Lodi BeerFest & State BBQ Championship
2026-04-24 – 2026-04-25 · Lodi, CA · State championship
Reps: IAN SCHMIDT, JULIE POE · Prize money: $6,000.00
Grand Champion: Smokin' Bliss BBQ (701.1432) · 29 teams
Entries
29
4 categories
Top score
701.1432
Winning margin
1.2120
GC over RC
Field average
666.13
median 674.83
Perfect 180s
2 🔥
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
1.7028 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
683.8740
what a walk cost here
Field spread
252.1148
winner to last place
Prize money
$6,000.00
on the line
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 29%
beats 71% of 2715 overall wins in the data
Field strength
1542
avg power rating going in · stronger than 47% of contests
Storylines
🪒 A razor-thin finish
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.2120 points — closer than 77% of every championship in the data.
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
This contest over the years
| Date | Where | Teams | High score | Grand Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-26 | Lodi, CA | 34 | 700.5028 | Small Axe BBQ |
| 2025-04-25 | Lodi, CA | 31 | 699.4056 | Cherry Anchor BBQ |
| 2026-04-24 ← this one | Lodi, CA | 29 | 701.1432 | Smokin' Bliss BBQ |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series — Brisket
29 entries · top 176.5600 · median 166.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 2 | OM BBQ COMPANY | |
| 3 | SMOKIN' BLISS BBQ | |
| 4 | SLO DOG Q | |
| 5 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | |
| 6 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 7 | Rio Good BBQ | |
| 8 | Ric's Righteous Ribs | |
| 9 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 10 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 11 | Chompa Q | |
| 12 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 13 | MYA&DJ'S BBQ | |
| 14 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 15 | KO BBQ | |
| 16 | Can Do BBQ | |
| 17 | BONE RUBBIN BBQ | |
| 18 | Small Axe BBQ | |
| 19 | COACHES PIT BBQ | |
| 20 | Bad Bears BBQ | |
| 21 | RBQ | |
| 22 | Smokin Colt | |
| 23 | Pass The Sauce BBQ | |
| 24 | Maillard Reaction | |
| 25 | 8up Barbecue | |
| 26 | B&E BBQ | |
| 27 | Lord Of The Ribs BBQ | |
| 28 | Alotta BS BBQ | |
| 29 | Brewskies BBQ |
Master Series — Chicken
28 entries · top 180.0000 · median 170.8284 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 2 | COACHES PIT BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN' BLISS BBQ | |
| 4 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 5 | Bad Bears BBQ | |
| 6 | OM BBQ COMPANY | |
| 7 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | |
| 8 | Rio Good BBQ | |
| 9 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 10 | Can Do BBQ | |
| 11 | KO BBQ | |
| 12 | Chompa Q | |
| 13 | Maillard Reaction | |
| 14 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 15 | RBQ | |
| 16 | Small Axe BBQ | |
| 17 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 18 | Alotta BS BBQ | |
| 19 | Pass The Sauce BBQ | |
| 20 | BONE RUBBIN BBQ | |
| 21 | MYA&DJ'S BBQ | |
| 22 | Smokin Colt | |
| 23 | Lord Of The Ribs BBQ | |
| 24 | Ric's Righteous Ribs | |
| 25 | 8up Barbecue | |
| 26 | SLO DOG Q | |
| 27 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 28 | B&E BBQ |
Master Series — Overall
29 entries · top 701.1432 · median 674.8344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN' BLISS BBQ | |
| 2 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | |
| 3 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 4 | Rio Good BBQ | |
| 5 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 6 | Can Do BBQ | |
| 7 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 8 | Bad Bears BBQ | |
| 9 | OM BBQ COMPANY | |
| 10 | MYA&DJ'S BBQ | |
| 11 | BONE RUBBIN BBQ | |
| 12 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 13 | COACHES PIT BBQ | |
| 14 | Small Axe BBQ | |
| 15 | Chompa Q | |
| 16 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 17 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 18 | SLO DOG Q | |
| 19 | Ric's Righteous Ribs | |
| 20 | KO BBQ | |
| 21 | Pass The Sauce BBQ | |
| 22 | RBQ | |
| 23 | Smokin Colt | |
| 24 | Maillard Reaction | |
| 25 | 8up Barbecue | |
| 26 | Lord Of The Ribs BBQ | |
| 27 | B&E BBQ | |
| 28 | Alotta BS BBQ | |
| 29 | Brewskies BBQ |
Master Series — Pork
29 entries · top 178.8800 · median 168.0228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bad Bears BBQ | |
| 2 | BONE RUBBIN BBQ | |
| 3 | Can Do BBQ | |
| 4 | MYA&DJ'S BBQ | |
| 5 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | |
| 6 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 7 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 8 | COACHES PIT BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKIN' BLISS BBQ | |
| 10 | Rio Good BBQ | |
| 11 | Small Axe BBQ | |
| 12 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 13 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 14 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 15 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 16 | OM BBQ COMPANY | |
| 17 | Ric's Righteous Ribs | |
| 18 | 8up Barbecue | |
| 19 | Maillard Reaction | |
| 20 | Smokin Colt | |
| 21 | Pass The Sauce BBQ | |
| 22 | Chompa Q | |
| 23 | SLO DOG Q | |
| 24 | Lord Of The Ribs BBQ | |
| 25 | RBQ | |
| 26 | B&E BBQ | |
| 27 | KO BBQ | |
| 28 | Alotta BS BBQ | |
| 29 | Brewskies BBQ |
Master Series — Pork Ribs
29 entries · top 174.8456 · median 170.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rio Good BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKIN' BLISS BBQ | |
| 3 | Can Do BBQ | |
| 4 | Cherry Anchor BBQ | |
| 5 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 6 | MYA&DJ'S BBQ | |
| 7 | B&E BBQ | |
| 8 | SLO DOG Q | |
| 9 | Chompa Q | |
| 10 | BULL MARKET BBQ | |
| 11 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 12 | BONE RUBBIN BBQ | |
| 13 | Alotta BS BBQ | |
| 14 | Small Axe BBQ | |
| 15 | KO BBQ | |
| 16 | Bad Bears BBQ | |
| 17 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 18 | Pass The Sauce BBQ | |
| 19 | Ric's Righteous Ribs | |
| 20 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 21 | Pops BBQ 22 | |
| 22 | Lord Of The Ribs BBQ | |
| 23 | RBQ | |
| 24 | OM BBQ COMPANY | |
| 25 | Smokin Colt | |
| 26 | 8up Barbecue | |
| 27 | COACHES PIT BBQ | |
| 28 | Maillard Reaction | |
| 29 | Brewskies BBQ |