Oct 9–10, 2015 · Cincinnati, OH
VELVET SMOKE won Grand Champion at The River Grill before the Big Chill on October 9, 2015 in Cincinnati, OH, scoring 702.8116 in a field of 45 teams. WEQ4U took Reserve Grand Champion with 699.4400. Category winners: Chicken — VELVET SMOKE (180.0000); Pork Ribs — Louisville Branded BBQ (178.2972); Pork — Soggy Bottom Smokers (179.4400); Brisket — WEQ4U (178.8572). This is the 2nd of 2 editions of this contest on record; the 2014 edition was won by Bubba Grills.
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 73 times in 100
Velvet Smoke came in rated below the field's top team, Rogue Hog BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 27-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
This was VELVET SMOKE's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 14th tracked contest.
Chicken places 1–2: VELVET SMOKE and HOGAHOLICS tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 9–10: BLUE DOG BBQ and Bubba Grills tied on 171.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 3–4: Rogue Hog BBQ and MEAT @ SLIMS tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
VELVET SMOKE took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was brisket at 19th.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Bubba Grills (won 2014).
2 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2014 | Cincinnati, OH | Cincinnati, OH | 49 | 704.5944 | Bubba Grills | BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ |
| Oct 9, 2015 ← this one | Cincinnati, OH | Cincinnati, OH 45202 | 45 | 702.8116 | VELVET SMOKE | WEQ4U |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 178.2972 | 172.5600 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.2972 | 173.1544 | 172.5484 |
| Pork | 179.4400 | 173.7144 | 171.4056 |
| Brisket | 178.8572 | 177.7028 | 173.1200 |
45 entries · top 702.8116 · median 657.0400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | VELVET SMOKE | |
| 2 | WEQ4U | |
| 3 | MEAT @ SLIMS | |
| 4 | HOGAHOLICS | |
| 5 | RETIRED AND RUBBIN' IT | |
| 6 | BARK BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 7 | Bubba Grills | |
| 8 | JAMBRIE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 9 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 10 | SLIPPERY PETE'S BBQ | |
| 11 | HISTORIC BBQ | |
| 12 | BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 13 | FIREHOUSE SMOKERS TN | |
| 14 | Soggy Bottom Smokers | |
| 15 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 16 | QUBED | |
| 17 | THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW | |
| 18 | Big Dogg BBQ | |
| 19 | EXTRA MILE BBQ | |
| 20 | PAPA WOOD BBQ | |
| 21 | MEAT MISTERS | |
| 22 | BLUE DOG BBQ | |
| 23 | BLUEGRASS SMOKERS | |
| 24 | Louisville Branded BBQ | |
| 25 | Smokin' Cats | |
| 26 | SMOKIN' 4-PLAY BBQ | |
| 27 | THE VALPO BBQ CO. | |
| 28 | SMOKIN PIGS ASH BBQ | |
| 29 | Ole Country Porkers | |
| 30 | SAUCY SWINE-O'S | |
| 31 | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | |
| 32 | FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE | |
| 33 | JMB BBQ | |
| 34 | BRISKETS-BONES & BREWS BBQ | |
| 35 | SMOKIN IRISH | |
| 36 | BIG E BBQ | |
| 37 | BUCKEYE BBQ TROY OH | |
| 38 | BARK BBQ | |
| 39 | D'VINE SWINE | |
| 40 | BANKIN BABY BBQ | |
| 41 | Hogfathers | |
| 42 | Sweets & Meats BBQ | |
| 43 | DINO BONER BBQ | |
| 44 | jon jon's BBQ | |
| 45 | Hog Heaven 2.0 |
45 entries · top 180 · median 166.8228 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | VELVET SMOKE | |
| 2 | HOGAHOLICS | |
| 3 | Bubba Grills | |
| 4 | Big Dogg BBQ | |
| 5 | BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 6 | SLIPPERY PETE'S BBQ | |
| 7 | MEAT @ SLIMS | |
| 8 | WEQ4U | |
| 9 | RETIRED AND RUBBIN' IT | |
| 10 | THE VALPO BBQ CO. | |
| 11 | HISTORIC BBQ | |
| 12 | THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW | |
| 13 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN PIGS ASH BBQ | |
| 15 | Louisville Branded BBQ | |
| 16 | D'VINE SWINE | |
| 17 | BARK BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 18 | MEAT MISTERS | |
| 19 | JMB BBQ | |
| 20 | EXTRA MILE BBQ | |
| 21 | BLUEGRASS SMOKERS | |
| 22 | SMOKIN IRISH | |
| 23 | QUBED | |
| 24 | BARK BBQ | |
| 25 | FIREHOUSE SMOKERS TN | |
