Aug 14–15, 2015 · Atlanta, GA
AWESOME Q won Grand Champion at the Atlanta BarB-Que Festival on August 14, 2015 in Atlanta, GA, scoring 695.3484 in a field of 48 teams. PLUM SUPERIOR BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 691.9656. Category winners: Chicken — That's how its DONE son! (177.7144); Pork Ribs — ROAST BEAST BBQ (178.3200); Pork — HIRED GUNS BBQ (178.8572); Brisket — AWESOME Q (177.7144). This is the 2nd of 2 editions of this contest on record; the 2014 edition was won by Smoke on the Lake.
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.
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 77 times in 100
AWESOME Q came in rated below the field's top team, HOT WACHULA'S, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 23-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
This was AWESOME Q's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 6th tracked contest.
Chicken places 3–4: LOW IQ BAR B Q and HOT WACHULA'S tied on 174.8456 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 8–9: IB SMOKIN' - ATL and HIRED GUNS BBQ tied on 171.9656 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 7–8: AWESOME Q and UNCOMMON Q tied on 171.9656 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
AWESOME Q took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 13th.
ROAST BEAST BBQ turned in 178.3200 in pork ribs — past the 177.7144 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2014 | Atlanta, GA | Atlanta, GA 30363 | 43 | 698.2400 | Smoke on the Lake | MOE CASON BBQ |
| Aug 14, 2015 ← this one | Atlanta, GA | Atlanta, GA 30363 | 48 | 695.3484 | AWESOME Q | PLUM SUPERIOR BBQ |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7144 | 174.2628 | 170.8344 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.3200 | 174.8456 | 170.8344 |
| Pork | 178.8572 | 173.1084 | 169.7028 |
| Brisket | 177.7144 | 175.4400 | 170.2856 |
48 entries · top 695.3484 · median 659.2968
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWESOME Q | |
| 2 | PLUM SUPERIOR BBQ | |
| 3 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 4 | HIRED GUNS BBQ | |
| 5 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 6 | BIG PAPA'S COUNTRY KITCHEN | |
| 7 | CITY GONE COUNTRY | |
| 8 | Will & the Thrills | |
| 9 | Unprohibited | |
| 10 | CRAFT BBQ | |
| 11 | The 300 | |
| 12 | Rub Shakers Que | |
| 13 | BULL RUSH BBQ | |
| 14 | BIG L'S SWEET HEAT | |
| 15 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 16 | That's how its DONE son! | |
| 17 | BAR-B-QUE MONSTERS | |
| 18 | Southern Tailgates | |
| 19 | Monster Grillers | |
| 20 | IB SMOKIN' - ATL | |
| 21 | BIRD DAWG BBQ | |
| 22 | SONNY'S PIT MASTERS | |
| 23 | LOW IQ BAR B Q | |
| 24 | QUE SCHOOL | |
| 25 | SWEET WATER BAR-B-QUE | |
| 26 | Porkaholics Barbeque | |
| 27 | 3TAXIGUYS | |
| 28 | Rolling Grill | |
| 29 | UNCOMMON Q | |
| 30 | RUNWAY SMOKE | |
| 31 | NICE RACK BBQ | |
| 32 | TEMPLE OF THE HOG | |
| 33 | Willingham's | |
| 34 | MacDaddy BBQ | |
| 35 | Characters BBQ | |
| 36 | Smoking Hot' Lanta | |
| 37 | ATLANTA BUTT SOCIETY | |
