I made a stop at Texas Pride Barbecue in Adkins, Texas… and let me tell you—this place brings the flavor 🔥 Brisket, sides, and some of my favorite BBQ sauce around. BUT that’s not all… This is officially the location for the Lone Star Rider BAD Ride (Bikers Against Diabetes) happening September 12th!
In this video: 🍖 Real Texas BBQ taste test 🏍️ Riding with David 🎶 Venue tour + band stage 🔥 BIG announcement for the BAD Ride
👉 If you love BBQ, motorcycles, and good people… you’re gonna want to be part of this.
Lone Star Rider on his motorcycle… raising money, making friends, seeing the country end to end.
👇 Drop a comment if you’re coming to the BAD Ride!
I’m rolling into C & J’s BBQ in Bryan, and let me tell you—these ribs are the real deal. 🍖🔥
On this stop of the Lone Star BBQ Trail, I’m digging into smoky, tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs that show exactly why Texas BBQ is legendary. No hype, no fluff—just honest, born-and-raised Texas opinions from the road.
If you love: Authentic Texas BBQ Road-trip food finds Honest reviews from a local Texan You’re in the right place.
👉 Hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE to follow the Lone Star BBQ Trail and see where I ride and eat next.
🏍️ Lone Star Rider 🍖 Lone Star BBQ Trail 📍 Bryan, Texas
Follow Along Our Journey And make Y’all’s Pledges At http://48-48.com
The Standards of Appearance, Tenderness, and Flavor
Judging brisket is both an art and a science. Whether you’re evaluating competition entries, sharpening your backyard BBQ skills, or helping others understand what makes a truly exceptional slice, a great brisket should excel in three main categories: appearance, tenderness, and flavor. Below is a complete guide to what judges look for — and what to avoid.
1. Appearance
A brisket should make a strong first impression. Before you even take a bite, great barbecue tells a story with its color, bark, and slicing technique.
Bark
Look for a deep, mahogany-colored crust that shines slightly with rendered fat. It should be well-formed with visible seasoning, but not burnt or overly charred. A proper bark reflects a balanced cook, good airflow, and steady smoke.
Smoke Ring
A pronounced red or pink smoke ring is a classic sign of great preparation. While it doesn’t directly affect flavor, it does reflect skill and proper smoking technique — and it’s always visually appealing.
Slice Presentation
Brisket slices should be uniform in thickness, ideally around ¼ inch. Clean, smooth edges show attention to detail and a properly sharpened knife. Interior moisture should be visible but not gushing, indicating a good rest and proper slicing against the grain.
2. Tenderness
Tenderness is one of the most important judging standards. It’s where a pitmaster’s skill truly shows.
Pull Test
A properly cooked brisket slice should pull apart with a gentle tug. Too easy, and it’s overcooked. Too tough, and it’s undercooked. The perfect slice resists just slightly before giving way.
Drape Test
Place a slice over your finger. It should drape smoothly without cracking or breaking — a sign that the connective tissues have broken down correctly without turning mushy.
Fat Rendering
The fat should be fully rendered, turning buttery and silky. It should melt on the tongue without leaving a waxy coating. Proper fat rendering is a hallmark of low-and-slow excellence.
3. Flavor
A winning brisket should taste as beautiful as it looks.
Aroma
Expect a rich, smoky aroma with subtle spice notes. The smell should immediately signal clean burning wood and balanced seasoning.
Taste
The flavor should be a harmonious blend of savory beefiness, light sweetness from the smoke, and peppery, well-seasoned bark. Nothing should overpower the meat itself — brisket is the star, and everything else should play backup.
4. What to Avoid
Even experienced cooks can run into trouble. Here’s what judges look out for:
Overcooked Brisket
If it falls apart before you can pull it, or turns mushy when squeezed, it’s overcooked. Lost structure means lost points.
Undercooked Brisket
If the slice is tough, chewy, or stringy, it hasn’t cooked long enough. Undercooked fat and connective tissue make for an unpleasant bite.
Poor Presentation
Watch out for:
Slices cut too thick (often used to hide a tough texture)
Ragged edges from dull knives or rushing
Uneven slicing, which signals a lack of care
In competition settings, visual details matter — sloppy slices tell the judge everything they need to know before the first bite.
