May 11–12, 2018 · Falcon Heights, MN
EGGSPERT BBQ MINNESOTA won Grand Champion at the Minnesota in May on May 11, 2018 in Falcon Heights, MN, scoring 694.8344 in a field of 70 teams. ACES HIGH BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 692.5372. Category winners: Chicken — NECTAR OF THE HOGS (177.1544); Pork Ribs — RUB MY RACK (177.7144); Pork — EGGSPERT BBQ MINNESOTA (179.4400); Brisket — LUCKY'S Q (178.8800). This is the 6th of 12 editions of this contest on record; the 2017 edition was won by IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ; the next was held in 2019.
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 2026 — 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 93 times in 100
Eggspert BBQ Minnesota came in rated below the field's top team, LUCKY'S Q, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 7-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
This was EGGSPERT BBQ MINNESOTA's first Grand Championship in the data.
2 of 12 tracked editions
Hot Daddys BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 12 tracked editions.
Eggspert BBQ Minnesota finished 1st overall in the first contest the data has them cooking at all.
Chicken places 9–10: SIX BUTT BBQ and LAST CALL HEROES BBQ tied on 173.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 3–4: ACES HIGH BBQ and B.S. BARBEQUE tied on 177.1428 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 8–9: ACES HIGH BBQ and BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ tied on 170.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
EGGSPERT BBQ MINNESOTA took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was brisket at 36th.
EGGSPERT BBQ MINNESOTA turned in 179.4400 in pork — past the 177.7372 that had stood across 5 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: SHIGGIN & GRINNIN (won 2013), SPITFIRE (won 2015).
Bigger than 95% of the 5,462 contests in the data
70 teams — bigger than 95% of the 5,462 contests in the data.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2013 | Faribault, MN | Faribault, MN | 49 | 689.1424 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | MONKEYS' UNCLES BBQ |
| May 16, 2014 | Falcon Heights, MN | Falcon Heights, MN 55448 | 58 | 696.0228 | A BOY & HIS BBQ | SPITFIRE |
| May 15, 2015 | St. Paul, MN | St. Paul, MN 55346 | 60 | 692.5600 | SPITFIRE | QUETOPIA |
| May 13, 2016 | Falcon Heights, MN | Falcon Heights, MN | 71 | 690.2056 | QUETOPIA | HOGLINE |
| May 12, 2017 | Falcon Heights, MN | Falcon Heights, MN 55346 | 71 | 695.3484 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | RUB MY RACK |
| May 11, 2018 ← this one | Falcon Heights, MN | Falcon Heights, MN 55346 | 70 | 694.8344 | EGGSPERT BBQ MINNESOTA | ACES HIGH BBQ |
| May 10, 2019 | 3101 HWY 95 NE | 57 | 698.8000 | Totally Sauced | HOGLINE | |
| May 7, 2021 | Cambridge, MN | 301 MN-95 | 60 | 697.1544 | Hogline | SIN CIRCLE BBQ |
| May 12, 2023 | St. Peter, MN | 400 Union St. | 59 | 698.2284 | Hot Daddys BBQ | Hogline BBQ |
| May 10, 2024 | St. Peter, MN | 400 Union St. | 58 | 699.9772 | Hot Daddy's BBQ | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ |
| May 9, 2025 | St. Peter, MN | 400 Union St. | 58 | 701.6688 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | Phoenix BBQ |
| May 8, 2026 | St. Peter, MN | Nicolett County Fair Grounds | 77 | 700.0004 | Burnt Trees BBQ | Smokin Suckers |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.1544 | 175.4400 | 173.7144 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.7144 | 173.7256 | 171.4172 |
| Pork | 179.4400 | 176.0116 | 172.5600 |
| Brisket | 178.8800 | 173.1200 | 170.8112 |
70 entries · top 694.8344 · median 659.3430
70 entries · top 177.1544 · median 165.1028
70 entries · top 177.7144 · median 163.4058
70 entries · top 179.4400 · median 165.1142
70 entries · top 178.8800 · median 162.8000