Apr 26–27, 2024 · Lodi, CA · 📍 413 E Lockeford Street · State championship
Reps: Ian Schmidt, Julie Poe · Prize money: $6,000
Small Axe BBQ won Grand Champion at the Lodi BeerFest & State BBQ Championship on April 26, 2024 in Lodi, CA at 413 E Lockeford Street, scoring 700.5028 in a field of 34 teams. CYNICAL BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 699.9660. Category winners: Chicken — Cherry Anchor BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — CYNICAL BBQ (178.8572); Pork — Meat Candy Q (180.0000); Brisket — Cherry Anchor BBQ (180.0000). The Open Comp standings were won by Braddah's BBQ with 342.8688. This is the 1st of 3 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2025.
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
What it has taken to win here, 2024 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
Closer than 93% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.5368 points — closer than 93% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 89 times in 100
Small Axe BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, BIG POPPA SMOKERS, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 11-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
Small Axe BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 2 calls from 4 boards, best of them 4th. Consistency beat fireworks.
5 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
Master Series — Chicken places 1–2: Cherry Anchor BBQ and BIG POPPA SMOKERS tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 6–7: Small Axe BBQ and SMOKIN' AXE BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 6–7: Meat Candy Q and Bad Bears BBQ tied on 176.5716 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
Cherry Anchor BBQ won Chicken, Brisket — a double.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 2024 ← this one | Lodi, CA | 413 E Lockeford Street | 34 | 700.5028 | Small Axe BBQ | CYNICAL BBQ |
| Apr 25, 2025 | Lodi, CA | 413 E Lockeford Street | 31 | 699.4056 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | Chompa Q |
| Apr 24, 2026 | Lodi, CA | 413 E Lockeford Street | 29 | 701.1432 | Smokin' Bliss BBQ | Cherry Anchor BBQ |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180 | 177.1544 | 175.4056 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 176.5944 | 175.4056 |
| Master Series — Pork | 180 | 176 | 174.2856 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 180 | 174.2972 | 173.1428 |
| Open Comp — Pork Ribs | 170.8228 | 166.3088 | 157.6800 |
34 entries · top 700.5028 · median 679.3600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Small Axe BBQ | |
| 2 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 3 | NUTIN2IT BUT2QIT | |
| 4 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | |
| 5 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKIN' AXE BBQ | |
| 7 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 8 | SMOKIN' BLISS BBQ | |
| 9 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 10 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 11 | OLD TOWN FRANKLIN BBQ | |
| 12 | Beards BBQ | |
| 13 | BONE RUBBIN BBQ | |
| 14 | Bad Bears BBQ | |
| 15 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 16 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 17 | Rio Good BBQ | |
| 18 | Meat Wagon Smokers | |
| 19 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 20 | Big Boys BBQ | |
| 21 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 22 | Can Do BBQ | |
| 23 | OM BBQ COMPANY | |
| 24 | SLO DOG Q | |
| 25 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 26 | RBQ | |
| 27 | GRILLIN' THE SHED | |
| 28 | Mid Valley BBQ | |
| 29 | Coaches Pit BBQ | |
| 30 | PIPIN' HOT SMOKERS BBQ | |
| 31 | PRISON BREAK BBQ | |
| 32 | Team Taste Buds BBQ | |
| 33 | Daddyo's Hoppin' Habanero Jelly | |
| 34 | Brewskies BBQ |
34 entries · top 180 · median 170.5486 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | |
| 2 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 3 | NUTIN2IT BUT2QIT | |
| 4 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 5 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 6 | Small Axe BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN' AXE BBQ | |
| 8 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 9 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 10 | Beards BBQ | |
| 11 | BONE RUBBIN BBQ | |
| 12 | SLO DOG Q | |
| 13 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 14 | PIPIN' HOT SMOKERS BBQ | |
| 15 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 16 | SMOKIN' BLISS BBQ | |
| 17 | Bad Bears BBQ | |
| 18 | Can Do BBQ | |
| 19 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 20 | RBQ | |
| 21 | Big Boys BBQ | |
| 22 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 23 | OLD TOWN FRANKLIN BBQ | |
| 24 | Meat Wagon Smokers | |
| 25 | Mid Valley BBQ | |
| 26 | GRILLIN' THE SHED | |
| 27 | Team Taste Buds BBQ | |
| 28 | Rio Good BBQ | |
| 29 | OM BBQ COMPANY | |
| 30 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 31 | Coaches Pit BBQ | |
| 32 | Brewskies BBQ | |
| 33 | PRISON BREAK BBQ | |
| 34 | Daddyo's Hoppin' Habanero Jelly |
34 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.2572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 2 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 3 | OM BBQ COMPANY | |
| 4 | Small Axe BBQ | |
| 5 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 6 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 7 | Bad Bears BBQ | |
| 8 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKIN' AXE BBQ | |
| 10 | BONE RUBBIN BBQ | |
| 11 | NUTIN2IT BUT2QIT | |
