Montana Pitmaster Classic
2025-08-22 – 2025-08-23 · Bozeman, MT · 📍 1243 Oak Street · State championship
Reps: BRIAN MOORE, STEVEN FLEWALLEN · Prize money: $13,000.00
Grand Champion: Brinkerhoff BBQ (704.5600) · 38 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 Mountain Smoke BBQ
Entries
38
4 judged meats
Top score
704.5600
Winning margin
1.7488
GC over RC
Field average
659.09
median 680.53
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
1.1428 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
694.2972
10th place overall
Field spread
543.3944
winner to last place
Prize money
$13,000.00
on the line
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 25%
beats 75% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
32%
of the 38 teams with a home region came from outside MT
Came back for more
56%
22 of 39 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.71 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1536
avg power rating going in · stronger than 42% of contests
Storylines
👑 A dynasty in the making
MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ has won this contest 4 times across its 8 tracked editions.
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
Brinkerhoff BBQ took the Grand Championship home to CO.
📸 Photo finishes
Chicken places 2–3: AMERICAN HEROES BBQ and Jay Miller and the Experience tied on 178.2972 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 5–6: SMELLAQUE and MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ tied on 177.1428 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 3–4: Last Best BBQ and At Ease tied on 178.2972 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🛡️ Back to defend
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ (won 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021).
🃏 An upset on the books
Brinkerhoff BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, SMELLAQUE, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 34-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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-08-25 | 1243 Oak St | 20 | 681.6684 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 2018-08-24 | 1243 Oak St | 26 | 698.2740 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | GRATE EXPECTATIONS | |
| 2019-08-23 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak St | 29 | 691.9888 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | CAMP HOUSE BBQ |
| 2021-08-27 | Bozeman, MT | Bozeman, MT 59717 | 31 | 711.4172 | Montana Outlaw BBQ | BEER BELLY BBQ |
| 2022-08-26 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 37 | 706.8688 | BEER BELLY BBQ | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ |
| 2023-08-25 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 44 | 705.2116 | Bushmaster BBQ | SMELLAQUE |
| 2024-08-23 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 39 | 713.1544 | Piggin' Whiskey | BURNT TREES BBQ |
| 2025-08-22 ← this one | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 38 | 704.5600 | Brinkerhoff BBQ | Mountain Smoke BBQ |
| 2026-08-28 | Bozeman, MT | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8800 | 177.1428 | 174.2856 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8800 | 177.7372 | 175.4172 |
| Pork | 178.8572 | 177.1428 | 175.4056 |
| Brisket | 180.0000 | 177.7028 | 175.4172 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
38 entries · top 704.5600 · median 680.5256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brinkerhoff BBQ | |
| 2 | Mountain Smoke BBQ | |
| 3 | Ashley Construction 3 | |
| 4 | HEIFERS, BUTTS, & CLUCKS BBQ | |
| 5 | Last Best BBQ | |
| 6 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 7 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 8 | AMERICAN HEROES BBQ | |
| 9 | Willy Mo's | |
| 10 | Ashley Construction 1 | |
| 11 | SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ | |
| 12 | Smoke On The Waters | |
| 13 | LC BBQ | |
| 14 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKIN' BOXERS BBQ | |
| 16 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 17 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 18 | Triple Nines BBQ | |
| 19 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 20 | Taste of Mitch | |
| 21 | At Ease | |
| 22 | Iron Horse Party Rentals | |
| 23 | Jay Miller and the Experience | |
| 24 | Whistle Pig BBQ | |
| 25 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 26 | Ashley Construction 2 | |
| 27 | Titos 2 | |
| 28 | Shane Edd's BBQ | |
| 29 | Titos 3 | |
| 30 | BD's BBQ | |
| 31 | Russ n Zach Grillin n Chillin | |
| 32 | Random Guys Smoking | |
| 33 | Q McB's BBQ | |
| 34 | That'll do BBQ | |
| 35 | Titos 1 | |
| 36 | Bozeman Health | |
| 37 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 38 | Kick Back BBQ |
Chicken
38 entries · top 178.8800 · median 171.4228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mountain Smoke BBQ | |
| 2 | AMERICAN HEROES BBQ | |
| 3 | Jay Miller and the Experience | |
| 4 | Willy Mo's | |
| 5 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 6 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 7 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 8 | Ashley Construction 3 | |
