Lodi BeerFest & State BBQ Championship
2024-04-26 – 2024-04-27 · Lodi, CA · 📍 413 E Lockeford Street · State championship
Reps: IAN SCHMIDT, JULIE POE · Prize money: $6,000.00
Grand Champion: Small Axe BBQ (700.5028) · 34 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 CYNICAL BBQ
Entries
34
5 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
700.5028
Winning margin
0.5368
GC over RC
Field average
669.95
median 679.36
Perfect 180s
5 🔥
Cherry Anchor BBQ (Brisket), Cherry Anchor BBQ (Chicken), BIG POPPA SMOKERS (Chicken), Meat Candy Q (Pork), SMOKIN' BLISS BBQ (Pork)
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
2.2628 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
690.8000
10th place overall
Field spread
227.3600
winner to last place
Prize money
$6,000.00
on the line
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 46%
beats 54% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
2%
of the 46 teams with a home region came from outside CA
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.37 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1536
avg power rating going in · stronger than 42% of contests
Storylines
🪒 A razor-thin finish
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.5368 points — closer than 93% of every championship in the data.
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
Small Axe BBQ took the Grand Championship home to OR.
🔥 A day of perfect scores
5 perfect 180s were scored at this contest.
🧹 A double category winner
Cherry Anchor BBQ won Chicken, Brisket — a double.
📸 Photo finishes
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.
🃏 An upset on the books
Small Axe BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, Meat Candy Q, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 22-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
Score curves (score by finishing position — steep cliffs mean a spread field, flat lines a knife fight)
Category showdown (top / average / median score per meat)
Score distribution
Biggest rating movers (power-rating points won and lost at this contest)
Did form hold? (pre-contest rating vs overall finish — ratings called it if the dots climb to the right)
Where the field came from (home regions on file)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-26 ← this one | Lodi, CA | 413 E Lockeford Street | 34 | 700.5028 | Small Axe BBQ | CYNICAL BBQ |
| 2025-04-25 | Lodi, CA | 413 E Lockeford Street | 31 | 699.4056 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | Chompa Q |
| 2026-04-24 | Lodi, CA | 413 E Lockeford Street | 29 | 701.1432 | Smokin' Bliss BBQ | Cherry Anchor BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180.0000 | 177.1544 | 175.4056 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 176.5944 | 175.4056 |
| Master Series — Pork | 180.0000 | 176.0000 | 174.2856 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 180.0000 | 174.2972 | 173.1428 |
| Open Comp — Pork Ribs | 170.8228 | 166.3088 | 157.6800 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
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 |
Chicken
34 entries · top 180.0000 · 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 |
Pork Ribs
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 |
Pork
34 entries · top 180.0000 · 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 |
Brisket
33 entries · top 180.0000 · 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 |
Open Comp
Overall
12 entries · top 342.8688 · median 331.9830
| # | 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 |
Pork Ribs
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 |
Ancillary categories
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.
Open Comp — Backyard Tri-Tip
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 |
Turkey Smoke Series — Turkey Smoke
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 |