Sep 17–18, 2016 · Seaside Heights, NJ · 📍 Grant Ave
TOP GUN BARBECUE won Grand Champion at the Que by the Sea on September 17, 2016 in Seaside Heights, NJ at Grant Ave, scoring 669.6572 in a field of 44 teams. ACK-QUE took Reserve Grand Champion with 665.6340. Category winners: Chicken — 3 EYZ BBQ (175.4172); Pork Ribs — BEERBEQUE (174.8800); Pork — REED BOYZ BBQ (178.3200); Brisket — BRISKET BURNERS (174.8572). This is the 4th of 6 editions of this contest on record; the 2015 edition was won by BEERBEQUE; the next was held in 2017.
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.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 89 times in 100
Top Gun Barbecue came in rated below the field's top team, 3 EYZ BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 11-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
TOP GUN BARBECUE won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
This was TOP GUN BARBECUE's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 7th tracked contest.
2 of 6 tracked editions
BEERBEQUE has won this contest 2 times across its 6 tracked editions.
Chicken places 4–5: ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ and SMOKOPOLIS BBQ tied on 171.9772 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 3–4: 3 EYZ BBQ and CHICKEN CHOKERS tied on 169.6684 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 6–7: TOP GUN BARBECUE edged 3 EYZ BBQ by 0.0344.
REED BOYZ BBQ turned in 178.3200 in pork — past the 176.0000 that had stood across 3 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: BEERBEQUE (won 2013, 2015), QUE AND A HALF MEN (won 2014).
29 of 41 teams from 2015-09-19 came back
29 of the 41 teams that cooked the previous edition came back for this one — a contest people put on the calendar.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 21, 2013 | Seaside Heights, NJ | Seaside Heights, NJ | 49 | 658.7884 | BEERBEQUE | QUE AND A HALF MEN |
| Sep 20, 2014 | Seaside Heights, NJ | Seaside Heights, NJ 08751 | 48 | 667.9200 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM |
| Sep 19, 2015 | Seaside Heights, NJ | Seaside Heights, NJ 08751 | 41 | 674.2512 | BEERBEQUE | 3 EYZ BBQ |
| Sep 17, 2016 ← this one | Seaside Heights, NJ | Grant Ave | 44 | 669.6572 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | ACK-QUE |
| Sep 22, 2017 | Seaside Heights, NJ | Grant Ave | 43 | 679.9656 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | TOP GUN BARBECUE |
| Sep 22, 2018 | Seaside Heights, NJ | Grant Ave | 43 | 671.9776 | DANTE'S INFERNO | BEERBEQUE |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 175.4172 | 171.9772 | 167.3828 |
| Pork Ribs | 174.8800 | 170.2856 | 165.7260 |
| Pork | 178.3200 | 167.9772 | 162.8456 |
| Brisket | 174.8572 | 169.1428 | 163.9656 |
44 entries · top 669.6572 · median 627.6284
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 2 | ACK-QUE | |
| 3 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 4 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 5 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 6 | BIKER BBQ | |
| 7 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 8 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 9 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 10 | LATE NIGHT HOGGERS | |
| 11 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 12 | QUEGASM | |
| 13 | REED BOYZ BBQ | |
| 14 | SHADY CREW | |
| 15 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 16 | SMOKOPOLIS BBQ | |
| 17 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 18 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 19 | FINN'S FINEST BBQ | |
| 20 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 21 | RIGHT ON CUE | |
| 22 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 23 | PIGMAN AND THE SOUNDERS | |
| 24 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 25 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 26 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 27 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 28 | LITTLE LUKE'S BBQ | |
| 29 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 30 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 31 | MOON RIVER BARBEQUE | |
| 32 | TOM TOM BOB A QUE | |
| 33 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 34 | HERDER HERDER BBQ | |
| 35 | WE RIB U LONG TIME | |
| 36 | (ROLLER COASTER) BONEYARD SMOKER | |
| 37 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 38 | BITE BACK BBQ | |
| 39 | Hallelujah BBQ | |
| 40 | FIRE ANTS BBQ | |
| 41 | OLD COACHES BBQ | |
| 42 | Team BoyBQ | |
| 43 | LAVA BBQ Company | |
| 44 | We BBQ for You |
44 entries · top 175.4172 · median 161.1144
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 2 | QUEGASM | |
| 3 | ACK-QUE | |
| 4 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKOPOLIS BBQ | |
| 6 | SHADY CREW | |
| 7 | BIKER BBQ | |
| 8 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 9 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 10 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 11 | LATE NIGHT HOGGERS | |
| 12 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 13 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 14 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 15 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 16 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 17 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 18 | HERDER HERDER BBQ | |
| 19 | LITTLE LUKE'S BBQ | |
| 20 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 21 | TOM TOM BOB A QUE | |
| 22 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 23 | RIGHT ON CUE | |
| 24 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 25 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 26 | FINN'S FINEST BBQ | |
| 27 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 28 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 29 | REED BOYZ BBQ | |
| 30 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 31 | WE RIB U LONG TIME | |
| 32 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 33 | PIGMAN AND THE SOUNDERS | |
| 34 | (ROLLER COASTER) BONEYARD SMOKER | |
| 35 | LAVA BBQ Company | |
| 36 | OLD COACHES BBQ | |
| 37 | Hallelujah BBQ | |
| 38 | MOON RIVER BARBEQUE | |
| 39 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 40 | BITE BACK BBQ | |
| 41 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 42 | FIRE ANTS BBQ | |
| 43 | Team BoyBQ | |
| 44 | We BBQ for You |
44 entries · top 174.8800 · median 158.2800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 2 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 3 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 4 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 5 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 6 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 7 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 8 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 9 | LATE NIGHT HOGGERS | |
