavorful but could be meatier.
Brisket is tasty even if not really my style...a bit roastish.

Johnny t's provided a southern style home cooking surprise. Very flavorful and well marbled moist brisket. Mighty fine pulled pork and spicy apple slaw. I think we need to give this place future consideration for an official visit. It may well be a hidden gym in that A- to B++ type range.

RP on the road.

Last pics from brisket fest

Coming up...

1. Last pics from last Thursday's brisket smoking

2. Russell hits up Schoepf's and Johnny T's in one evening.

3. Pics from a to-go order from Mills County BBQ Company

4. Merchandise spotlight

5. Current 2009 rankings

6. Jason and Rex travel to Lockhart.

7. Pics from Sharon's Barbeque in Abilene

8. Pics of pork ribs from Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap

9. Man Up's 1-year anniversary

10. Review and pics of Man Up's record-setting outing to Milt's Pit BBQ in Kyle

Up close with 1st brisket and cutting 2nd brisket

Fun around the good stuff

Record outing attendance

We're back from our first trip to Milt's Pit BBQ in Kyle, Texas, and it was a banner day. 15 came out, beating our previous record of 13. Review and pics later.

Cutting the briskets

Time running out on t-shirt discounts!!!

Reminder: Man Up's t-shirts are $3 off, thru Sunday, August 23, at 11:59 PM (Pacific). Use coupon code BTSTSHIRTS09 at checkout. There are a bunch of shirt styles, all with multiple color schemes, so customize the shirt(s) you want, and order while they're reduced!

Later today...

Man Up heads to Milt's Pit BBQ in Kyle, Texas.

Exhausted.

After putting the briskets in at 7:45 am and smoking them in the Texas summer heat for 12 hours (on, for me, 4.5 hours of sleep), we were exhausted by the time the party started. I have even more respect now for the pitmasters and grillers who do this day in and day out. I also have newfound respect for anyone whose job it is to keep other people entertained, especially those without a script. It wasn't easy. Hope folks enjoyed it. Anyway, pics of the goods coming up next.

Taking briskets out and pulling back the foil

Checking temperature and adding wood toward the end