Aug 24–25, 2018 · Franklin, TN · 📍 Harlinsdale Farm, 239 Franklin Rd
HOT COLE'S BBQ won Grand Champion at the Great American BBQ Festival (JUDGES FULL) on August 24, 2018 in Franklin, TN at Harlinsdale Farm, 239 Franklin Rd, scoring 701.0972 in a field of 36 teams. Organizer Portal took Reserve Grand Champion with 697.0972. Category winners: Chicken — Organizer Portal (179.4400); Pork Ribs — Uncle Kenny's Take-Away (177.1544); Pork — HOT COLE'S BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — UNDER THE RADAR (180.0000). This is the 2nd of 2 editions of this contest on record; the 2017 edition was won by SMOKE ME SILLY.
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.
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 72 times in 100
HOT COLE'S BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, Organizer Portal, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 28-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
Chicken places 3–4: CONTAGIOUS Q and TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOW tied on 176.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 6–7: 615 BBQ and CAMP-BELL BBQ tied on 174.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 8–9: RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES and THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
HOT COLE'S BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 12th.
UNDER THE RADAR turned in 180.0000 in brisket — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25, 2017 | Franklin, TN | Harlinsdale Farm, 239 Franklin Rd | 40 | 702.8344 | SMOKE ME SILLY | UNDER THE RADAR |
| Aug 24, 2018 ← this one | Franklin, TN | Harlinsdale Farm, 239 Franklin Rd | 36 | 701.0972 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | Organizer Portal |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 179.4400 | 175.4172 | 173.7028 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.1544 | 175.4172 | 172.5600 |
| Pork | 180 | 174.2628 | 168.5256 |
| Brisket | 180 | 174.8572 | 172.5484 |
36 entries · top 701.0972 · median 671.0112
36 entries · top 179.4400 · median 167.6684
36 entries · top 177.1544 · median 167.9714
36 entries · top 180 · median 165.9600 · 🔥 perfect 180
36 entries · top 180 · median 166.8344 · 🔥 perfect 180
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.
32 entries · top 342.8344 · median 322.8400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HELL ON SQUEALS | |
| 2 | Hickory Hangover | |
| 3 | Beer Pressure | |
| 4 | BAMA BOYS BBQ | |
| 5 | LEE LA Q | |
| 6 | Tent City BBQ | |
| 7 | Pig Destroyer | |
| 8 | Warden's Watch | |
| 9 | SMOKIN' HOT ASHES | |
| 10 | Ole Country Porkers | |
| 11 | SMOKEOLOGIST | |
| 12 | Barbeque Republic | |
| 13 | CHIEFS OF BEEF | |
| 14 | HOG MOLLY BBQ | |
| 15 | Tangled Up In Que | |
| 16 | 3G Butts | |
| 17 | ALL ABOUT THE B'S | |
| 18 | 3rd Time's a Charm | |
| 19 | SMOKE IN THE GROVE | |
| 20 | TN WRECKING QUE | |
| 21 | SWINE ENTHUSIASTS | |
| 22 | Throwen Smoke and Catchen Heat | |
| 23 | Spooky's BBQ | |
| 24 | COME AND GET IT | |
| 25 | Put a Ring on it | |
| 26 | Parrotthead Porkers | |