| 10 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 11 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 12 | WE RIB U LONG TIME | |
| 13 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 14 | ACK-QUE | |
| 15 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 16 | REED BOYZ BBQ | |
| 17 | MOON RIVER BARBEQUE | |
| 18 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 19 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 20 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 21 | Team BoyBQ | |
| 22 | BIKER BBQ | |
| 23 | RIGHT ON CUE | |
| 24 | PIGMAN AND THE SOUNDERS | |
| 25 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 26 | LAVA BBQ Company | |
| 27 | TOM TOM BOB A QUE | |
| 28 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 29 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 30 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 31 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 32 | FINN'S FINEST BBQ | |
| 33 | FIRE ANTS BBQ | |
| 34 | HERDER HERDER BBQ | |
| 35 | SMOKOPOLIS BBQ | |
| 36 | (ROLLER COASTER) BONEYARD SMOKER | |
| 37 | BITE BACK BBQ | |
| 38 | OLD COACHES BBQ | |
| 39 | SHADY CREW | |
| 40 | QUEGASM | |
| 41 | LITTLE LUKE'S BBQ | |
| 42 | We BBQ for You | |
| 43 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 44 | Hallelujah BBQ |
44 entries · top 178.3200 · median 158.2972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | REED BOYZ BBQ | |
| 2 | QUEGASM | |
| 3 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 4 | FINN'S FINEST BBQ | |
| 5 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 6 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 7 | SHADY CREW | |
| 8 | ACK-QUE | |
| 9 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 10 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 11 | BITE BACK BBQ | |
| 12 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 13 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 14 | BIKER BBQ | |
| 15 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 16 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 17 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 18 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 19 | PIGMAN AND THE SOUNDERS | |
| 20 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 21 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 22 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 23 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 24 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 25 | (ROLLER COASTER) BONEYARD SMOKER | |
| 26 | LATE NIGHT HOGGERS | |
| 27 | LITTLE LUKE'S BBQ | |
| 28 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 29 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 30 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 31 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 32 | SMOKOPOLIS BBQ | |
| 33 | RIGHT ON CUE | |
| 34 | Hallelujah BBQ | |
| 35 | WE RIB U LONG TIME | |
| 36 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 37 | Team BoyBQ | |
| 38 | FIRE ANTS BBQ | |
| 39 | MOON RIVER BARBEQUE | |
| 40 | OLD COACHES BBQ | |
| 41 | TOM TOM BOB A QUE | |
| 42 | HERDER HERDER BBQ | |
| 43 | LAVA BBQ Company | |
| 44 | We BBQ for You |
44 entries · top 174.8572 · median 153.1202
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 2 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 3 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 4 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 5 | SMOKOPOLIS BBQ | |
| 6 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 7 | BIKER BBQ | |
| 8 | SHADY CREW | |
| 9 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 10 | ACK-QUE | |
| 11 | FINN'S FINEST BBQ | |
| 12 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 13 | LATE NIGHT HOGGERS | |
| 14 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 15 | HERDER HERDER BBQ | |
| 16 | QUEGASM | |
| 17 | LITTLE LUKE'S BBQ | |
| 18 | MOON RIVER BARBEQUE | |
| 19 | TOM TOM BOB A QUE | |
| 20 | RIGHT ON CUE | |
| 21 | PIGMAN AND THE SOUNDERS | |
| 22 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 23 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 24 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 25 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 26 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 27 | REED BOYZ BBQ | |
| 28 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 29 | FIRE ANTS BBQ | |
| 30 | (ROLLER COASTER) BONEYARD SMOKER | |
| 31 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 32 | BITE BACK BBQ | |
| 33 | Hallelujah BBQ | |
| 34 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 35 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 36 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 37 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 38 | OLD COACHES BBQ | |
| 39 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 40 | WE RIB U LONG TIME | |
| 41 | We BBQ for You | |
| 42 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 43 | Team BoyBQ | |
| 44 | LAVA BBQ Company |
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.
15 entries · top 176.6400 · median 155.4972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 2 | FINN'S FINEST BBQ | |
| 3 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 4 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 5 | LATE NIGHT HOGGERS | |
| 6 | WE RIB U LONG TIME | |
| 7 | TOM TOM BOB A QUE | |
| 8 | LAVA BBQ Company | |
| 9 | We BBQ for You | |
| 10 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 11 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 12 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 13 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 14 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 15 | DANTE'S INFERNO |
14 entries · top 178.2972 · median 168.8972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WE RIB U LONG TIME | |
| 2 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 3 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 4 | SHADY CREW | |
| 5 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 6 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 7 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 8 | TOM TOM BOB A QUE | |
| 9 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 10 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 11 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 12 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 13 | FINN'S FINEST BBQ | |
| 14 | LATE NIGHT HOGGERS |