Fox & Hound BBQ Sauces earn national recognition across 3 major competitions

by | May 5, 2026 | Uncategorized

STATELINE, Nev. — Fox & Hound Smokehouse Grill & Bar, a longtime Lake Tahoe staple, is gaining national attention beyond the restaurant with its line of housemade BBQ sauces—earning top honors across three of the country’s most respected barbecue competitions in 2026.

Fox & Hound BBQ sauces
Rob Galloway / Tahoe Daily Tribune

The Fox & Hound BBQ sauce lineup—developed and served daily at the restaurant—was recognized across multiple categories, highlighting the range and versatility of the brand’s flavors:

  • High Altitude Heat – 2nd Place (Silver) at the National Barbecue & Grilling Association (NBBQA) Awards of Excellence, held in Nashville, TN, with over 600 entries nationwide
  • Mountain-Style Vinegar – 4th Place at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue Sauce Contest, the largest sauce competition in the world.
  • Lake Level Mild – Top 10 Finish (9th Place) at the Sauces of Honor Awards, judged on real smoked pork and competing against more than 550 entries nationwide.

“These sauces weren’t created for competition—they were built in a working smokehouse,” said Matt Grime, owner of Fox & Hound. “Every one of them is used daily on the meats we serve our guests. The awards are a great validation of what we’ve been doing for years.”

Unlike many competition sauces, Fox & Hound’s lineup was developed in a high-volume restaurant kitchen and refined through real guest feedback. Each flavor is designed to pair with specific meats:

  • High Altitude Heat — a bold chipotle-habanero sauce served alongside tri-tip
  • Mountain-Style Vinegar — a tangy, Carolina-inspired sauce used on pulled pork
  • Lake Level Mild — a sweet and smoky sauce featured on ribs

All sauces are made with clean ingredients and are gluten-free, with no high-fructose corn syrup, MSG, or artificial preservatives.

With growing demand, Fox & Hound BBQ Sauces are now expanding into retail. Bottles are currently available at select South Lake Tahoe locations including The Cork & More, Welcome Home Shoppe, Langenfeld Ace Hardware, South Lake Tahoe Ace Hardware, La Mexicana Tahoe Market, and Plaza Tapatia Market on Herbert Avenue. The sauces are also available at Armando & Sons Butcher Shop in Reno, with additional placements continuing to roll out.

Fox & Hound Smokehouse Grill & Bar has been serving the Lake Tahoe community since 1991 and remains the foundation of the brand, where guests can experience the sauces exactly as they’re intended—paired with smoked meats straight from the kitchen.

Customers can also purchase sauces online at:
www.FoxAndHoundBBQSauce.com