Review: Starbucks - BBQ Beef Brisket on Sourdough

Starbucks BBQ Beef Brisket on Sourdough features slow-cooked beef brisket with BBQ sauce along with roasted onion braised in Gordon Biersch Blonde Bock Beer, Sonoma Jack cheese, and toasted San Francisco-style sourdough bread.

It costs $6.45 at my local Starbucks.

Before opening up the sandwich, there didn't seem to be much meat to it but there was actually a good amount hidden between the two slices of bread.

The brisket came in little stringy pieces rather than thin slices or meaty chunks. It did manage to retain some texture rather than melting into a mush. There was a nice beefiness to it that went well with the barbecue sauce. I didn't notice any onions but it could have been mixed in with the beef somewhere I suppose.

The BBQ sauce had a rich, savory quality to it with a mellow tomato base and a distinct peppery note. There was also a slight tingle of heat that accented the base flavors and lingered a bit. As far as sweetness and tanginess went, it was surprisingly subdued and better off for it.

The mellow cheese added a underlying creaminess without too much distraction.

The sourdough was an odd choice to me. Soft and pillowy Wonderbread (or something similar) is the the traditional bread for barbecue in my mind. The sourdough was too chewy and imparted that signature fermented tang that didn't jive so well with the barbecue sauce. It was nicely toasted with a crispy crust though.

Overall, Starbucks BBQ Beef Brisket on Sourdough was a mixed bag for me. The quality was unexpectedly good considering it's a refrigerated sandwich that they heat up in the oven when you order it. The sauce was the best part for me and the meat's texture was good but the sourdough wasn't working with its strong flavor and chewiness (I understand that they were going for a whole Northern California theme, but beyond Oakland, the region isn't really known for its barbecue).

Nutritional Information - Starbucks BBQ Beef Brisket on Sourdough
Calories - 510 (from Fat - 200)
Fat - 22g (Saturated Fat - 10g)
Sodium - 1210mg
Carbs - 54g (Sugar - 5g)
Protein - 23g