Jun 23–24, 2018 · Washington, DC · 📍 Pennsylvania Ave NW
SERIAL GRILLER won Grand Champion at the Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle on June 23, 2018 in Washington, DC at Pennsylvania Ave NW, scoring 704.5944 in a field of 42 teams. COOL SMOKE took Reserve Grand Champion with 702.8344. Category winners: Chicken — POKE N SMOKE (179.4400); Pork Ribs — SERIAL GRILLER (179.4400); Pork — WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ (178.8572); Brisket — SERIAL GRILLER (177.1428). This is the 3rd of 9 editions of this contest on record; the 2017 edition was won by APORKALYPSE NOW; the next was held in 2022.
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, 2016 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 73 times in 100
Serial Griller came in rated below the field's top team, WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 27-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
2 of 8 tracked editions
APORKALYPSE NOW has won this contest 2 times across its 8 tracked editions.
Pork Ribs places 2–3: HAMTOWN SMOKERS and OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 9–10: SWEET BELLY'S BBQ and HOOS SMOKIN tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 2–3: COOL SMOKE and SERIAL GRILLER tied on 178.2972 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
SERIAL GRILLER won Pork Ribs, Brisket — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
SERIAL GRILLER took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was chicken at 13th.
SERIAL GRILLER turned in 179.4400 in pork ribs — past the 176.5716 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: APORKALYPSE NOW (won 2016, 2017).
This contest usually draws about 34 teams
42 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 34.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2016 | Washington, DC | Pennsylvania Ave | 35 | 690.2400 | APORKALYPSE NOW | BULL RUSH BBQ |
| Jun 24, 2017 | Washington, DC | Pennsylvania Ave NW | 33 | 708.5372 | APORKALYPSE NOW | ALQUEMY - VA |
| Jun 23, 2018 ← this one | Washington, DC | Pennsylvania Ave NW | 42 | 704.5944 | SERIAL GRILLER | COOL SMOKE |
| Jun 25, 2022 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 32 | 706.8228 | CHUNKY BBQ | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ |
| Jun 24, 2023 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 29 | 702.2400 | Mispillion Meat Works | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT |
| Jun 22, 2024 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 36 | 704.0116 | Good Googly Goo BBQ | The Fat is Where It's At |
| Jun 21, 2025 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 26 | 707.3944 | 3 Eyz BBQ | BLUE & GRAY BBQ |
| Jun 26, 2026 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 31 | 703.3828 | Titans of BBQ | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ |
| Jun 25, 2027 | Washington, DC | — | — | — | — | — |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 179.4400 | 176.0116 | 170.8228 |
| Pork Ribs | 179.4400 | 175.4172 | 173.1200 |
| Pork | 178.8572 | 173.1084 | 168.5600 |
| Brisket | 177.1428 | 173.1428 | 170.8228 |
42 entries · top 704.5944 · median 662.4114
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 2 | COOL SMOKE | |
| 3 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 4 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 5 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 6 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 7 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 8 | HAMTOWN SMOKERS | |
| 9 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 10 | BAD AZZ MULE BBQ | |
| 11 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 12 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 13 | NICE RACKS | |
| 14 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 15 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 16 | Moe Cason | |
| 17 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 18 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ'D | |
| 19 | HONKY-TONK SMOKERS | |
| 20 | Chubby Brothers BBQ | |
| 21 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 22 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 24 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 25 | OLD TOWN SMOKERS | |
| 26 | RUBBED RITE BBQ | |
| 27 | FREE RANGE BBQ | |
| 28 | JUST FLAME AND FLAVOR | |
| 29 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 30 | Smokey McTasty | |
| 31 | Dyvine BBQ in Motion | |
| 32 | SECOND HAND SMOKE SLV | |
| 33 | Serial Grillers | |
| 34 | DOWN TO SMOKE BBQ TEAM (DTS BBQ) "THE HARLEM X-PRE | |
| 35 | DC QUE | |
| 36 | HONOR BBQ | |
| 37 | Hog Bones BBQ | |
| 38 | J'S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ | |
| 39 | Rib-bins BBQ | |
| 40 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 41 | United Airlines Grill Team | |
| 42 | DISTRICT BARBECUE |
42 entries · top 179.4400 · median 165.3942
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 2 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 3 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 4 | COOL SMOKE | |
| 5 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 6 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 7 | HAMTOWN SMOKERS | |
| 8 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 9 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 10 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 11 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ'D | |
| 12 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 13 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 14 | BAD AZZ MULE BBQ | |
| 15 | Chubby Brothers BBQ | |
| 16 | NICE RACKS | |
| 17 | Moe Cason | |
| 18 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 19 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 20 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 21 | RUBBED RITE BBQ | |
| 22 | HONKY-TONK SMOKERS | |
| 23 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 24 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 25 | Smokey McTasty | |
