Here's The Nuts Opening Day Line At The New John Mueller Meat Co.

John "I'm Not A Pitmaster" Mueller is officially back at it in east Austin at a barbecue trailer behind Kellee's Place, following his ouster from the family JMuellerBBQ truck in October. CultureMap's Adam Sparks was there for Saturday's opening festivities:

Mueller's element is not throwing briskets on the pit at 3:30 a.m. or tending fires with a plug of Copenhagen in his lip. No, he seems happiest when handing out free beers to the folks in the back of line. And on a warm February day with the smell of meat in the air, it was much appreciated.

Three beers later (and after a few hours of conversation with hungry strangers about the differences between Texas and Tennessee barbecue), we made it to the front of the line. When the waiting line is so pleasant (and supplemented with beer), the barbecue itself can almost feel like an afterthought.

· John Mueller Meat Co. [Official]
· The Rebirth Of A Texas Barbecue Legend [CultureMap Austin]
· All Restaurant Opening Alerts on Eater Austin [-EATX-]
· All John Mueller Coverage on Eater Austin [-EATX-]