| 9 | HEIFERS, BUTTS, & CLUCKS BBQ | |
| 10 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 11 | Triple Nines BBQ | |
| 12 | Smoke On The Waters | |
| 13 | SMOKIN' BOXERS BBQ | |
| 14 | BD's BBQ | |
| 15 | Brinkerhoff BBQ | |
| 16 | Iron Horse Party Rentals | |
| 17 | SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ | |
| 18 | LC BBQ | |
| 19 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 20 | Ashley Construction 1 | |
| 21 | Taste of Mitch | |
| 22 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 23 | Random Guys Smoking | |
| 24 | Ashley Construction 2 | |
| 25 | Last Best BBQ | |
| 26 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 27 | That'll do BBQ | |
| 28 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 29 | Whistle Pig BBQ | |
| 30 | Shane Edd's BBQ | |
| 31 | Titos 1 | |
| 32 | At Ease | |
| 33 | Titos 2 | |
| 34 | Titos 3 | |
| 35 | Russ n Zach Grillin n Chillin | |
| 36 | Q McB's BBQ | |
| 37 | Kick Back BBQ | |
| 38 | Bozeman Health |
Pork Ribs
37 entries · top 178.8800 · median 171.4056
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Q McB's BBQ | |
| 2 | Ashley Construction 3 | |
| 3 | Last Best BBQ | |
| 4 | At Ease | |
| 5 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 6 | Titos 2 | |
| 7 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 8 | HEIFERS, BUTTS, & CLUCKS BBQ | |
| 9 | Ashley Construction 1 | |
| 10 | Willy Mo's | |
| 11 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 12 | Shane Edd's BBQ | |
| 13 | Brinkerhoff BBQ | |
| 14 | Ashley Construction 2 | |
| 15 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 16 | Whistle Pig BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKIN' BOXERS BBQ | |
| 18 | Triple Nines BBQ | |
| 19 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 20 | SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ | |
| 21 | Mountain Smoke BBQ | |
| 22 | Titos 3 | |
| 23 | Smoke On The Waters | |
| 24 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 25 | Iron Horse Party Rentals | |
| 26 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 27 | Titos 1 | |
| 28 | That'll do BBQ | |
| 29 | Russ n Zach Grillin n Chillin | |
| 30 | LC BBQ | |
| 31 | Jay Miller and the Experience | |
| 32 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 33 | Taste of Mitch | |
| 34 | AMERICAN HEROES BBQ | |
| 35 | BD's BBQ | |
| 36 | Bozeman Health | |
| 37 | Random Guys Smoking |
Pork
37 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.8344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LC BBQ | |
| 2 | AMERICAN HEROES BBQ | |
| 3 | Ashley Construction 3 | |
| 4 | Brinkerhoff BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ | |
| 6 | Last Best BBQ | |
| 7 | HEIFERS, BUTTS, & CLUCKS BBQ | |
| 8 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 9 | Titos 3 | |
| 10 | Mountain Smoke BBQ | |
| 11 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 12 | Jay Miller and the Experience | |
| 13 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 14 | Whistle Pig BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKIN' BOXERS BBQ | |
| 16 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 17 | Random Guys Smoking | |
| 18 | At Ease | |
| 19 | Willy Mo's | |
| 20 | Smoke On The Waters | |
| 21 | Titos 2 | |
| 22 | Taste of Mitch | |
| 23 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 24 | Ashley Construction 1 | |
| 25 | Ashley Construction 2 | |
| 26 | BD's BBQ | |
| 27 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 28 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 29 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 30 | Shane Edd's BBQ | |
| 31 | Iron Horse Party Rentals | |
| 32 | Russ n Zach Grillin n Chillin | |
| 33 | Triple Nines BBQ | |
| 34 | Titos 1 | |
| 35 | Bozeman Health | |
| 36 | That'll do BBQ | |
| 37 | Q McB's BBQ |
Brisket
37 entries · top 180.0000 · median 170.2628 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brinkerhoff BBQ | |
| 2 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 3 | AMERICAN HEROES BBQ | |
| 4 | Ashley Construction 1 | |
| 5 | Mountain Smoke BBQ | |
| 6 | Taste of Mitch | |
| 7 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 8 | Triple Nines BBQ | |
| 9 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 10 | LC BBQ | |
| 11 | Smoke On The Waters | |
| 12 | Last Best BBQ | |
| 13 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ | |
| 15 | HEIFERS, BUTTS, & CLUCKS BBQ | |
| 16 | Willy Mo's | |
| 17 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 18 | Iron Horse Party Rentals | |
| 19 | Ashley Construction 3 | |
| 20 | SMOKIN' BOXERS BBQ | |
| 21 | Random Guys Smoking | |
| 22 | BD's BBQ | |
| 23 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 24 | At Ease | |
| 25 | Jay Miller and the Experience | |
| 26 | Bozeman Health | |
| 27 | Russ n Zach Grillin n Chillin | |
| 28 | Whistle Pig BBQ | |
| 29 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 30 | Shane Edd's BBQ | |
| 31 | Q McB's BBQ | |
| 32 | Titos 3 | |
| 33 | Ashley Construction 2 | |
| 34 | That'll do BBQ | |
| 35 | Titos 2 | |
| 36 | Titos 1 | |
| 37 | BIG BOYZ BBQ |