A dynasty in the making
3×
wins at this contest
3 of 8 tracked editions
BIG POPPA SMOKERS has won this contest 3 times across its 8 tracked editions.
- 2013
- 2014
- 2016
Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge 2015
Sep 11–12, 2015 · Grand Junction, CO
LUCKY'S Q won Grand Champion at the Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge on September 11, 2015 in Grand Junction, CO, scoring 698.8344 in a field of 32 teams. GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE took Reserve Grand Champion with 690.2056. Category winners: Chicken — GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE (180.0000); Pork Ribs — JO-BAWB'S BBQ (174.2744); Pork — SUNDANCER BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — LUCKY'S Q (172.5600). This is the 3rd of 8 editions of this contest on record; the 2014 edition was won by BIG POPPA SMOKERS; the next was held in 2016.
The contest at a glance (read off the scored boards)
How the field scored
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
549.70
median 654.43
698.83 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180 🔥
- Pork Ribs 174.27
- Pork 180 🔥
- Brisket 172.56
132.05
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2019 — this edition picked out.
Entries
32
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
698.8344
Winning margin
8.6288
GC over RC
Field average
646.87
549.70698.83
median 654.43 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Brisket
1.6800 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
666.7884
549.70698.83
10th place overall
Field spread
149.1316
winner to last place
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 38%
beats 62% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
45%
21 of 47 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.69 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,548
avg power rating going in · stronger than 36% of contests
Storylines (5 found in this contest's numbers)
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 13 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 2–3: ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ and LUCKY'S Q tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 8–9: LOST WEEKEND GRILL and SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ tied on 172.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 3–4: LUCKY'S Q and WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ tied on 171.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 2–3 · tie
- Chicken 8–9 · tie
- Pork Ribs 3–4 · tie
- Pork Ribs 5–6 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
LUCKY'S Q took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 3rd.
- Chicken 3rd
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 2nd
- Brisket 1st
A contest record in chicken
180.0000
best chicken ever cooked here
GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE turned in 180.0000 in chicken — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
- old best 178.8572
- across 2 past editions
A perfect score on the table
2
perfect 180s
2 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE · Chicken
- SUNDANCER BBQ · Pork
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)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 2013 | Grand Junction, CO | Grand Junction, CO | 42 | 702.8572 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES |
| Sep 12, 2014 | Grand Junction, CO | Grand Junction, CO 81501 | 47 | 692.5944 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ |
| Sep 11, 2015 ← this one | Grand Junction, CO | Grand Junction, CO 81521 | 32 | 698.8344 | LUCKY'S Q | GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE |
| Sep 9, 2016 | Grand Junction, CO | 1340 Gunnison Ave | 49 | 694.8460 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | UTAH BBQ COMPANY |
| Sep 8, 2017 | Grand Jct, CO | 1340 Gunnison Ave | 28 | 694.2516 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | BACKDRAFT BBQ |
| Sep 7, 2018 | Grand Jct, CO | 925 Struthers AVe | 32 | 693.6572 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ |
| Sep 6, 2019 | Grand Jct, CO | 925 Struthers AVe | 28 | 691.3488 | CROOKED PIGS | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS |
| Sep 11, 2020 | Grand Jct, CO | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 176 | 168.5256 |
| Pork Ribs | 174.2744 | 169.7028 | 165.1316 |
| Pork | 180 | 171.4172 | 169.1200 |
| Brisket | 172.5600 | 170.8800 | 167.3944 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
32 entries · top 698.8344 · median 654.4284
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 2 | GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE | |
| 3 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 4 | BLAZEN BBQ | |
| 5 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 6 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 7 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 8 | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ | |
| 9 | SUNDANCER BBQ | |
| 10 | HALF BAKED HIPPIES BBQ | |
| 11 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 12 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 13 | Meat and Bones Barbeque | |
| 14 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 15 | OOPS | |
| 16 | CRAZY COYOTE | |
| 17 | COOTERS COUNTRY CATERING | |
| 18 | HICKORY DICKORY HOG | |
| 19 | SHEP'S BBQ | |
| 20 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 21 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 22 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 23 | OREGON TRAIL | |
| 24 | HQO | |
| 25 | Q LIVE CREW | |
| 26 | SIMMONS SECOND CHANCE RANCH BBQ | |
| 27 | Smoke Ring BBQ | |
| 28 | SWINE DOCTORS | |
| 29 | Fishin Buddies | |
| 30 | SMOKIN' CHAMBER BBQ | |
| 31 | BADASH BBQ | |
| 32 | Have Cooker Will Travel |
Chicken
32 entries · top 180 · median 163.9656 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE | |
| 2 | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ | |
| 3 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 4 | BLAZEN BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 6 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 7 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 8 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 9 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 10 | HALF BAKED HIPPIES BBQ | |
| 11 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 12 | SUNDANCER BBQ | |
| 13 | Meat and Bones Barbeque | |
| 14 | OOPS | |
| 15 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 16 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 17 | HQO | |
| 18 | SHEP'S BBQ | |
| 19 | CRAZY COYOTE | |
| 20 | COOTERS COUNTRY CATERING | |
| 21 | HICKORY DICKORY HOG | |
| 22 | OREGON TRAIL | |
| 23 | Q LIVE CREW | |
| 24 | SWINE DOCTORS | |
| 25 | SMOKIN' CHAMBER BBQ | |
| 26 | Smoke Ring BBQ | |
| 27 | Fishin Buddies | |
| 28 | SIMMONS SECOND CHANCE RANCH BBQ | |
| 29 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 30 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 31 | BADASH BBQ | |
| 32 | Have Cooker Will Travel |
Pork Ribs
32 entries · top 174.2744 · median 163.6742
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 2 | Meat and Bones Barbeque | |
| 3 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 4 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 6 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 7 | GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE | |
| 8 | SUNDANCER BBQ | |
| 9 | CRAZY COYOTE | |
| 10 | BLAZEN BBQ | |
| 11 | COOTERS COUNTRY CATERING | |
| 12 | Smoke Ring BBQ | |
| 13 | SHEP'S BBQ | |
| 14 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 15 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 16 | HALF BAKED HIPPIES BBQ | |
| 17 | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 19 | OOPS | |
| 20 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 21 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 22 | Q LIVE CREW | |
| 23 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 24 | OREGON TRAIL | |
| 25 | HICKORY DICKORY HOG | |
| 26 | SIMMONS SECOND CHANCE RANCH BBQ | |
| 27 | Fishin Buddies | |
| 28 | HQO | |
| 29 | SMOKIN' CHAMBER BBQ | |
| 30 | SWINE DOCTORS | |
| 31 | BADASH BBQ | |
| 32 | Have Cooker Will Travel |
Pork
32 entries · top 180 · median 163.4000 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SUNDANCER BBQ | |
| 2 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 3 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 4 | HALF BAKED HIPPIES BBQ | |
| 5 | HICKORY DICKORY HOG | |
| 6 | BLAZEN BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 8 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 9 | Meat and Bones Barbeque | |
| 10 | GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE | |
| 11 | CRAZY COYOTE | |
| 12 | OOPS | |
| 13 | OREGON TRAIL | |
| 14 | SHEP'S BBQ | |
| 15 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 16 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 17 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 18 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 19 | HQO | |
| 20 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 21 | Q LIVE CREW | |
| 22 | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ | |
| 23 | COOTERS COUNTRY CATERING | |
| 24 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 25 | SIMMONS SECOND CHANCE RANCH BBQ | |
| 26 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 27 | Smoke Ring BBQ | |
| 28 | SWINE DOCTORS | |
| 29 | BADASH BBQ | |
| 30 | Fishin Buddies | |
| 31 | SMOKIN' CHAMBER BBQ | |
| 32 | Have Cooker Will Travel |
Brisket
32 entries · top 172.5600 · median 161.7200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 2 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 3 | BLAZEN BBQ | |
| 4 | GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE | |
| 5 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 6 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 7 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 8 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 9 | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ | |
| 10 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 11 | HICKORY DICKORY HOG | |
| 12 | COOTERS COUNTRY CATERING | |
| 13 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 14 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 15 | OOPS | |
| 16 | HALF BAKED HIPPIES BBQ | |
| 17 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 18 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 19 | CRAZY COYOTE | |
| 20 | OREGON TRAIL | |
| 21 | SHEP'S BBQ | |
| 22 | SIMMONS SECOND CHANCE RANCH BBQ | |
| 23 | HQO | |
| 24 | SUNDANCER BBQ | |
| 25 | Meat and Bones Barbeque | |
| 26 | SWINE DOCTORS | |
| 27 | Q LIVE CREW | |
| 28 | BADASH BBQ | |
| 29 | Fishin Buddies | |
| 30 | SMOKIN' CHAMBER BBQ | |
| 31 | Smoke Ring BBQ | |
| 32 | Have Cooker Will Travel |
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.
Master Series — Anything But
8 entries · top 177.1772 · median 170.2914
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN' CHAMBER BBQ | |
| 2 | Fishin Buddies | |
| 3 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 4 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 5 | Q LIVE CREW | |
| 6 | OOPS | |
| 7 | HALF BAKED HIPPIES BBQ | |
| 8 | SHEP'S BBQ |
Master Series — Dessert
8 entries · top 178.8572 · median 171.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Q LIVE CREW | |
| 2 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 3 | Smoke Ring BBQ | |
| 4 | SWINE DOCTORS | |
| 5 | HALF BAKED HIPPIES BBQ | |
| 6 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 7 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 8 | SMOKIN' CHAMBER BBQ |