Emilia reviews micro-brewery Bad Shepherd Brewing Co and their take on American barbecue

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I was looking for some American BBQ for 4th of July but I found something better, this place is co-owned by resident Canuck, Dereck so they’re celebrating Canada Day which is tomorrow, July 1st.

Sure, it may technically be a brew pub, but it’s so much more than that. Their motto, “Leading you into temptation,” sets the stage for a genuine culinary adventure. The joint was opened in 2015 by the married couple, Dereck and Diti Hales. Dereck, an award-winning home-brewer, joined forces with Diti, who happens to have a love for smoking meat. And boy, oh boy, do they know how to create some seriously mouthwatering dishes.

The Lamb Ribs are a standout, smoked and then fried to perfection, served with pickles and a tangy Tennessee red sauce. The Brisket Burnt Ends are another highlight, offering tender morsels of smoked and fried brisket coated in Kansas City BBQ sauce. For sandwich lovers, the Pork Sandwich with pulled pork, fennel slaw, and South Carolina mustard is a delicious choice.

Start your meal off right with their Sweet Red Crispy Fried Wings. These wings are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, coated in a delectable sweet and tangy sauce. 

They didn’t have the mac and cheese and cornbread that you traditionally see on a American BBQ menu, instead they had a more mexican influenced appetiser menu, with dishes like Cowboy Caviar, a flavorful combination of black-eyed beans, pico de gallo, and lime emulsion, served with fried tortillas. And the Smoked Guac, featuring smoky corn, red onion, and fried tortillas, adds a unique twist to the classic guacamole.

 

The Fennel Slaw is a refreshing side dish dressed in an apple cider vinaigrette, providing a crisp and tangy complement to the rich flavours of the smoked meats. And for dessert, indulge in the Chocolate Brownie topped with ice cream and dolce de leche—in many ways this was the hero of the meal for me, it took me by surprise just how good it was. They bake it in a pie dish so there is almost a crispy crust along the ripple on the outside and the dolce de leche sauce on top elevated it to a new level.

They offer the Pit Master’s Plate, a three-course option that includes the chef’s selection of appetisers, smoked meats, sides, and dessert. If you’re looking to elevate your experience, the Boozy Pit Master’s Plate offers a flight of four expertly paired beers to complement the culinary offerings.

In terms of beverages, Bad Shepherd Brewing Co brews on site and they have a true variation of craft beers, including options like Peanut Butter Porter, Hazelnut Brown Ale, Victoria Pale Ale, Hazy IPA, American Pale Ale, Passionfruit Sour, Sticky Date Stout, Apple Crumble Imperial Sour, Canadian Maple Red Ale, and The Caddie Victoria Ale.

 

Considering I went at 2pm on a random Wednesday they still had people coming through, some for food others just for a drink. The staff were great, laid back but super helpful. I was also really impressed by their pricing, you can choose their plate option for $65 or order ¼ pound of everything and try a number of different meats and sides. BBQ can get expensive quickly but they managed to keep their quarter pound under $20 each and ½ pound around $30. That’s 230 grams of meat, not to be scoffed at.

Standouts were the ribs, burnt brisket ends and brownie. I wish it was my local but it was so perfectly laid back but with kick arse food, do not make the mistake of thinking they’re just a brewery…When it comes to Bad Shepherd Brewing Co, you can expect a delightful blend of craft beer and seriously good American BBQ.

 

Bad Shepherd Brewing Co

386 Reserve Rd, Cheltenham