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Smoke & Fire BBQ Opens New Sarasota Location

The barbecue vendor has launched its latest spot inside the local Brew Life Brewing facility.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Barbecue

Gouache-painted illustration of a smoked ribeye steak on a wooden board next to a glass of beer, representing a food partnership.
Smoke & Fire BBQ has launched a new location inside Sarasota's Brew Life Brewing on Beneva Road, following a successful October 2026 debut. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Smoke & Fire BBQ has officially opened a new location at 5767 Beneva Road in Sarasota, sharing space with the existing Brew Life Brewing. The business saw high demand during its opening day on October 23, 2026, when its smoked ribeyes sold out in just 20 minutes.

Why it matters

This collaboration allows the barbecue vendor to utilize a shared space, a strategic move as the local craft beverage scene prepares for further growth with the upcoming arrival of Gulf Coast Brewing Co. The partnership may also lead to future collaborative dinner events featuring curated food and beer pairings.

The Smoke & Fire BBQ menu is available Fridays starting at 5 p.m. and on weekends beginning at 11 a.m. until the supply is exhausted.

The players

Dr. Todd Horiuchi

He is the founder of Smoke & Fire BBQ, which he established in April 2025.

Brew Life Brewing

Founded in 2017, this brewery serves as the shared venue for the new Smoke & Fire BBQ location.

Gulf Coast Brewing Co.

This new establishment is preparing for a grand opening in Sarasota on November 21.

The details

Founded by Dr. Todd Horiuchi in April 2025, Smoke & Fire BBQ transitioned its operations into the brewery setting at 5767 Beneva Road to establish a new local presence. Patrons looking to secure dinner specials are encouraged to arrive early when the brewery opens to claim a spot in the queue.

Timeline

  1. Brew Life Brewing was founded in 2017.

  2. Smoke & Fire BBQ was started in April 2025.

  3. The new location opened for business on October 23, 2026.

  4. Gulf Coast Brewing Co. is scheduled for a grand opening on November 21.

Culture Shift

The partnership follows a growing trend of pop-up food vendors and local eateries integrating into established taprooms to create integrated dining experiences. This model allows businesses to share overhead while capitalizing on the social atmosphere fostered by the local brewery community.

Customers can now order barbecue offerings during brewery operating hours, though items are subject to availability due to high initial demand. Visitors are advised to arrive when the brewery opens to ensure they can secure food items before the daily supply sells out.

The takeaway

Collaborative business models between food vendors and breweries can create high consumer demand, though it often leads to limited menu availability. Diners should prioritize arriving early to manage their expectations when visiting high-traffic shared culinary spaces.

What happens next

Gulf Coast Brewing Co. is expected to hold its grand opening on November 21.

Further reading

Learn more about the local culinary scene on the Sarasota Barbecue page.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

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