May 8–9, 2015 · Rome, GA
OLD PLANTATION BBQ won Grand Champion at the Roman Roast on the River on May 8, 2015 in Rome, GA, scoring 698.8000 in a field of 41 teams. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR took Reserve Grand Champion with 697.7032. Category winners: Chicken — JACK'S OLD SOUTH (178.8572); Pork Ribs — HOOTIE-Q (177.7028); Pork — RESCUE SMOKERS (180.0000); Brisket — J & B'S BBQ (177.1544). This is the 3rd of 6 editions of this contest on record; the 2014 edition was won by QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N; the next was held in 2016.
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, 2013 to 2018 — 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 85% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.0968 points — closer than 85% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 67 times in 100
OLD PLANTATION BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 33-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
OLD PLANTATION BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
2 of 6 tracked editions
QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N has won this contest 2 times across its 6 tracked editions.
Chicken places 2–3: DIGGIN QUE-GA and CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N and OLD PLANTATION BBQ tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 2–3: BIG L'S SWEET HEAT and CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR tied on 176.5944 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
RESCUE SMOKERS turned in 180.0000 in pork — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N (won 2014).
This contest usually draws about 36 teams
41 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 36.
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 2013 | Rome, GA | Rome, GA | 33 | 693.7144 | KUDZU Q | PIG WHISPERERS |
| May 9, 2014 | Rome, GA | Rome, GA 30162 | 38 | 704 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS |
| May 8, 2015 ← this one | Rome, GA | Rome, GA 30165 | 41 | 698.8000 | OLD PLANTATION BBQ | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR |
| May 13, 2016 | Rome, GA | Rome, GA 30165 | 36 | 693.0512 | HICKORY PRIME | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ |
| May 12, 2017 | Rome, GA | Rome, GA 30165 | 37 | 698.2516 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | SMOKE ON THIS |
| May 11, 2018 | Rome, GA | 2781 John Petree RD | 39 | 699.4288 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8572 | 175.4400 | 173.1772 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.7028 | 175.4172 | 172 |
| Pork | 180 | 175.4400 | 174.2744 |
| Brisket | 177.1544 | 174.2628 | 173.1084 |
41 entries · top 698.8000 · median 674.2172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OLD PLANTATION BBQ | |
| 2 | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR | |
| 3 | DIGGIN QUE-GA | |
| 4 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 5 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 6 | HOOTIE-Q | |
| 7 | BIG L'S SWEET HEAT | |
| 8 | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | |
| 9 | BURNT BEAN CO. | |
| 10 | J & B'S BBQ | |
| 11 | PATRIOTIC RADIO NETWORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 12 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 13 | CRAFT BBQ | |
| 14 | RESCUE SMOKERS | |
| 15 | DEEP SOUTH BBQ | |
| 16 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 17 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 18 | BIRD DAWG BBQ | |
| 19 | TENACIOUS Q | |
| 20 | BUB-BA-Q | |
| 21 | OWLS NEST BBQ | |
| 22 | HISTORIC BBQ | |
| 23 | THE PIG LEBOWSKI | |
| 24 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 25 | CRIMSON Q | |
| 26 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 27 | We-Q-4-U | |
| 28 | WAY 2 QUE | |
| 29 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 30 | SHADE TREE BBQ | |
| 31 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 32 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 33 | SNOUTS HONOR BBQ TEAM | |
| 34 | CHARACTER'S FAMOUS BBQ | |
| 35 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 36 | BLAZIN'7'S | |
| 37 | ATLANTA BBQ CLUB | |
| 38 | Sprat Boy Barbecue | |
| 39 | Porch Light | |
| 40 | BILLY MAC BBQ | |
| 41 | POT'S BBQ |
41 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.1084
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 2 | DIGGIN QUE-GA | |
| 3 | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR | |
| 4 | BURNT BEAN CO. | |
| 5 | We-Q-4-U | |
| 6 | HISTORIC BBQ | |
| 7 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 8 | OLD PLANTATION BBQ | |
| 9 | HOOTIE-Q | |
| 10 | BIRD DAWG BBQ | |
| 11 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 12 | SNOUTS HONOR BBQ TEAM | |
| 13 | SHADE TREE BBQ | |
| 14 | BIG L'S SWEET HEAT | |
| 15 | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | |
| 16 | THE PIG LEBOWSKI | |
| 17 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 18 | RESCUE SMOKERS | |
| 19 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 20 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 21 | PATRIOTIC RADIO NETWORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 22 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 23 | OWLS NEST BBQ | |
| 24 | J & B'S BBQ | |
