This was our first full three-day tour.  It gave broad coverage of the hill country -- we hit 14 bbq joints and 2 breweries in just 54 short hours!  This was a tremendous effort by a great crew of people thanks to all involved (well, except for the monkey doctor, but that s another story).

We encountered two distinct styles of barbecue this year, basically delineated by the city of Austin.  Most of Central Texas smokes over indirect heat using some sort of oak.  The region west of Austin uses direct heat and mesquite to smoke
their meats... and electric knives to slice.  Both styles have their merits and some people just prefer the flavors of one method over the other.  To each their own!

Joints:

• Louie Mueller, Taylor
• Taylor Cafe, Taylor
• Crosstown, Elgin
• Pit Barbecue, Austin (on 5th)
• Sam's, Austin
• Kreuz Market (New), Lockhart
• Smitty's Market, Lockhart
• City Market, Luling
• Cartwrights, Elgin
• Inmans Ranch House, Marble Falls
• Burnet County BBQ, Burnet
• Coopers Old Time Pit, Llano
• Brothers BBQ, Llano
• Harry's on the Loop, Willow City