| 26 | BUCKEYE BBQ TROY OH | |
| 27 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 28 | SMOKIN' 4-PLAY BBQ | |
| 29 | Hogfathers | |
| 30 | BIG E BBQ | |
| 31 | SAUCY SWINE-O'S | |
| 32 | jon jon's BBQ | |
| 33 | JAMBRIE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 34 | PAPA WOOD BBQ | |
| 35 | BLUE DOG BBQ | |
| 36 | Smokin' Cats | |
| 37 | Ole Country Porkers | |
| 38 | Soggy Bottom Smokers | |
| 39 | BANKIN BABY BBQ | |
| 40 | BRISKETS-BONES & BREWS BBQ | |
| 41 | Sweets & Meats BBQ | |
| 42 | FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE | |
| 43 | Hog Heaven 2.0 | |
| 44 | DINO BONER BBQ | |
| 45 | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW |
45 entries · top 178.2972 · median 162.8456
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville Branded BBQ | |
| 2 | RETIRED AND RUBBIN' IT | |
| 3 | VELVET SMOKE | |
| 4 | WEQ4U | |
| 5 | Soggy Bottom Smokers | |
| 6 | PAPA WOOD BBQ | |
| 7 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 8 | Bubba Grills | |
| 9 | FIREHOUSE SMOKERS TN | |
| 10 | HOGAHOLICS | |
| 11 | HISTORIC BBQ | |
| 12 | BARK BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 13 | EXTRA MILE BBQ | |
| 14 | JAMBRIE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 15 | BLUEGRASS SMOKERS | |
| 16 | SLIPPERY PETE'S BBQ | |
| 17 | BRISKETS-BONES & BREWS BBQ | |
| 18 | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | |
| 19 | MEAT @ SLIMS | |
| 20 | FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE | |
| 21 | Ole Country Porkers | |
| 22 | THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW | |
| 23 | BIG E BBQ | |
| 24 | QUBED | |
| 25 | BANKIN BABY BBQ | |
| 26 | DINO BONER BBQ | |
| 27 | BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 28 | Hogfathers | |
| 29 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 30 | MEAT MISTERS | |
| 31 | Big Dogg BBQ | |
| 32 | BLUE DOG BBQ | |
| 33 | SMOKIN' 4-PLAY BBQ | |
| 34 | THE VALPO BBQ CO. | |
| 35 | D'VINE SWINE | |
| 36 | JMB BBQ | |
| 37 | SAUCY SWINE-O'S | |
| 38 | Smokin' Cats | |
| 39 | SMOKIN PIGS ASH BBQ | |
| 40 | Sweets & Meats BBQ | |
| 41 | BARK BBQ | |
| 42 | BUCKEYE BBQ TROY OH | |
| 43 | SMOKIN IRISH | |
| 44 | Hog Heaven 2.0 | |
| 45 | jon jon's BBQ |
45 entries · top 179.4400 · median 167.3828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soggy Bottom Smokers | |
| 2 | VELVET SMOKE | |
| 3 | JAMBRIE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 4 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 5 | QUBED | |
| 6 | D'VINE SWINE | |
| 7 | MEAT @ SLIMS | |
| 8 | HOGAHOLICS | |
| 9 | BLUE DOG BBQ | |
| 10 | Bubba Grills | |
| 11 | HISTORIC BBQ | |
| 12 | WEQ4U | |
| 13 | MEAT MISTERS | |
| 14 | BUCKEYE BBQ TROY OH | |
| 15 | FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE | |
| 16 | FIREHOUSE SMOKERS TN | |
| 17 | THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW | |
| 18 | SLIPPERY PETE'S BBQ | |
| 19 | EXTRA MILE BBQ | |
| 20 | BARK BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 21 | SMOKIN IRISH | |
| 22 | Big Dogg BBQ | |
| 23 | Ole Country Porkers | |
| 24 | Sweets & Meats BBQ | |
| 25 | jon jon's BBQ | |
| 26 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 27 | JMB BBQ | |
| 28 | SAUCY SWINE-O'S | |
| 29 | RETIRED AND RUBBIN' IT | |
| 30 | BIG E BBQ | |
| 31 | Hog Heaven 2.0 | |
| 32 | SMOKIN' 4-PLAY BBQ | |
| 33 | SMOKIN PIGS ASH BBQ | |
| 34 | BANKIN BABY BBQ | |
| 35 | BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 36 | THE VALPO BBQ CO. | |
| 37 | PAPA WOOD BBQ | |
| 38 | Smokin' Cats | |
| 39 | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | |
| 40 | Louisville Branded BBQ | |
| 41 | BRISKETS-BONES & BREWS BBQ | |
| 42 | Hogfathers | |
| 43 | BARK BBQ | |
| 44 | BLUEGRASS SMOKERS | |
| 45 | DINO BONER BBQ |
45 entries · top 178.8572 · median 165.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WEQ4U | |
| 2 | BARK BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 3 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 4 | MEAT @ SLIMS | |
| 5 | BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 6 | QUBED | |
| 7 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 8 | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | |
| 9 | Smokin' Cats | |
