The competition for best chicken wings in St. Pete is a hot one, and a new contender has entered the fray. Bayboro Brewing, which has long been one of our favorite breweries in the city, has debuted a new smoked meats menu, and the results are stellar.

Bayboro already had a hidden gem food menu (the fried chicken sandwich is a star on its own), but this addition to the offerings makes the brewery a must-visit for food, beer, and some of the best live shows from local bands you’ll find anywhere. We got a taste of the new menu this week and came away highly impressed.

Owner James Coleman is the man behind the smoker, and he’s churning out some incredible tender pork and crispy, juicy wings. Once a week, on Saturdays, he rolls out a decadent smoked brisket that’s only available while supplies last. It’s worth arriving early, just to be sure.

This week was our first time to try the new wings after hearing they had gained a cult following. The “twice-cooked” wings are first smoked, then fried, then coated in the sauce of your choice (we recommend the Snakebite Sauce, but Buffalo does the trick, too) giving them the perfect trifecta of flavor – crispy skin, juicy meat, and a flavorful kick that begs to be washed down with a cold beer. On that note, the Teufel Hunden is one of our favorite beers in town, a peanut butter chocolate stout that provides a nice balance to the spicy wings.

Pulled pork and smoked brisket satisfy any craving

Meanwhile, the pulled pork is absolutely stellar. It comes on a sandwich, but one could happily just eat it by the handful, as the tender and juicy pork pulls apart easily and without clumps of fat. As a full plate, it’s served on a sandwich with a heaping side of coleslaw and spiced mac and cheese. It’s enough for one on the hungriest of days, and could easily satisfy two when paired with an appetizer or two.

On that note, we highly recommend starting your meal with the pulled pork nachos. The virtue of the pork itself has already been espoused, and the massive pile of chips, cheese, meat and accouterments is the perfect snack to keep you going between beers.

Of course, this is just part of the menu at Bayboro. For those who stick with a meat-free diet there are plenty of options, from loaded tater tots and a black bean burger to oven-baked German pretzels and a Caesar salad (hey, every meal can’t be a cheat meal). Bayboro also has excellent smashburgers, flatbread pizzas, coconut shrimp, bratwurst, and even mozzarella sticks.

We also recommend stopping in for live music. Their performing arts venue is an intimate and high-energy space, and since Hideaway Café sadly had to close its doors, the team behind it has turned Bayboro into the new home for local, independent music every weekend (and many weeknights). Read more here.

Bayboro Brewing is located at 2390 5^th Ave S. See the full menu and learn more about the brewery at bayborobrewing.com.