| 26 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 27 | FREE RANGE BBQ | |
| 28 | SECOND HAND SMOKE SLV | |
| 29 | Dyvine BBQ in Motion | |
| 30 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 31 | Serial Grillers | |
| 32 | OLD TOWN SMOKERS | |
| 33 | JUST FLAME AND FLAVOR | |
| 34 | HONOR BBQ | |
| 35 | J'S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ | |
| 36 | DOWN TO SMOKE BBQ TEAM (DTS BBQ) "THE HARLEM X-PRE | |
| 37 | Hog Bones BBQ | |
| 38 | DC QUE | |
| 39 | Rib-bins BBQ | |
| 40 | United Airlines Grill Team | |
| 41 | DISTRICT BARBECUE | |
| 42 | RIBS BY ANDY |
41 entries · top 179.4400 · median 167.3828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 2 | HAMTOWN SMOKERS | |
| 3 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 4 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 5 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 6 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 7 | Chubby Brothers BBQ | |
| 8 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 9 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 10 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 11 | BAD AZZ MULE BBQ | |
| 12 | COOL SMOKE | |
| 13 | Dyvine BBQ in Motion | |
| 14 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 15 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 16 | JUST FLAME AND FLAVOR | |
| 17 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 18 | Smokey McTasty | |
| 19 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 20 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 21 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 22 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 23 | Moe Cason | |
| 24 | SECOND HAND SMOKE SLV | |
| 25 | Serial Grillers | |
| 26 | FREE RANGE BBQ | |
| 27 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 28 | RUBBED RITE BBQ | |
| 29 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 30 | OLD TOWN SMOKERS | |
| 31 | NICE RACKS | |
| 32 | J'S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ | |
| 33 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ'D | |
| 34 | HONKY-TONK SMOKERS | |
| 35 | HONOR BBQ | |
| 36 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 37 | Hog Bones BBQ | |
| 38 | Rib-bins BBQ | |
| 39 | DOWN TO SMOKE BBQ TEAM (DTS BBQ) "THE HARLEM X-PRE | |
| 40 | DC QUE | |
| 41 | United Airlines Grill Team |
41 entries · top 178.8572 · median 163.3828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 2 | COOL SMOKE | |
| 3 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 4 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 5 | HAMTOWN SMOKERS | |
| 6 | Moe Cason | |
| 7 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 8 | BAD AZZ MULE BBQ | |
| 9 | HONKY-TONK SMOKERS | |
| 10 | OLD TOWN SMOKERS | |
| 11 | NICE RACKS | |
| 12 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 13 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 14 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 15 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 16 | FREE RANGE BBQ | |
| 17 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 18 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 19 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 20 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ'D | |
| 21 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 22 | J'S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ | |
| 23 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 24 | RUBBED RITE BBQ | |
| 25 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 26 | SECOND HAND SMOKE SLV | |
| 27 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 28 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 29 | HONOR BBQ | |
| 30 | Chubby Brothers BBQ | |
| 31 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 32 | Smokey McTasty | |
| 33 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 34 | Dyvine BBQ in Motion | |
| 35 | Serial Grillers | |
| 36 | JUST FLAME AND FLAVOR | |
| 37 | DC QUE | |
| 38 | DOWN TO SMOKE BBQ TEAM (DTS BBQ) "THE HARLEM X-PRE | |
| 39 | Rib-bins BBQ | |
| 40 | Hog Bones BBQ | |
| 41 | United Airlines Grill Team |
41 entries · top 177.1428 · median 164.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 2 | NICE RACKS | |
| 3 | COOL SMOKE | |
| 4 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 5 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ'D | |
| 6 | HONKY-TONK SMOKERS | |
| 7 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 8 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 9 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 10 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 11 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 12 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 13 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 14 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 15 | OLD TOWN SMOKERS | |
| 16 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 17 | JUST FLAME AND FLAVOR | |
| 18 | BAD AZZ MULE BBQ | |
| 19 | DC QUE | |
| 20 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 21 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 22 | Chubby Brothers BBQ | |
| 23 | Moe Cason | |
| 24 | DOWN TO SMOKE BBQ TEAM (DTS BBQ) "THE HARLEM X-PRE | |
| 25 | RUBBED RITE BBQ | |
| 26 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 27 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 28 | HAMTOWN SMOKERS | |
| 29 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 30 | FREE RANGE BBQ | |
| 31 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 32 | DISTRICT BARBECUE | |
| 33 | Dyvine BBQ in Motion | |
| 34 | Smokey McTasty | |
| 35 | Serial Grillers | |
| 36 | Hog Bones BBQ | |
| 37 | SECOND HAND SMOKE SLV | |
| 38 | Rib-bins BBQ | |
| 39 | HONOR BBQ | |
| 40 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 41 | J'S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ |