There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth among Denver's barbecue faithful when pitmaster Karl Fallenius closed Owlbear, his much-loved Five Points smokehouse, in January 2022. But a trio of his former employees took over the spot and reopened it as Pit Fiend Barbecue, with a broader focus than the Southern-style smoking in which Fallenius specialized. While Owlbear's Texas-style brisket and legendary mac and cheese remain on the menu, the new pitmasters have mixed things up, experimenting with barbecue traditions from around the world. ($$)