The cost of brisket is playing a major role in soaring grocery expenses at Butter’s BBQ in Sinton, Texas. As of September 22, 2026, brisket accounts for 70% of the barbecue joint’s total grocery costs.
Andrew Soto, the owner and pitmaster of Butter’s BBQ, was informed of an unexpected increase in brisket prices last week. The wholesale price rose by $1 per pound, bringing about a substantial challenge amid the ongoing rise in beef prices nationwide. Butter’s BBQ is recognized as one of the top 50 smokehouses in Texas on Texas Monthly’s prestigious list.
Soto realized he would need to set the customer price at $51 per pound to make serving brisket financially viable. This adjustment underscores the economic impacts felt by local businesses during a period of heightened meat costs.