Aug 26–27, 2022 · Bozeman, MT · 📍 1243 Oak Street · State championship
Reps: Brian Moore, Steven Flewallen · Prize money: $12,900
BEER BELLY BBQ won Grand Champion at the Montana Pitmaster Classic on August 26, 2022 in Bozeman, MT at 1243 Oak Street, scoring 706.8688 in a field of 37 teams. MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 705.6800. Category winners: Chicken — BEER BELLY BBQ (177.1428); Pork Ribs — MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ (180.0000); Pork — Ashey Construction 1 (179.4400); Brisket — BEER BELLY BBQ (177.7144). This is the 5th of 9 editions of this contest on record; the 2021 edition was won by Montana Outlaw BBQ; the next was held in 2023.
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, 2017 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.
Closer than 77% of the 4,713 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1888 points — closer than 77% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 79 times in 100
Beer Belly BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, SMELLAQUE, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 21-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
4 of 9 tracked editions
MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ has won this contest 4 times across its 9 tracked editions.
Pork Ribs places 6–7: Rhythm n QUE and 7 SINS BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 2–3: MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ and BEER BELLY BBQ tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 7–8: Rhythm n QUE and 202 BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
BEER BELLY BBQ won Chicken, Brisket — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
BEER BELLY BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was pork ribs at 10th.
MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ turned in 180.0000 in pork ribs — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 4 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ (won 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021).
This contest usually draws about 27 teams
37 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 27.
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
Records held by every edition of this contest put together, not just this one afternoon.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25, 2017 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak St | 20 | 681.6684 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | BEER BELLY BBQ |
| Aug 24, 2018 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak St | 26 | 698.2740 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | GRATE EXPECTATIONS |
| Aug 23, 2019 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak St | 29 | 691.9888 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | CAMP HOUSE BBQ |
| Aug 27, 2021 | Bozeman, MT | Bozeman, MT 59717 | 31 | 711.4172 | Montana Outlaw BBQ | BEER BELLY BBQ |
| Aug 26, 2022 ← this one | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 37 | 706.8688 | BEER BELLY BBQ | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ |
| Aug 25, 2023 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 44 | 705.2116 | Bushmaster BBQ | SMELLAQUE |
| Aug 23, 2024 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 39 | 713.1544 | Piggin' Whiskey | BURNT TREES BBQ |
| Aug 22, 2025 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 38 | 704.5600 | Brinkerhoff BBQ | Mountain Smoke BBQ |
| Aug 28, 2026 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 39 | 706.8460 | Cocamoke Smoke BBQ | SmellaQue |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.1428 | 175.4056 | 172.5600 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 175.4288 | 173.1544 |
| Pork | 179.4400 | 176.5828 | 173.7028 |
| Brisket | 177.7144 | 174.2744 | 172.5600 |
37 entries · top 706.8688 · median 671.2680
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 2 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 3 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 4 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 5 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 6 | Ashey Construction 1 | |
| 7 | Mountain Smoke | |
| 8 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 9 | Willy Mo's | |
| 10 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 11 | Triple Nines BBQ | |
| 12 | 202 BBQ | |
| 13 | 1 Bite BBQ | |
| 14 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 15 | Bearded Boar BBQ | |
| 16 | Shane Edd's BBQ | |
| 17 | Popping Smoke Barbecue | |
| 18 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 19 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 20 | Ashley Construction 3 | |
| 21 | 12 BAR BLUES CUE | |
| 22 | Heinquarters Barbecue | |
| 23 | Double T Bbq | |
| 24 | Ashley Construction 4 | |
| 25 | Ashley Construction 2 | |
| 26 | Taste Of Mitch | |
| 27 | Burch Barrel | |
| 28 | Random Guys Smoking | |
| 29 | Papi On The Patio | |
| 30 | Kick Back BBQ | |
| 31 | Broken Barrel BBQ and Kitchen | |
| 32 | The Pit Crew | |
| 33 | Mad Q BBq | |
| 34 | LPD BBQ - Livingston Police | |
| 35 | Prairie Girls - The Springs | |
| 36 | Red Star BBQ | |
| 37 | Headwaters BBQ |
36 entries · top 177.1428 · median 168.2742
