Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues Festival
2021-08-20 – 2021-08-21 · Madison, IN · 📍 601 W First St. · State championship
Reps: DAVE DRUETZLER, SCOTT GRINSTEAD, STEVE GRINSTEAD · Prize money: $11,300.00
Grand Champion: Bleacher Bums BBQ (698.2400) · 43 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 SMOKE-N-PEPPERS
Entries
43
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
698.2400
Winning margin
3.4172
GC over RC
Field average
665.13
median 667.87
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
1.7144 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
686.7884
10th place overall
Field spread
91.0400
winner to last place
Prize money
$11,300.00
on the line
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 58%
beats 42% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
26%
of the 43 teams with a home region came from outside IN
Came back for more
47%
22 of 47 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.61 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1530
avg power rating going in · stronger than 35% of contests
Storylines
👑 A dynasty in the making
GREY STREET BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 7 tracked editions.
📸 Photo finishes
Chicken places 5–6: The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company and TIRE SMOKE BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 1–2: CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. and BLUE CHIP BBQ tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 8–9: Thunder Hog BBQ edged CHARCOAL & MORE by 0.0116.
🃏 An upset on the books
Bleacher Bums BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, One2BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 17-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
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)
Where the field came from (home regions on file)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-08-15 | Madison, IN 47250 | 60 | 689.6684 | BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ | ONE2BBQ | |
| 2015-08-21 | Madison, IN 47250 | 64 | 691.3484 | BARK BROTHERS BBQ | EAT MOR BUTT BBQ | |
| 2017-08-18 | Madison, IN | 55 | 701.6456 | GREY STREET BBQ | EXTRA MILE BBQ | |
| 2018-08-17 | Broadway and Vaughn St | 54 | 701.6456 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | GREY STREET BBQ | |
| 2019-08-16 | Madsion, IN | Broadway and Vaughn St | 47 | 702.8228 | Grey Street BBQ | BLUE CHIP BBQ |
| 2021-08-20 ← this one | Madison, IN | 601 W First St. | 43 | 698.2400 | Bleacher Bums BBQ | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS |
| 2022-08-19 | Madison, IN | 100 Broadway Street | 45 | 703.3944 | Blue Chip BBQ | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8572 | 176.5600 | 173.7028 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.1544 | 173.1200 | 170.8344 |
| Pork | 178.8572 | 177.1428 | 174.8572 |
| Brisket | 178.8800 | 174.2856 | 171.9656 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
43 entries · top 698.2400 · median 667.8740
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bleacher Bums BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 3 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 4 | Thunder Hog BBQ | |
| 5 | JMB BBQ | |
| 6 | LOCAL YOKELS BBQ | |
| 7 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 8 | BIG DOGG BBQ - CINCINNATI, OH | |
| 9 | Risky Brisket | |
| 10 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 11 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 12 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS, KY | |
| 13 | Smitty's Real Pit BBQ | |
| 14 | BLUE CHIP BBQ | |
| 15 | Red Rock Cafe | |
| 16 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 17 | SQUEALERS AWARD WINNING BARBEQUE | |
| 18 | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. | |
| 19 | THE FLYING BURRITOS | |
| 20 | WEQ4U | |
| 21 | Brock Solid BBQ | |
| 22 | CHARCOAL & MORE | |
| 23 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 24 | Cloud Swine BBQ | |
| 25 | Soul Pig BBQ | |
| 26 | BLUE SMOKE BBQ OF INDIANA | |
| 27 | Extra Mile BBQ | |
| 28 | Pappy Q | |
| 29 | Roni's Ribs | |
| 30 | BEACHDOGS 502 BBQ | |
| 31 | BAR-BEAM-QUE | |
| 32 | Bluedog BBQ | |
| 33 | Boiler Q'ers | |
| 34 | Lucky 13 | |
| 35 | LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | |
| 36 | House of Swine | |
| 37 | McQ Smokers | |
| 38 | Driftwood Smokers | |
| 39 | Scooters Family BBQ | |
| 40 | D'VINE SWINE | |
| 41 | The Smokin' Irish | |
| 42 | ACME BBQ | |
| 43 | Green Eggs & Ham |
Chicken
43 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.8344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG DOGG BBQ - CINCINNATI, OH | |
| 2 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 3 | THE FLYING BURRITOS | |
| 4 | JMB BBQ | |
| 5 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 6 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 7 | Thunder Hog BBQ | |
| 8 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS, KY | |
| 9 | Cloud Swine BBQ | |
| 10 | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. | |
| 11 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 12 | BEACHDOGS 502 BBQ | |
| 13 | Bleacher Bums BBQ | |
| 14 | WEQ4U | |
| 15 | Driftwood Smokers | |
| 16 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 17 | Risky Brisket | |
| 18 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 19 | Extra Mile BBQ | |
| 20 | House of Swine | |
| 21 | Pappy Q | |