| 12 | SMOKIN' BLISS BBQ | |
| 13 | OLD TOWN FRANKLIN BBQ | |
| 14 | RBQ | |
| 15 | Meat Wagon Smokers | |
| 16 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 17 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 18 | Rio Good BBQ | |
| 19 | Can Do BBQ | |
| 20 | Beards BBQ | |
| 21 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | |
| 22 | Mid Valley BBQ | |
| 23 | Big Boys BBQ | |
| 24 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 25 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 26 | GRILLIN' THE SHED | |
| 27 | PIPIN' HOT SMOKERS BBQ | |
| 28 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 29 | PRISON BREAK BBQ | |
| 30 | Coaches Pit BBQ | |
| 31 | SLO DOG Q | |
| 32 | Brewskies BBQ | |
| 33 | Team Taste Buds BBQ | |
| 34 | Daddyo's Hoppin' Habanero Jelly |
34 entries · top 180 · median 170.5428 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 2 | SMOKIN' BLISS BBQ | |
| 3 | OM BBQ COMPANY | |
| 4 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 5 | OLD TOWN FRANKLIN BBQ | |
| 6 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 7 | Bad Bears BBQ | |
| 8 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 9 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 10 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 11 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 12 | SLO DOG Q | |
| 13 | BONE RUBBIN BBQ | |
| 14 | Small Axe BBQ | |
| 15 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 16 | Rio Good BBQ | |
| 17 | Beards BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKIN' AXE BBQ | |
| 19 | NUTIN2IT BUT2QIT | |
| 20 | RBQ | |
| 21 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | |
| 22 | Big Boys BBQ | |
| 23 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 24 | Meat Wagon Smokers | |
| 25 | PIPIN' HOT SMOKERS BBQ | |
| 26 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 27 | Mid Valley BBQ | |
| 28 | Brewskies BBQ | |
| 29 | Coaches Pit BBQ | |
| 30 | Team Taste Buds BBQ | |
| 31 | Can Do BBQ | |
| 32 | GRILLIN' THE SHED | |
| 33 | PRISON BREAK BBQ | |
| 34 | Daddyo's Hoppin' Habanero Jelly |
33 entries · top 180 · median 168.5372 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | |
| 2 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 3 | Can Do BBQ | |
| 4 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 5 | NUTIN2IT BUT2QIT | |
| 6 | GRILLIN' THE SHED | |
| 7 | Beards BBQ | |
| 8 | Rio Good BBQ | |
| 9 | Meat Wagon Smokers | |
| 10 | OLD TOWN FRANKLIN BBQ | |
| 11 | Small Axe BBQ | |
| 12 | Coaches Pit BBQ | |
| 13 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN' AXE BBQ | |
| 15 | Big Boys BBQ | |
| 16 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 17 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 18 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 19 | SMOKIN' BLISS BBQ | |
| 20 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 21 | Bad Bears BBQ | |
| 22 | SLO DOG Q | |
| 23 | BONE RUBBIN BBQ | |
| 24 | PRISON BREAK BBQ | |
| 25 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 26 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 27 | Mid Valley BBQ | |
| 28 | OM BBQ COMPANY | |
| 29 | Team Taste Buds BBQ | |
| 30 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 31 | RBQ | |
| 32 | PIPIN' HOT SMOKERS BBQ | |
| 33 | Daddyo's Hoppin' Habanero Jelly |
12 entries · top 342.8688 · median 331.9830 · out of 360, not the usual 720
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Braddah's BBQ | |
| 2 | Chompa Q | |
| 3 | Rack to the Future Barbeque | |
| 4 | Max Fam BBQ | |
| 5 | Smokin Colt | |
| 6 | B&E BBQ | |
| 7 | Smokin' Stacks BBQ | |
| 8 | Smoking A's | |
| 9 | Heavenly Hawgs | |
| 10 | Cuzzos BBQ | |
| 11 | Alotta BS BBQ | |
| 12 | BONES SAUCE & HARMONY |
11 entries · top 170.8228 · median 166.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chompa Q | |
| 2 | Smoking A's | |
| 3 | Braddah's BBQ | |
| 4 | Smokin Colt | |
| 5 | Smokin' Stacks BBQ | |
| 6 | Max Fam BBQ | |
| 7 | B&E BBQ | |
| 8 | Rack to the Future Barbeque | |
| 9 | Heavenly Hawgs | |
| 10 | Alotta BS BBQ | |
| 11 | Cuzzos BBQ |
Run by the organizers alongside the sanctioned contest. These are judged on their own terms and do not count toward the overall score, so they're kept out of the meat stats above.
12 entries · top 176.0116 · median 167.1544
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Braddah's BBQ | |
| 2 | BONES SAUCE & HARMONY | |
| 3 | Rack to the Future Barbeque | |
| 4 | Chompa Q | |
| 5 | B&E BBQ | |
| 6 | Max Fam BBQ | |
| 7 | Smokin Colt | |
| 8 | Smokin' Stacks BBQ | |
| 9 | Cuzzos BBQ | |
| 10 | Smoking A's | |
| 11 | Heavenly Hawgs | |
| 12 | Alotta BS BBQ |
28 entries · top 177.7028 · median 168.8400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | |
| 2 | RBQ | |
| 3 | PIPIN' HOT SMOKERS BBQ | |
| 4 | Big Boys BBQ | |
| 5 | Bad Bears BBQ | |
| 6 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 7 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 8 | Team Taste Buds BBQ | |
| 9 | Mid Valley BBQ | |
| 10 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 11 | Daddyo's Hoppin' Habanero Jelly | |
| 12 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 13 | BONE RUBBIN BBQ | |
| 14 | Braddah's BBQ | |
| 15 | PRISON BREAK BBQ | |
| 16 | Heavenly Hawgs | |
| 17 | SMOKIN' BLISS BBQ | |
| 18 | Max Fam BBQ | |
| 19 | Smoking A's | |
| 20 | Smokin Colt | |
| 21 | Smokin' Stacks BBQ | |
| 22 | BONES SAUCE & HARMONY | |
| 23 | Chompa Q | |
| 24 | Rack to the Future Barbeque | |
| 25 | Can Do BBQ | |
| 26 | B&E BBQ | |
| 27 | Alotta BS BBQ | |
| 28 | Pops BBQ 22 |