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 2 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 3 | Shane Edd's BBQ | |
| 4 | Willy Mo's | |
| 5 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 6 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 7 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 8 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 9 | Mountain Smoke | |
| 10 | 12 BAR BLUES CUE | |
| 11 | Popping Smoke Barbecue | |
| 12 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 13 | 1 Bite BBQ | |
| 14 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 15 | Triple Nines BBQ | |
| 16 | Taste Of Mitch | |
| 17 | 202 BBQ | |
| 18 | Ashey Construction 1 | |
| 19 | Burch Barrel | |
| 20 | Bearded Boar BBQ | |
| 21 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 22 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 23 | Ashley Construction 4 | |
| 24 | Ashley Construction 2 | |
| 25 | The Pit Crew | |
| 26 | Heinquarters Barbecue | |
| 27 | Broken Barrel BBQ and Kitchen | |
| 28 | Double T Bbq | |
| 29 | Kick Back BBQ | |
| 30 | Mad Q BBq | |
| 31 | Ashley Construction 3 | |
| 32 | Random Guys Smoking | |
| 33 | Prairie Girls - The Springs | |
| 34 | Papi On The Patio | |
| 35 | Red Star BBQ | |
| 36 | LPD BBQ - Livingston Police |
36 entries · top 180 · median 167.7086 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 2 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 3 | Triple Nines BBQ | |
| 4 | Mountain Smoke | |
| 5 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 6 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 7 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 8 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 9 | Random Guys Smoking | |
| 10 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 11 | Ashey Construction 1 | |
| 12 | Red Star BBQ | |
| 13 | Willy Mo's | |
| 14 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 15 | Heinquarters Barbecue | |
| 16 | Popping Smoke Barbecue | |
| 17 | 1 Bite BBQ | |
| 18 | Bearded Boar BBQ | |
| 19 | Ashley Construction 3 | |
| 20 | 202 BBQ | |
| 21 | Ashley Construction 2 | |
| 22 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 23 | Shane Edd's BBQ | |
| 24 | Taste Of Mitch | |
| 25 | 12 BAR BLUES CUE | |
| 26 | Double T Bbq | |
| 27 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 28 | Burch Barrel | |
| 29 | Papi On The Patio | |
| 30 | The Pit Crew | |
| 31 | Broken Barrel BBQ and Kitchen | |
| 32 | Ashley Construction 4 | |
| 33 | LPD BBQ - Livingston Police | |
| 34 | Kick Back BBQ | |
| 35 | Mad Q BBq | |
| 36 | Prairie Girls - The Springs |
37 entries · top 179.4400 · median 167.9884
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashey Construction 1 | |
| 2 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 3 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 4 | Shane Edd's BBQ | |
| 5 | Mountain Smoke | |
| 6 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 7 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 8 | 202 BBQ | |
| 9 | Ashley Construction 4 | |
| 10 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 11 | Willy Mo's | |
| 12 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 13 | Ashley Construction 3 | |
| 14 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 15 | Popping Smoke Barbecue | |
| 16 | Papi On The Patio | |
| 17 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 18 | Taste Of Mitch | |
| 19 | Triple Nines BBQ | |
| 20 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 21 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 22 | Bearded Boar BBQ | |
| 23 | Headwaters BBQ | |
| 24 | 1 Bite BBQ | |
| 25 | Kick Back BBQ | |
| 26 | The Pit Crew | |
| 27 | Broken Barrel BBQ and Kitchen | |
| 28 | Ashley Construction 2 | |
| 29 | Double T Bbq | |
| 30 | Red Star BBQ | |
| 31 | Heinquarters Barbecue | |
| 32 | Random Guys Smoking | |
| 33 | Burch Barrel | |
| 34 | Mad Q BBq | |
| 35 | Prairie Girls - The Springs | |
| 36 | LPD BBQ - Livingston Police | |
| 37 | 12 BAR BLUES CUE |
35 entries · top 177.7144 · median 167.3828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 2 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 3 | Bearded Boar BBQ | |
| 4 | Ashey Construction 1 | |
| 5 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 6 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 7 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 8 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 9 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 10 | 1 Bite BBQ | |
| 11 | Willy Mo's | |
| 12 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 13 | Mountain Smoke | |
| 14 | 202 BBQ | |
| 15 | Triple Nines BBQ | |
| 16 | 12 BAR BLUES CUE | |
| 17 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 18 | Ashley Construction 3 | |
| 19 | Double T Bbq | |
| 20 | Heinquarters Barbecue | |
| 21 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 22 | Kick Back BBQ | |
| 23 | Popping Smoke Barbecue | |
| 24 | Burch Barrel | |
| 25 | Ashley Construction 2 | |
| 26 | Ashley Construction 4 | |
| 27 | Random Guys Smoking | |
| 28 | Papi On The Patio | |
| 29 | Shane Edd's BBQ | |
| 30 | Broken Barrel BBQ and Kitchen | |
| 31 | LPD BBQ - Livingston Police | |
| 32 | Mad Q BBq | |
| 33 | Prairie Girls - The Springs | |
| 34 | The Pit Crew | |
| 35 | Taste Of Mitch |