| 22 | LOCAL YOKELS BBQ | |
| 23 | Brock Solid BBQ | |
| 24 | SQUEALERS AWARD WINNING BARBEQUE | |
| 25 | BLUE CHIP BBQ | |
| 26 | Soul Pig BBQ | |
| 27 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 28 | Bluedog BBQ | |
| 29 | Red Rock Cafe | |
| 30 | Roni's Ribs | |
| 31 | ACME BBQ | |
| 32 | CHARCOAL & MORE | |
| 33 | LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | |
| 34 | Boiler Q'ers | |
| 35 | BAR-BEAM-QUE | |
| 36 | Smitty's Real Pit BBQ | |
| 37 | BLUE SMOKE BBQ OF INDIANA | |
| 38 | Lucky 13 | |
| 39 | D'VINE SWINE | |
| 40 | Scooters Family BBQ | |
| 41 | McQ Smokers | |
| 42 | Green Eggs & Ham | |
| 43 | The Smokin' Irish |
Pork Ribs
43 entries · top 177.1544 · median 166.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Risky Brisket | |
| 2 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 3 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 4 | Red Rock Cafe | |
| 5 | Bleacher Bums BBQ | |
| 6 | SQUEALERS AWARD WINNING BARBEQUE | |
| 7 | Brock Solid BBQ | |
| 8 | Thunder Hog BBQ | |
| 9 | CHARCOAL & MORE | |
| 10 | BAR-BEAM-QUE | |
| 11 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 12 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 13 | THE FLYING BURRITOS | |
| 14 | Extra Mile BBQ | |
| 15 | WEQ4U | |
| 16 | LOCAL YOKELS BBQ | |
| 17 | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. | |
| 18 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 19 | Smitty's Real Pit BBQ | |
| 20 | Pappy Q | |
| 21 | Bluedog BBQ | |
| 22 | BLUE CHIP BBQ | |
| 23 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS, KY | |
| 24 | Boiler Q'ers | |
| 25 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 26 | BLUE SMOKE BBQ OF INDIANA | |
| 27 | Soul Pig BBQ | |
| 28 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 29 | BIG DOGG BBQ - CINCINNATI, OH | |
| 30 | JMB BBQ | |
| 31 | LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | |
| 32 | Cloud Swine BBQ | |
| 33 | Roni's Ribs | |
| 34 | McQ Smokers | |
| 35 | House of Swine | |
| 36 | Lucky 13 | |
| 37 | Scooters Family BBQ | |
| 38 | Driftwood Smokers | |
| 39 | BEACHDOGS 502 BBQ | |
| 40 | The Smokin' Irish | |
| 41 | D'VINE SWINE | |
| 42 | ACME BBQ | |
| 43 | Green Eggs & Ham |
Pork
43 entries · top 178.8572 · median 166.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. | |
| 2 | BLUE CHIP BBQ | |
| 3 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 4 | BIG DOGG BBQ - CINCINNATI, OH | |
| 5 | BLUE SMOKE BBQ OF INDIANA | |
| 6 | LOCAL YOKELS BBQ | |
| 7 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 8 | Risky Brisket | |
| 9 | Smitty's Real Pit BBQ | |
| 10 | Bleacher Bums BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 12 | JMB BBQ | |
| 13 | Roni's Ribs | |
| 14 | Thunder Hog BBQ | |
| 15 | Soul Pig BBQ | |
| 16 | WEQ4U | |
| 17 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS, KY | |
| 18 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 19 | Red Rock Cafe | |
| 20 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 21 | THE FLYING BURRITOS | |
| 22 | Brock Solid BBQ | |
| 23 | Lucky 13 | |
| 24 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 25 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 26 | BEACHDOGS 502 BBQ | |
| 27 | LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | |
| 28 | SQUEALERS AWARD WINNING BARBEQUE | |
| 29 | Cloud Swine BBQ | |
| 30 | McQ Smokers | |
| 31 | Bluedog BBQ | |
| 32 | Scooters Family BBQ | |
| 33 | BAR-BEAM-QUE | |
| 34 | CHARCOAL & MORE | |
| 35 | Extra Mile BBQ | |
| 36 | Pappy Q | |
| 37 | Boiler Q'ers | |
| 38 | Driftwood Smokers | |
| 39 | Green Eggs & Ham | |
| 40 | The Smokin' Irish | |
| 41 | House of Swine | |
| 42 | D'VINE SWINE | |
| 43 | ACME BBQ |
Brisket
43 entries · top 178.8800 · median 165.0972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JMB BBQ | |
| 2 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 3 | Bleacher Bums BBQ | |
| 4 | Smitty's Real Pit BBQ | |
| 5 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS, KY | |
| 6 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 7 | LOCAL YOKELS BBQ | |
| 8 | CHARCOAL & MORE | |
| 9 | Thunder Hog BBQ | |
| 10 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 11 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 12 | Cloud Swine BBQ | |
| 13 | BIG DOGG BBQ - CINCINNATI, OH | |
| 14 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 15 | Red Rock Cafe | |
| 16 | SQUEALERS AWARD WINNING BARBEQUE | |
| 17 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 18 | BEACHDOGS 502 BBQ | |
| 19 | Lucky 13 | |
| 20 | BAR-BEAM-QUE | |
| 21 | Boiler Q'ers | |
| 22 | Pappy Q | |
| 23 | Extra Mile BBQ | |
| 24 | McQ Smokers | |
| 25 | WEQ4U | |
| 26 | BLUE CHIP BBQ | |
| 27 | Soul Pig BBQ | |
| 28 | Roni's Ribs | |
| 29 | Risky Brisket | |
| 30 | Brock Solid BBQ | |
| 31 | House of Swine | |
| 32 | BLUE SMOKE BBQ OF INDIANA | |
| 33 | Bluedog BBQ | |
| 34 | THE FLYING BURRITOS | |
| 35 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 36 | Green Eggs & Ham | |
| 37 | The Smokin' Irish | |
| 38 | D'VINE SWINE | |
| 39 | LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | |
| 40 | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. | |
| 41 | Scooters Family BBQ | |
| 42 | ACME BBQ | |
| 43 | Driftwood Smokers |
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.
Ancillary — Anything But
14 entries · top 176.5600 · median 169.9828
Ancillary — Dessert
19 entries · top 180.0000 · median 174.2628 · 🔥 perfect 180