Final Thoughts
Judging brisket is a sensory experience. True mastery comes from understanding the balance between appearance, tenderness, and flavor — and recognizing the signs of both excellence and error. Whether you’re evaluating a competition tray or improving your backyard smoking game, these standards will help you identify brisket that’s truly worthy of the title BBQ perfection.
Today I was headed towards Boerne, Texas and I decided to stop at Texas Pride Barbecue just South of San Antonio to try out their brisket. This place has been on my list for a while and I finally got the chance to stop by. Texas Pride Barbecue has been on the food channel featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Their brisket is pretty darn good and worth stopping by and trying out. If you’re ever in the San Antonio area, I highly recommend you stop by and eat at Texas Pride Barbecue, you won’t be disappointed.
Send Stuff To My Address: Rex Covington • 3800 Scranton Dr • Richland Hills, TX 76118 Lone Star Rider Wears A 2X T-Shirt
My Motorcycle: 2010 Two Tone Ocean Blue & Sandstone Metallic Victory Vision 2008 Harley-Davidson Road Glide 1999 Yamaha Royal Star Venture 1982 Yamaha Virago 750 1974 Yamaha DT250 Enduro 1968 Honda 50 Mini Trail
While heading to deep South Texas I stopped in Mathis, Texas and found Smolik’s Smokehouse. This place was listed a few years back on the Top 50 BBQ places in Texas Monthly. Their Brisket is awesome, well worth the stop to get some great BBQ! I had the Brisket, Mac & Cheese and Braised Cabbage. The Mac & Cheese was good but nothing to write home about. The Braised Cabbage was awesome!
My brother Mark and my Nephew Zach came down from Fort Worth Texas and picked me up at the Tour de Cure in Prairie View Texas. We headed over to Tejas Barbecue in Tomball Texas to get some awesome barbecue.
The brisket was awesome and I’m going to have to move some one else out of my top ten list.
I’m riding through Abilene Texas and decide to stop at The Shed Market and try out their Barbecue Brisket and WOW! Was I surprised, the Brisket is awesome and the sides Bacon Ranch Potato Salad and the Green Chile Mac & Cheese were a great complement to my meal!
Come out of your way and get some of this melt in your mouth brisket. The place is now on my Top 10 List. It slide in to second place under Coopers BBQ in Llano Texas.
Send Stuff To My Address: Rex Covington • 3800 Scranton Dr • Richland Hills, TX 76118
Lone Star Rider Wears A 2X T-Shirt
My Motorcycle:
2010 Two Tone Ocean Blue & Sandstone Metallic Victory Vision
2008 Harley-Davidson Road Glide
1999 Yamaha Royal Star Venture
1982 Yamaha Virago 750
1974 Yamaha DT250 Enduro
1968 Honda 50 Mini Trail
While I was at the Lone Star Rally in Galveston Texas I stopped at the Texas Pit Stop BBQ on the sea wall to try out their Brisket. I was pleasantly surprised, the brisket was moist, had a great flavor, and melted in my mouth! I did ask for some of the burnt edges, but got very little of that. The fried okra was not crispy, but it did taste good. My favorite out of my meal was the twice bake potato. It was awesome!
If you are ever in Galveston Texas and have a hankering for some brisket, stop at the Texas Pit Stop BBQ, you will not be disappointed. Plus you get a great view of the ocean!
Louie Mueller Barbecue claims to be the best Barbecue in Texas (The World). I don’t think so, but they are dam close to being the best Barbecue. The Barbecue is fantastic at Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor Texas! The brisket had great flavor, and it melted in my mouth! Awesome! Also the mustard, mayonnaise potato salad was one of the best I have tasted. I will be back to try out their Beef Rib (John Wayne On A Stick). Louie Mueller Barbecue is worth the trip! Plan a day trip to Taylor Texas, explore the town and have some fantastic Barbecue.
Send Stuff To My Address: Rex Covington • 3800 Scranton Dr • Richland Hills, TX 76118
Lone Star Rider Wears A 2X T-Shirt
My Motorcycle:
2010 Two Tone Ocean Blue & Sandstone Metallic Victory Vision
2008 Harley-Davidson Road Glide
1999 Yamaha Royal Star Venture
1982 Yamaha Virago 750
1974 Yamaha DT250 Enduro
1968 Honda 50 Mini Trail
Lone Star BBQ Trail 