| 38 | BBQ SHOGUN | |
| 39 | UNDER CONSTRUCTION BBQ | |
| 40 | TAYLOR'D BBQ | |
| 41 | Freckled and Blue | |
| 42 | Marr B Q | |
| 43 | SMOKE SLINGERS - GA | |
| 44 | TASTE BUDS | |
| 45 | Porch Light BBQ | |
| 46 | Muddy Waters Sauce Co BBQ | |
| 47 | Five Star BBQ | |
| 48 | Spot on Que |
47 entries · top 177.7144 · median 166.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | That's how its DONE son! | |
| 2 | RUNWAY SMOKE | |
| 3 | LOW IQ BAR B Q | |
| 4 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 5 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 6 | QUE SCHOOL | |
| 7 | PLUM SUPERIOR BBQ | |
| 8 | IB SMOKIN' - ATL | |
| 9 | HIRED GUNS BBQ | |
| 10 | Monster Grillers | |
| 11 | BIG PAPA'S COUNTRY KITCHEN | |
| 12 | CRAFT BBQ | |
| 13 | AWESOME Q | |
| 14 | BULL RUSH BBQ | |
| 15 | SONNY'S PIT MASTERS | |
| 16 | SWEET WATER BAR-B-QUE | |
| 17 | The 300 | |
| 18 | Rub Shakers Que | |
| 19 | Unprohibited | |
| 20 | CITY GONE COUNTRY | |
| 21 | Southern Tailgates | |
| 22 | TASTE BUDS | |
| 23 | BAR-B-QUE MONSTERS | |
| 24 | TEMPLE OF THE HOG | |
| 25 | Will & the Thrills | |
| 26 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 27 | BIG L'S SWEET HEAT | |
| 28 | MacDaddy BBQ | |
| 29 | Characters BBQ | |
| 30 | 3TAXIGUYS | |
| 31 | Willingham's | |
| 32 | UNDER CONSTRUCTION BBQ | |
| 33 | BBQ SHOGUN | |
| 34 | Smoking Hot' Lanta | |
| 35 | BIRD DAWG BBQ | |
| 36 | TAYLOR'D BBQ | |
| 37 | UNCOMMON Q | |
| 38 | Muddy Waters Sauce Co BBQ | |
| 39 | Porkaholics Barbeque | |
| 40 | Rolling Grill | |
| 41 | ATLANTA BUTT SOCIETY | |
| 42 | Five Star BBQ | |
| 43 | Porch Light BBQ | |
| 44 | SMOKE SLINGERS - GA | |
| 45 | Freckled and Blue | |
| 46 | NICE RACK BBQ | |
| 47 | Marr B Q |
47 entries · top 178.3200 · median 163.9656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 2 | HIRED GUNS BBQ | |
| 3 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 4 | PLUM SUPERIOR BBQ | |
| 5 | AWESOME Q | |
| 6 | The 300 | |
| 7 | Rolling Grill | |
| 8 | BULL RUSH BBQ | |
| 9 | Unprohibited | |
| 10 | UNCOMMON Q | |
| 11 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 12 | BAR-B-QUE MONSTERS | |
| 13 | CITY GONE COUNTRY | |
| 14 | CRAFT BBQ | |
| 15 | Rub Shakers Que | |
| 16 | SONNY'S PIT MASTERS | |
| 17 | LOW IQ BAR B Q | |
| 18 | Southern Tailgates | |
| 19 | That's how its DONE son! | |
| 20 | NICE RACK BBQ | |
| 21 | IB SMOKIN' - ATL | |
| 22 | BIG PAPA'S COUNTRY KITCHEN | |
| 23 | TEMPLE OF THE HOG | |
| 24 | Will & the Thrills | |
| 25 | 3TAXIGUYS | |
| 26 | SWEET WATER BAR-B-QUE | |
| 27 | Smoking Hot' Lanta | |
| 28 | Porkaholics Barbeque | |
| 29 | Monster Grillers | |
| 30 | SMOKE SLINGERS - GA | |
| 31 | Willingham's | |
| 32 | UNDER CONSTRUCTION BBQ | |
| 33 | TAYLOR'D BBQ | |
| 34 | BIG L'S SWEET HEAT | |
| 35 | ATLANTA BUTT SOCIETY | |
| 36 | Porch Light BBQ | |
| 37 | QUE SCHOOL | |
| 38 | MacDaddy BBQ | |
| 39 | BIRD DAWG BBQ | |
| 40 | BBQ SHOGUN | |
| 41 | Characters BBQ | |
| 42 | Five Star BBQ | |
| 43 | RUNWAY SMOKE | |
| 44 | Marr B Q | |
| 45 | Freckled and Blue | |
| 46 | Muddy Waters Sauce Co BBQ | |
