A new contest record
679.9656
highest overall ever cooked here
679.9656 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 674.2512 BEERBEQUE set in 2015.
- old record 674.2512
- set 2015 by BEERBEQUE
Que by the Sea 2017
Sep 22–24, 2017 · Seaside Heights, NJ · 📍 Grant Ave
WEEKEND SMOKERS won Grand Champion at the Que by the Sea on September 22, 2017 in Seaside Heights, NJ at Grant Ave, scoring 679.9656 in a field of 43 teams. TOP GUN BARBECUE took Reserve Grand Champion with 676.5028. Category winners: Chicken — BEERBEQUE (180.0000); Pork Ribs — 3 EYZ BBQ (173.1084); Pork — DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM (176.5600); Brisket — SHADY CREW (173.7144). This is the 5th of 6 editions of this contest on record; the 2016 edition was won by TOP GUN BARBECUE; the next was held in 2018.
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.
554.29
median 645.07
679.97 🏆
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 173.11
- Pork 176.56
- Brisket 173.71
123.42
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2018 — this edition picked out.
Entries
43
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
679.9656
Winning margin
3.4628
GC over RC
Field average
638.07
554.29679.97
median 645.07 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Brisket
2.8800 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
663.2568
554.29679.97
10th place overall
Field spread
125.6796
winner to last place
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 89%
beats 11% of 4714 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
68%
30 of 44 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.62 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,546
avg power rating going in · stronger than 35% of contests
Storylines (9 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.
An upset on the books
14-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 86 times in 100
WEEKEND SMOKERS came in rated below the field's top team, 3 EYZ BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 14-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1539
- top seed 1861
Won without a category win
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
WEEKEND SMOKERS won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 3rd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 4th
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 3rd
- Brisket 16th
A first Grand Championship
29
tracked contests to get there
This was WEEKEND SMOKERS's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 29th tracked contest.
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 6 tracked editions
BEERBEQUE has won this contest 2 times across its 6 tracked editions.
- 2013
- 2015
Photo finishes
0.0116
closest of 12 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 6–7: DEAD ON Q edged SHADY CREW by 0.0116. Chicken places 9–10: SMOKOPOLIS BBQ edged PIG PEN BBQ by 0.0116. Pork Ribs places 2–3: DEAD ON Q edged WEEKEND SMOKERS by 0.0116.
- Chicken 6–7 · 0.0116
- Chicken 9–10 · 0.0116
- Pork Ribs 2–3 · 0.0116
- Pork 9–10 · 0.0116
A contest record in chicken
180.0000
best chicken ever cooked here
BEERBEQUE turned in 180.0000 in chicken — past the 175.4172 that had stood across 4 earlier editions.
- old best 175.4172
- across 4 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: BEERBEQUE (won 2013, 2015), TOP GUN BARBECUE (won 2016).