| 27 | Sweet Southern Swine (Downtown Franklin Rotary) | |
| 28 | 2 Swine Crew | |
| 29 | SKYLINE BBQ | |
| 30 | CD's BBQ | |
| 31 | ENTRUSTMENT PARTNERS | |
| 32 | BODACIOUS BUTTS |
30 entries · top 174.8572 · median 165.1142
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hickory Hangover | |
| 2 | LEE LA Q | |
| 3 | Tent City BBQ | |
| 4 | HELL ON SQUEALS | |
| 5 | BAMA BOYS BBQ | |
| 6 | Beer Pressure | |
| 7 | Ole Country Porkers | |
| 8 | HOG MOLLY BBQ | |
| 9 | 3G Butts | |
| 10 | SMOKEOLOGIST | |
| 11 | Barbeque Republic | |
| 12 | CHIEFS OF BEEF | |
| 13 | Pig Destroyer | |
| 14 | SMOKIN' HOT ASHES | |
| 15 | Warden's Watch | |
| 16 | Sweet Southern Swine (Downtown Franklin Rotary) | |
| 17 | Tangled Up In Que | |
| 18 | ALL ABOUT THE B'S | |
| 19 | Spooky's BBQ | |
| 20 | COME AND GET IT | |
| 21 | SWINE ENTHUSIASTS | |
| 22 | TN WRECKING QUE | |
| 23 | SMOKE IN THE GROVE | |
| 24 | 3rd Time's a Charm | |
| 25 | SKYLINE BBQ | |
| 26 | Parrotthead Porkers | |
| 27 | Throwen Smoke and Catchen Heat | |
| 28 | Put a Ring on it | |
| 29 | CD's BBQ | |
| 30 | 2 Swine Crew |
32 entries · top 172 · median 159.7144
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tent City BBQ | |
| 2 | Beer Pressure | |
| 3 | Hickory Hangover | |
| 4 | SMOKEOLOGIST | |
| 5 | 2 Swine Crew | |
| 6 | HELL ON SQUEALS | |
| 7 | Ole Country Porkers | |
| 8 | Warden's Watch | |
| 9 | CHIEFS OF BEEF | |
| 10 | SMOKIN' HOT ASHES | |
| 11 | Barbeque Republic | |
| 12 | HOG MOLLY BBQ | |
| 13 | ALL ABOUT THE B'S | |
| 14 | TN WRECKING QUE | |
| 15 | CD's BBQ | |
| 16 | 3rd Time's a Charm | |
| 17 | COME AND GET IT | |
| 18 | Put a Ring on it | |
| 19 | BAMA BOYS BBQ | |
| 20 | 3G Butts | |
| 21 | LEE LA Q | |
| 22 | Tangled Up In Que | |
| 23 | SWINE ENTHUSIASTS | |
| 24 | Sweet Southern Swine (Downtown Franklin Rotary) | |
| 25 | Throwen Smoke and Catchen Heat | |
| 26 | Spooky's BBQ | |
| 27 | SKYLINE BBQ | |
| 28 | Parrotthead Porkers | |
| 29 | SMOKE IN THE GROVE | |
| 30 | Pig Destroyer | |
| 31 | ENTRUSTMENT PARTNERS | |
| 32 | BODACIOUS BUTTS |
32 entries · top 173.1200 · median 158.8516
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HELL ON SQUEALS | |
| 2 | Beer Pressure | |
| 3 | Pig Destroyer | |
| 4 | Warden's Watch | |
| 5 | BAMA BOYS BBQ | |
| 6 | Tent City BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN' HOT ASHES | |
| 8 | Hickory Hangover | |
| 9 | LEE LA Q | |
| 10 | 3rd Time's a Charm | |
| 11 | Ole Country Porkers | |
| 12 | Tangled Up In Que | |
| 13 | SMOKEOLOGIST | |
| 14 | Barbeque Republic | |
| 15 | SMOKE IN THE GROVE | |
| 16 | CHIEFS OF BEEF | |
| 17 | ALL ABOUT THE B'S | |
| 18 | 3G Butts | |
| 19 | HOG MOLLY BBQ | |
| 20 | TN WRECKING QUE | |
| 21 | Throwen Smoke and Catchen Heat | |
| 22 | SWINE ENTHUSIASTS | |
| 23 | Put a Ring on it | |
| 24 | 2 Swine Crew | |
| 25 | ENTRUSTMENT PARTNERS | |
| 26 | Parrotthead Porkers | |
| 27 | COME AND GET IT | |
| 28 | Spooky's BBQ | |
| 29 | SKYLINE BBQ | |
| 30 | BODACIOUS BUTTS | |
| 31 | Sweet Southern Swine (Downtown Franklin Rotary) | |
| 32 | CD's BBQ |
20 entries · top 180 · median 174.8458 · 🔥 perfect 180