| 47 | TASTE BUDS |
47 entries · top 178.8572 · median 164.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HIRED GUNS BBQ | |
| 2 | BIG PAPA'S COUNTRY KITCHEN | |
| 3 | BIRD DAWG BBQ | |
| 4 | IB SMOKIN' - ATL | |
| 5 | Will & the Thrills | |
| 6 | Porkaholics Barbeque | |
| 7 | AWESOME Q | |
| 8 | UNCOMMON Q | |
| 9 | NICE RACK BBQ | |
| 10 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 11 | PLUM SUPERIOR BBQ | |
| 12 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 13 | BULL RUSH BBQ | |
| 14 | Characters BBQ | |
| 15 | LOW IQ BAR B Q | |
| 16 | TAYLOR'D BBQ | |
| 17 | QUE SCHOOL | |
| 18 | Unprohibited | |
| 19 | Rolling Grill | |
| 20 | The 300 | |
| 21 | CRAFT BBQ | |
| 22 | Rub Shakers Que | |
| 23 | Marr B Q | |
| 24 | BIG L'S SWEET HEAT | |
| 25 | SONNY'S PIT MASTERS | |
| 26 | Monster Grillers | |
| 27 | Southern Tailgates | |
| 28 | That's how its DONE son! | |
| 29 | CITY GONE COUNTRY | |
| 30 | 3TAXIGUYS | |
| 31 | BBQ SHOGUN | |
| 32 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 33 | SWEET WATER BAR-B-QUE | |
| 34 | Freckled and Blue | |
| 35 | Muddy Waters Sauce Co BBQ | |
| 36 | RUNWAY SMOKE | |
| 37 | TEMPLE OF THE HOG | |
| 38 | TASTE BUDS | |
| 39 | Smoking Hot' Lanta | |
| 40 | MacDaddy BBQ | |
| 41 | BAR-B-QUE MONSTERS | |
| 42 | ATLANTA BUTT SOCIETY | |
| 43 | Willingham's | |
| 44 | UNDER CONSTRUCTION BBQ | |
| 45 | SMOKE SLINGERS - GA | |
| 46 | Porch Light BBQ | |
| 47 | Spot on Que |
47 entries · top 177.7144 · median 162.2744
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWESOME Q | |
| 2 | BIG L'S SWEET HEAT | |
| 3 | CITY GONE COUNTRY | |
| 4 | BIG PAPA'S COUNTRY KITCHEN | |
| 5 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 6 | BAR-B-QUE MONSTERS | |
| 7 | PLUM SUPERIOR BBQ | |
| 8 | BIRD DAWG BBQ | |
| 9 | Will & the Thrills | |
| 10 | Rub Shakers Que | |
| 11 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 12 | Monster Grillers | |
| 13 | CRAFT BBQ | |
| 14 | Southern Tailgates | |
| 15 | Unprohibited | |
| 16 | Willingham's | |
| 17 | NICE RACK BBQ | |
| 18 | SWEET WATER BAR-B-QUE | |
| 19 | Porkaholics Barbeque | |
| 20 | 3TAXIGUYS | |
| 21 | ATLANTA BUTT SOCIETY | |
| 22 | Freckled and Blue | |
| 23 | RUNWAY SMOKE | |
| 24 | MacDaddy BBQ | |
| 25 | The 300 | |
| 26 | HIRED GUNS BBQ | |
| 27 | That's how its DONE son! | |
| 28 | SONNY'S PIT MASTERS | |
| 29 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 30 | SMOKE SLINGERS - GA | |
| 31 | TEMPLE OF THE HOG | |
| 32 | QUE SCHOOL | |
| 33 | BULL RUSH BBQ | |
| 34 | IB SMOKIN' - ATL | |
| 35 | Rolling Grill | |
| 36 | Smoking Hot' Lanta | |
| 37 | Marr B Q | |
| 38 | UNDER CONSTRUCTION BBQ | |
| 39 | BBQ SHOGUN | |
| 40 | LOW IQ BAR B Q | |
| 41 | UNCOMMON Q | |
| 42 | TASTE BUDS | |
| 43 | Characters BBQ | |
| 44 | Porch Light BBQ | |
| 45 | TAYLOR'D BBQ | |
| 46 | Spot on Que | |
| 47 | Muddy Waters Sauce Co 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.
14 entries · top 173.1084 · median 163.4000
14 entries · top 171.4056 · median 165.1084
14 entries · top 179.4400 · median 164.8228