| 10 | JAMBRIE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 11 | RETIRED AND RUBBIN' IT | |
| 12 | FIREHOUSE SMOKERS TN | |
| 13 | DINO BONER BBQ | |
| 14 | PAPA WOOD BBQ | |
| 15 | BLUEGRASS SMOKERS | |
| 16 | HISTORIC BBQ | |
| 17 | HOGAHOLICS | |
| 18 | THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW | |
| 19 | VELVET SMOKE | |
| 20 | BARK BBQ | |
| 21 | SLIPPERY PETE'S BBQ | |
| 22 | Soggy Bottom Smokers | |
| 23 | SMOKIN' 4-PLAY BBQ | |
| 24 | MEAT MISTERS | |
| 25 | Big Dogg BBQ | |
| 26 | BRISKETS-BONES & BREWS BBQ | |
| 27 | BLUE DOG BBQ | |
| 28 | SMOKIN PIGS ASH BBQ | |
| 29 | Bubba Grills | |
| 30 | EXTRA MILE BBQ | |
| 31 | THE VALPO BBQ CO. | |
| 32 | SAUCY SWINE-O'S | |
| 33 | SMOKIN IRISH | |
| 34 | Hogfathers | |
| 35 | FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE | |
| 36 | jon jon's BBQ | |
| 37 | BANKIN BABY BBQ | |
| 38 | JMB BBQ | |
| 39 | Sweets & Meats BBQ | |
| 40 | Hog Heaven 2.0 | |
| 41 | BUCKEYE BBQ TROY OH | |
| 42 | Ole Country Porkers | |
| 43 | Louisville Branded BBQ | |
| 44 | BIG E BBQ | |
| 45 | D'VINE SWINE |
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 174.8456 · median 155.7084
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIGED'S BBQ | |
| 2 | Land of Justice BBQ | |
| 3 | Smokin Dudes BBQ | |
| 4 | BubbaRub | |
| 5 | SMOKE ON THE WATER | |
| 6 | 2 BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 7 | Bills Bubbaqua | |
| 8 | Smokin' Hot Butts | |
| 9 | Mind Your P's & Q's BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKING BAD | |
| 11 | Let's Smoke | |
| 12 | Brohaugh's BBQ | |
| 13 | The Porkopolitans | |
| 14 | Go Big or Go BBQ | |
| 15 | Yum's Q | |
| 16 | RUB OUR BUTTS BBQ | |
| 17 | Smoke-Alo's | |
| 18 | CHARLIE-QUE BBQ | |
| 19 | Bogey's Smokin BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKEY JOE'S | |
| 21 | swines of anarchy cincinnati original | |
| 22 | Smoke And Mirrors BBQ |
22 entries · top 506.8228 · median 468.2574
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIGED'S BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKING BAD | |
| 3 | CHARLIE-QUE BBQ | |
| 4 | Go Big or Go BBQ | |
| 5 | Smokin Dudes BBQ | |
| 6 | RUB OUR BUTTS BBQ | |
| 7 | Yum's Q | |
| 8 | Land of Justice BBQ | |
| 9 | Smokin' Hot Butts | |
| 10 | SMOKE ON THE WATER | |
| 11 | BubbaRub | |
| 12 | Mind Your P's & Q's BBQ | |
| 13 | Smoke-Alo's | |
| 14 | Let's Smoke | |
| 15 | Bogey's Smokin BBQ | |
| 16 | 2 BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 17 | Bills Bubbaqua | |
| 18 | SMOKEY JOE'S | |
| 19 | Smoke And Mirrors BBQ | |
| 20 | swines of anarchy cincinnati original | |
| 21 | Brohaugh's BBQ | |
| 22 | The Porkopolitans |
22 entries · top 176.5600 · median 155.3942
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Go Big or Go BBQ | |
| 2 | CHARLIE-QUE BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKING BAD | |
| 4 | RUB OUR BUTTS BBQ | |
| 5 | Mind Your P's & Q's BBQ | |
| 6 | Yum's Q | |
| 7 | Smoke-Alo's | |
| 8 | Smokin Dudes BBQ | |
| 9 | Smoke And Mirrors BBQ | |
| 10 | swines of anarchy cincinnati original | |
| 11 | BIGED'S BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKE ON THE WATER | |
| 13 | SMOKEY JOE'S | |
| 14 | Land of Justice BBQ | |
| 15 | Smokin' Hot Butts | |
| 16 | BubbaRub | |
| 17 | Bills Bubbaqua | |
| 18 | Bogey's Smokin BBQ | |
| 19 | The Porkopolitans | |
| 20 | Let's Smoke | |
| 21 | 2 BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 22 | Brohaugh's BBQ |
22 entries · top 176.5600 · median 158.2344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIGED'S BBQ | |
| 2 | CHARLIE-QUE BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKING BAD | |
| 4 | Bogey's Smokin BBQ | |
| 5 | Smoke And Mirrors BBQ | |
| 6 | Let's Smoke | |
| 7 | swines of anarchy cincinnati original | |
| 8 | Smokin' Hot Butts | |
| 9 | 2 BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 10 | Yum's Q | |
| 11 | RUB OUR BUTTS BBQ | |
| 12 | Go Big or Go BBQ | |
| 13 | BubbaRub | |
| 14 | SMOKE ON THE WATER | |
| 15 | Smokin Dudes BBQ | |
| 16 | Land of Justice BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKEY JOE'S | |
| 18 | Bills Bubbaqua | |
| 19 | Smoke-Alo's | |
| 20 | Mind Your P's & Q's BBQ | |
| 21 | Brohaugh's BBQ | |
| 22 | The Porkopolitans |