- BEERBEQUE · 2013, 2015
- TOP GUN BARBECUE · 2016
A perfect score on the table
1
perfect 180s
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- BEERBEQUE · Chicken
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 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 | Seaside Heights, NJ | Grant Ave | 44 | 669.6572 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | ACK-QUE |
| Sep 22, 2017 ← this one | 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 |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 172.5600 | 169.6800 |
| Pork Ribs | 173.1084 | 168.5828 | 166.8572 |
| Pork | 176.5600 | 167.9772 | 166.2628 |
| Brisket | 173.7144 | 170.8344 | 167.9888 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
43 entries · top 679.9656 · median 645.0748
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 2 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 3 | NICE RACKS | |
| 4 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 5 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 6 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 7 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 8 | QUEGASM | |
| 9 | REED BOYZ BBQ | |
| 10 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 11 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 12 | FINN'S FINEST BBQ | |
| 13 | ACK-QUE | |
| 14 | SHADY CREW | |
| 15 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 16 | SMOKIN' ADDICTION | |
| 17 | HERM'S HOGS | |
| 18 | BURN BARREL BBQ | |
| 19 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 20 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 21 | TOM TOM BOB A QUE | |
| 22 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 24 | HOT ROD HOGS | |
| 25 | SMOKOPOLIS BBQ | |
| 26 | WE RIB U LONG TIME | |
| 27 | PIG PEN BBQ | |
| 28 | BIKER BBQ | |
| 29 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 30 | Boss Hog Barbecue | |
| 31 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 32 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 33 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 34 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 35 | Big Baby Ernie BBQ | |
| 36 | FIRE ANTS BBQ | |
| 37 | HERDER HERDER BBQ | |
| 38 | OLD COACHES BBQ | |
| 39 | Fossil Fueled BBQ | |
| 40 | North Meats South DRJ Catering BBQ | |
| 41 | Lava-Q | |
| 42 | LOADED BARRELS BBQ - NJ | |
| 43 | We BBQ for You |
Chicken
43 entries · top 180 · median 164.5828 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 2 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 3 | NICE RACKS | |
| 4 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 5 | REED BOYZ BBQ | |
| 6 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 7 | SHADY CREW | |
| 8 | LOADED BARRELS BBQ - NJ | |
| 9 | SMOKOPOLIS BBQ | |
| 10 | PIG PEN BBQ | |
| 11 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 12 | FINN'S FINEST BBQ | |
| 13 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 14 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 15 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 16 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 17 | HERM'S HOGS | |
| 18 | SMOKIN' ADDICTION | |
| 19 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 20 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 21 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 22 | QUEGASM | |
| 23 | WE RIB U LONG TIME | |
| 24 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 25 | BURN BARREL BBQ | |
| 26 | HOT ROD HOGS | |
| 27 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 28 | ACK-QUE | |
| 29 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 30 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 31 | TOM TOM BOB A QUE | |
| 32 | Big Baby Ernie BBQ | |
| 33 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 34 | North Meats South DRJ Catering BBQ | |
| 35 | Boss Hog Barbecue | |
| 36 | FIRE ANTS BBQ | |
| 37 | OLD COACHES BBQ | |
| 38 | Lava-Q | |
| 39 | Fossil Fueled BBQ | |
| 40 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 41 | HERDER HERDER BBQ | |
| 42 | BIKER BBQ | |
| 43 | We BBQ for You |
Pork Ribs
43 entries · top 173.1084 · median 161.6916
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 2 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 3 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 4 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 5 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 6 | QUEGASM | |
| 7 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 8 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 9 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 10 | HERM'S HOGS | |
| 11 | TOM TOM BOB A QUE | |
| 12 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 13 | NICE RACKS | |
| 14 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 15 | BIKER BBQ | |
| 16 | ACK-QUE | |
| 17 | SMOKIN' ADDICTION | |
| 18 | BURN BARREL BBQ | |
| 19 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 20 | Boss Hog Barbecue | |
| 21 | Fossil Fueled BBQ | |
| 22 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 23 | Big Baby Ernie BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 25 | WE RIB U LONG TIME | |
| 26 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 27 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 28 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 29 | HOT ROD HOGS | |
| 30 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 31 | FINN'S FINEST BBQ | |
