I never thought I’d be the kind of person who could wax poetic about ribs. My idea of grilling was more about dodging the smoke from the neighbor’s barbecue than diving into the world of smokers and rubs. But there I was, standing in a room full of people who live and breathe barbecue, feeling a little out of my depth and a lot intrigued. Welcome to Proud Souls Barbecue & Provisions—a place where barbecue isn’t just cooking; it’s a way of life.
Proud Souls isn’t just a barbecue supply store. It’s a haven, a one-stop shop for all things barbecue. Need a top-of-the-line smoker? They’ve got it. Searching for that perfect seasoning to take your ribs to the next level? Look no further. In the market for gourmet grilling accessories you didn’t even know existed? You’ve come to the right place. But this isn’t just about selling you stuff—they’re here to immerse you in the art of barbecue, to guide you from casual backyard griller to pitmaster-in-the-making.
Founded by Tony Roberts and Dan Casey in 2017, Proud Souls was born from passion—literally. Tony, who grew up in suburban St. Louis, spent his youth around a Weber Kettle, smoking everything from ribs to the Thanksgiving turkey with his dad. What started as a weekend hobby in 2014 soon became a catering side gig, which ballooned into an obsession. Soon enough, Roberts and Casey swapped their desk jobs for fire pits and smoker trailers. Today, they’re living the dream, and they’re eager to share it with anyone who walks through their doors.
Proud Souls doesn’t just sell you gear and send you on your way. They’re here to make sure you know how to use it—and use it well. The store is stocked with everything you need to transform your backyard into a barbecue paradise, from top-tier smokers to hard-to-find rubs and sauces. And if you’ve never lit a fire in your life, don’t worry—they’ve got classes for that, too. At the two Denver-area shops (one on Federal, the other in Littleton), the team teaches you everything from the basics to the advanced techniques that could land you a trophy at your next barbecue competition.
I attended the “Ribs Extravaganza” class—basically ribs 101, which promised to feed our brains and our bellies and didn’t disappoint. The Proud Souls team had been smoking ribs all day just for us, and they demonstrated every meticulous step they’d taken to get there. We didn’t just learn how to cook ribs; we learned how to cook ribs right. The class dove deep into the nitty-gritty: what to trim, how much fat to leave on, which tools to use, and why. They walked us through the whole hog, so to speak, offering tips tailored to different scenarios.
The class wasn’t just about theory. We went hands-on with the nuances of different smokers—offsets, reverse flow, pellet smokers. We were warned that without understanding your smoker, you’re gonna fail. A pellet smoker might be easy, but it sacrifices flavor for convenience. An offset smoker, on the other hand, is a labor of love, an heirloom piece built to outlast us all, with all the quirks that come with cooking with real fire.
Everyone was taking notes like they were prepping for a final exam. The guy in front of me owned three smokers and was still thirsty for more knowledge. He had questions, and he wasn’t the only one. When you’ve invested this much time and money into barbecue, you’re in it all the way. One guy had driven all the way from Castle Rock for his eighth class, third time in ribs alone. Another had tackled brisket in a previous class and was now eyeing the competition circuit, inspired by Roberts’ journey from desk jockey to barbecue boss.
By the time we got to the part of the class where the guys started talking about injecting meat with brine (like pork on Botox), I was sold—not on buying a smoker (yet), but on the sheer passion and joy that this community has for barbecue. These aren’t just people who like to grill; they’re people who dream of being pitmasters, who wake up at ungodly hours to tend to a brisket, who talk about “meat flaps” with a straight face.
Passion begets passion; pitmasters beget pitmasters. Proud Souls is a gateway into a subculture where barbecue is serious business. It’s where novices and pros alike come to learn, to share, and to celebrate the art of cooking with fire. And if you’re lucky, you might just leave with a new obsession—or at least a jar of Grill Candy sauce and some serious food envy.
Classes are held at both the original Proud Souls Barbecue & Provisions location on Federal Boulevard in Denver and the shop and BBQ University in Littleton. You can find the schedule on the company’s website.
