99
pub East of Bristol, serving low and slow out of a container in a pub car park. Using a charcoal fired smoker, their food was of a high standard and tasted more like home cooked BBQ. Only open at weekend, you could never be sure of what they had available but it was always good.
A few weeks ago they announced they were re-locating to a pub in the centre of Cirencester. Now open 7 days a week with an expanded menu it sounded intriguing.
Unfairly perhaps, I gave them a few days after opening to get their act together and then headed over to the Hare in Cirencester to see what they were up to.
Matt (Pitmaster) proudly showed me around the place. It's an old style building in historic Cirencester complete with open fireplace and arched stone windows. A large beer garden now houses their ProQ GFC smoker. It was fully loaded and chugging away.
The menu featured all the things we BBQ’ers love, Burnt Ends. Brisket, Ribs. Puller Pork, Smoked sausage. Wings. We couldn’t decide so asked Matt to make us up a platter.
It was delicious. All of it. The ribs started out a bit plain. But the sweet pork soon gave way to a lovely smoky twist followed by a little heat from their house made rub.
Thankfully, nothing is served dripping with sauce. They serve that separately. All house made – hot ketchup, BBQ, Carolina style mustard and a lovely blue cheese dip for the smoked wings. Pulled pork was excellent – again not too sauced but smoky and flavoursome.
The brisket was delicious and still had a bit of bite. It's how I like it, preferring it over the crumbling competition brisket that often borders on pot roast.
The burnt ends were amazing – I suspect these will become hard to track down as they gain in popularity. Our favourite was some thick cut slices of hand cut smoked bacon. And really reminiscent of home cooked BBQ. The BBQ wings actually tasted of BBQ. And chicken. And I’m not normally a fan of wings.
Their menu extends to interesting dogs, burgers, sandwiches and other classics too. I’m sure they will reflect the high standards of the BBQ we had. It's supplemented by a fabulous cocktail menu including Mike’s gin based adventures.
Ill definitely be back!
Twitter: @voodooQsmoke
"The menu featured all the things we BBQ’ers love, Burnt Ends. Brisket, Ribs. Puller Pork, Smoked sausage. Wings."