| 32 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 33 | SHADY CREW | |
| 34 | SMOKOPOLIS BBQ | |
| 35 | REED BOYZ BBQ | |
| 36 | North Meats South DRJ Catering BBQ | |
| 37 | OLD COACHES BBQ | |
| 38 | FIRE ANTS BBQ | |
| 39 | We BBQ for You | |
| 40 | HERDER HERDER BBQ | |
| 41 | PIG PEN BBQ | |
| 42 | Lava-Q | |
| 43 | LOADED BARRELS BBQ - NJ |
Pork
43 entries · top 176.5600 · median 159.3828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 2 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 3 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 4 | NICE RACKS | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' ADDICTION | |
| 6 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 7 | REED BOYZ BBQ | |
| 8 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 9 | FINN'S FINEST BBQ | |
| 10 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 11 | ACK-QUE | |
| 12 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 13 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 14 | BIKER BBQ | |
| 15 | HOT ROD HOGS | |
| 16 | HERM'S HOGS | |
| 17 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 18 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 19 | QUEGASM | |
| 20 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 21 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 22 | Boss Hog Barbecue | |
| 23 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 24 | SMOKOPOLIS BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 26 | SHADY CREW | |
| 27 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 28 | BURN BARREL BBQ | |
| 29 | WE RIB U LONG TIME | |
| 30 | TOM TOM BOB A QUE | |
| 31 | HERDER HERDER BBQ | |
| 32 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 33 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 34 | PIG PEN BBQ | |
| 35 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 36 | Big Baby Ernie BBQ | |
| 37 | FIRE ANTS BBQ | |
| 38 | OLD COACHES BBQ | |
| 39 | Fossil Fueled BBQ | |
| 40 | North Meats South DRJ Catering BBQ | |
| 41 | We BBQ for You | |
| 42 | Lava-Q | |
| 43 | LOADED BARRELS BBQ - NJ |
Brisket
43 entries · top 173.7144 · median 157.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHADY CREW | |
| 2 | QUEGASM | |
| 3 | REED BOYZ BBQ | |
| 4 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 5 | BURN BARREL BBQ | |
| 6 | FINN'S FINEST BBQ | |
| 7 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 8 | ACK-QUE | |
| 9 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 10 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 11 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 12 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 13 | PIG PEN BBQ | |
| 14 | TOM TOM BOB A QUE | |
| 15 | NICE RACKS | |
| 16 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 17 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 18 | HOT ROD HOGS | |
| 19 | HERM'S HOGS | |
| 20 | SMOKIN' ADDICTION | |
| 21 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 23 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 24 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 25 | BIKER BBQ | |
| 26 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 27 | SMOKOPOLIS BBQ | |
| 28 | WE RIB U LONG TIME | |
| 29 | Boss Hog Barbecue | |
| 30 | BURNT SIDE DOWN | |
| 31 | FIRE ANTS BBQ | |
| 32 | HERDER HERDER BBQ | |
| 33 | DIG'N N PIG'N | |
| 34 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 35 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 36 | OLD COACHES BBQ | |
| 37 | Big Baby Ernie BBQ | |
| 38 | Lava-Q | |
| 39 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 40 | LOADED BARRELS BBQ - NJ | |
| 41 | Fossil Fueled BBQ | |
| 42 | North Meats South DRJ Catering BBQ | |
| 43 | We BBQ for You |
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 — Chef'S Choice
19 entries · top 172 · median 159.9656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | REED BOYZ BBQ | |
| 2 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 3 | We BBQ for You | |
| 4 | Lava-Q | |
| 5 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 6 | THE BEARDED ONE BBQ | |
| 7 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 8 | WE RIB U LONG TIME | |
| 9 | Fossil Fueled BBQ | |
| 10 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 11 | TOM TOM BOB A QUE | |
| 12 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 13 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 14 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 15 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 16 | North Meats South DRJ Catering BBQ | |
| 17 | LOADED BARRELS BBQ - NJ | |
| 18 | HERDER HERDER BBQ | |
| 19 | Hot Rod's BBQ |
Master Series — Dessert
19 entries · top 176.5600 · median 166.2400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DANTE'S INFERNO | |
| 2 | Hot Rod's BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | |
| 4 | PIG PEN BBQ | |
| 5 | WE RIB U LONG TIME | |
| 6 | TOM TOM BOB A QUE | |
| 7 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 8 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 9 | SHADY CREW | |
| 10 | North Meats South DRJ Catering BBQ | |
| 11 | Lava-Q | |
| 12 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 13 | We BBQ for You | |
| 14 | LOCAL SMOKE BBQ | |
| 15 | Fossil Fueled BBQ | |
| 16 | HOT ROD HOGS | |
| 17 | HERDER HERDER BBQ | |
| 18 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 19 | BRISKET BURNERS |