| 25 | DEEP SOUTH BBQ | |
| 26 | ATLANTA BBQ CLUB | |
| 27 | CRIMSON Q | |
| 28 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 29 | CHARACTER'S FAMOUS BBQ | |
| 30 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 31 | CRAFT BBQ | |
| 32 | POT'S BBQ | |
| 33 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 34 | BUB-BA-Q | |
| 35 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 36 | WAY 2 QUE | |
| 37 | Porch Light | |
| 38 | TENACIOUS Q | |
| 39 | BLAZIN'7'S | |
| 40 | Sprat Boy Barbecue | |
| 41 | BILLY MAC BBQ |
41 entries · top 177.7028 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOOTIE-Q | |
| 2 | BIG L'S SWEET HEAT | |
| 3 | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR | |
| 4 | BUB-BA-Q | |
| 5 | POT'S BBQ | |
| 6 | SNOUTS HONOR BBQ TEAM | |
| 7 | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | |
| 8 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 9 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 10 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 11 | BLAZIN'7'S | |
| 12 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 13 | TENACIOUS Q | |
| 14 | OLD PLANTATION BBQ | |
| 15 | CRAFT BBQ | |
| 16 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 17 | BIRD DAWG BBQ | |
| 18 | OWLS NEST BBQ | |
| 19 | CRIMSON Q | |
| 20 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 21 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 22 | BILLY MAC BBQ | |
| 23 | THE PIG LEBOWSKI | |
| 24 | DIGGIN QUE-GA | |
| 25 | BURNT BEAN CO. | |
| 26 | CHARACTER'S FAMOUS BBQ | |
| 27 | J & B'S BBQ | |
| 28 | HISTORIC BBQ | |
| 29 | We-Q-4-U | |
| 30 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 31 | PATRIOTIC RADIO NETWORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 32 | SHADE TREE BBQ | |
| 33 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 34 | DEEP SOUTH BBQ | |
| 35 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 36 | Sprat Boy Barbecue | |
| 37 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 38 | WAY 2 QUE | |
| 39 | RESCUE SMOKERS | |
| 40 | ATLANTA BBQ CLUB | |
| 41 | Porch Light |
41 entries · top 180 · median 169.1084 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RESCUE SMOKERS | |
| 2 | OLD PLANTATION BBQ | |
| 3 | BURNT BEAN CO. | |
| 4 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 5 | PATRIOTIC RADIO NETWORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 6 | CRAFT BBQ | |
| 7 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 8 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 9 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 10 | DEEP SOUTH BBQ | |
| 11 | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | |
| 12 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 13 | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR | |
| 14 | BIG L'S SWEET HEAT | |
| 15 | WAY 2 QUE | |
| 16 | J & B'S BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 18 | DIGGIN QUE-GA | |
| 19 | TENACIOUS Q | |
| 20 | HOOTIE-Q | |
| 21 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 22 | Sprat Boy Barbecue | |
| 23 | BLAZIN'7'S | |
| 24 | We-Q-4-U | |
| 25 | BUB-BA-Q | |
| 26 | OWLS NEST BBQ | |
| 27 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 28 | THE PIG LEBOWSKI | |
| 29 | SNOUTS HONOR BBQ TEAM | |
| 30 | SHADE TREE BBQ | |
| 31 | HISTORIC BBQ | |
| 32 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 33 | CRIMSON Q | |
| 34 | Porch Light | |
| 35 | ATLANTA BBQ CLUB | |
| 36 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 37 | BIRD DAWG BBQ | |
| 38 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 39 | CHARACTER'S FAMOUS BBQ | |
| 40 | BILLY MAC BBQ | |
| 41 | POT'S BBQ |
41 entries · top 177.1544 · median 168.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | J & B'S BBQ | |
| 2 | DIGGIN QUE-GA | |
| 3 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 4 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 5 | OLD PLANTATION BBQ | |
| 6 | POT'S BBQ | |
| 7 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 8 | PATRIOTIC RADIO NETWORK BBQ TEAM | |
| 9 | DEEP SOUTH BBQ | |
| 10 | TENACIOUS Q | |
| 11 | CRIMSON Q | |
| 12 | RESCUE SMOKERS | |
| 13 | WAY 2 QUE | |
| 14 | CRAFT BBQ | |
| 15 | CHARACTER'S FAMOUS BBQ | |
| 16 | BIRD DAWG BBQ | |
| 17 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 18 | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR | |
| 19 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 20 | HOOTIE-Q | |
| 21 | OWLS NEST BBQ | |
| 22 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 23 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 24 | THE PIG LEBOWSKI | |
| 25 | HISTORIC BBQ | |
| 26 | BUB-BA-Q | |
| 27 | BURNT BEAN CO. | |
| 28 | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | |
| 29 | BIG L'S SWEET HEAT | |
| 30 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 31 | SHADE TREE BBQ | |
| 32 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 33 | ATLANTA BBQ CLUB | |
| 34 | We-Q-4-U | |
| 35 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 36 | BLAZIN'7'S | |
| 37 | Sprat Boy Barbecue | |
| 38 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 39 | Porch Light | |
| 40 | SNOUTS HONOR BBQ TEAM | |
| 41 | BILLY MAC 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.
