Miller’s recognized by BBQ Posse

Thursday, 28 June 2012 by Terryn Kelly

Miller’s Smokehouse was recently recognized by the “BBQ Posse” as one of its favorite barbeque restaurants in the state.With a few well-known barbecue places in Belton, one restaurant in particular has caught the attention of the BBQ Posse.

There is a total of 16 restaurants the group put on a list to pinpoint their most favorite barbecue, and Miller's Smokehouse made the cut.

Although the smokehouse was not originally a restaurant, it soon evolved into one.

"We started in the end of September 2006," Owner Dirk Miller said. "It started out as a processing plant and we processed deer. I started making sausages and decided to start selling them out of here."

Since then, his business has grown tremendously, which has resulted in him having to move the processing over to Main Street.

People from miles away are coming to get a taste of his barbecue.

"We just started this a few years back barbecuing and now we have people traveling from Dallas and Austin," Miller said. "We have had some of the big name critics come here and they have given us a great report. On rib day, people line up out the door and we will sell out by 12:30 p.m. or 1."

Miller has been barbecuing for fun since he was in high school, it is a passion for him.

He likes to experiment with different seasonings to develop a signature taste.

"We do all of our own flavors from jalapeño and cheese to hot links, polish sausage, snack sticks, summer sausage and jerky," Miller said. "They are my personal recipes, I tinker with them all the time and I come up with some pretty good recipes."

Last year, he attended the Texas Meat Processors Association in Bryan/College Station, where he entered his summer sausage and ribs. He won grand champion for both of them.

Even with the growing recognition of his work, he continues to work hard in hopes of appearing in the Texas Monthly Magazine.

Miller arrives at his restaurant at approximately 4 a.m. most mornings to prepare his barbecue for the many customers he will serve later that day.

The hours may be long but dedication is important when running a business.

"You have to love it and we love what we are doing," Miller said.