22 entries · top 518.2400 · median 493.5940
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKEY ADAMS BAR-B-Q | |
| 2 | SWINE DINING | |
| 3 | PORK 'N BUTTS | |
| 4 | Folks | |
| 5 | WATER HAWGS BBQ | |
| 6 | Moo Moo Cluckin Butts | |
| 7 | TEAM SWAG BBQ | |
| 8 | SCREAMING EAGLE | |
| 9 | SMOKIN' HOT BUTTS & RACKS | |
| 10 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 11 | The Fat Redneck BBQ Co. | |
| 12 | FAT BOTTOM BBQ | |
| 13 | Wade's | |
| 14 | RHINO RIBS | |
| 15 | BALDY'S BUTTS | |
| 16 | Bob's Taxidermy & Day Care | |
| 17 | Porkaholics Barbecue | |
| 18 | Uncle Buck's | |
| 19 | Smoking Gun | |
| 20 | Big Frick's M & A | |
| 21 | Rib City BBQ | |
| 22 | For The Smoke Of It |
22 entries · top 173.1428 · median 164.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BALDY'S BUTTS | |
| 2 | SWINE DINING | |
| 3 | WATER HAWGS BBQ | |
| 4 | Folks | |
| 5 | The Fat Redneck BBQ Co. | |
| 6 | FAT BOTTOM BBQ | |
| 7 | TEAM SWAG BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKEY ADAMS BAR-B-Q | |
| 9 | PORK 'N BUTTS | |
| 10 | SMOKIN' HOT BUTTS & RACKS | |
| 11 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 12 | Porkaholics Barbecue | |
| 13 | RHINO RIBS | |
| 14 | Moo Moo Cluckin Butts | |
| 15 | SCREAMING EAGLE | |
| 16 | Wade's | |
| 17 | Bob's Taxidermy & Day Care | |
| 18 | Rib City BBQ | |
| 19 | Big Frick's M & A | |
| 20 | Smoking Gun | |
| 21 | Uncle Buck's | |
| 22 | For The Smoke Of It |
22 entries · top 176 · median 163.4400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKEY ADAMS BAR-B-Q | |
| 2 | SWINE DINING | |
| 3 | Folks | |
| 4 | Moo Moo Cluckin Butts | |
| 5 | PORK 'N BUTTS | |
| 6 | SCREAMING EAGLE | |
| 7 | RHINO RIBS | |
| 8 | Smoking Gun | |
| 9 | For The Smoke Of It | |
| 10 | Bob's Taxidermy & Day Care | |
| 11 | Porkaholics Barbecue | |
| 12 | Uncle Buck's | |
| 13 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 14 | TEAM SWAG BBQ | |
| 15 | FAT BOTTOM BBQ | |
| 16 | Big Frick's M & A | |
| 17 | SMOKIN' HOT BUTTS & RACKS | |
| 18 | Wade's | |
| 19 | The Fat Redneck BBQ Co. | |
| 20 | BALDY'S BUTTS | |
| 21 | WATER HAWGS BBQ | |
| 22 | Rib City BBQ |
22 entries · top 177.7028 · median 165.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PORK 'N BUTTS | |
| 2 | WATER HAWGS BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKEY ADAMS BAR-B-Q | |
| 4 | SWINE DINING | |
| 5 | Wade's | |
| 6 | Folks | |
| 7 | SMOKIN' HOT BUTTS & RACKS | |
| 8 | Moo Moo Cluckin Butts | |
| 9 | SCREAMING EAGLE | |
| 10 | TEAM SWAG BBQ | |
| 11 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 12 | The Fat Redneck BBQ Co. | |
| 13 | Bob's Taxidermy & Day Care | |
| 14 | Uncle Buck's | |
| 15 | FAT BOTTOM BBQ | |
| 16 | BALDY'S BUTTS | |
| 17 | RHINO RIBS | |
| 18 | Porkaholics Barbecue | |
| 19 | Smoking Gun | |
| 20 | Rib City BBQ | |
| 21 | Big Frick's M & A | |
| 22 | For The Smoke Of It |