A statement win
9.7832
points clear of the field
Wider than 87% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The champion won by 9.7832 points — a wider margin than 87% of championships in the data.
Montana BBQ Cookoff 2023
Jun 9–10, 2023 · Absarokee, MT · 📍 Woodard Ave · State championship
Reps: Del Anderson, Forrest Bruce · Prize money: $10,925
Colorado Bulldawg BBQ won Grand Champion at the Montana BBQ Cookoff on June 9, 2023 in Absarokee, MT at Woodard Ave, scoring 707.4400 in a field of 36 teams. Dirty Little Pigs BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 697.6568. Category winners: Chicken — Colorado Bulldawg BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — Whistle Pig BBQ (177.1428); Pork — Rhythm n QUE (178.8800); Brisket — HEIFERS, BUTTS, & CLUCKS BBQ (177.7028). This is the 1st of 4 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2024.
The contest at a glance (read off the scored boards)
How the field scored
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
524.82
median 671.91
707.44 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180 🔥
- Pork Ribs 177.14
- Pork 178.88
- Brisket 177.70
71.12
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2023 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
36
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
707.4400
Winning margin
9.7832
GC over RC
Field average
659.41
524.82707.44
median 671.91 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
2.2628 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
685.7032
524.82707.44
10th place overall
Field spread
182.6172
winner to last place
Prize money
$10,925
on the line
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 7%
beats 93% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.67 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,574
avg power rating going in · stronger than 59% of contests
Storylines (4 found in this contest's numbers)
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 16 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 9–10: AMERICAN HEROES BBQ and Smokin Boxers BBQ tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 1–2: Rhythm n QUE and Colorado Bulldawg BBQ tied on 178.8800 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 3–4: SMELLAQUE and AMERICAN HEROES BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Pork 1–2 · tie
- Brisket 3–4 · tie
- Brisket 9–10 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
Colorado Bulldawg BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was brisket at 10th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 4th
- Pork 2nd
- Brisket 10th
A perfect score on the table
1
perfect 180s
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- Colorado Bulldawg BBQ · Chicken
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)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 9, 2023 ← this one | Absarokee, MT | Woodard Ave | 36 | 707.4400 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | Dirty Little Pigs BBQ |
| Jun 7, 2024 | Absarokee, MT | Main Street | 28 | 703.9772 | Bushmaster BBQ | American Heroes BBQ |
| Jun 13, 2025 | Absarokee, MT | Main Street | 33 | 691.3828 | Heifers, Butts, & Clucks BBQ | PAPA'S PIT CREW |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Absarokee, MT | Main Street | 29 | 691.9428 | Smellaque | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 176.5600 | 174.2628 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.1428 | 174.8800 | 173.1200 |
| Pork | 178.8800 | 174.8572 | 171.9656 |
| Brisket | 177.7028 | 173.7028 | 172.5600 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
36 entries · top 707.4400 · median 671.9086
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 2 | Dirty Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 3 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 4 | AMERICAN HEROES BBQ | |
| 5 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 6 | Bushmaster BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ | |
| 8 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 9 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 10 | BURNT TREES BBQ | |
| 11 | Bull-B-Que | |
| 12 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 13 | HEIFERS, BUTTS, & CLUCKS BBQ | |
| 14 | Smokin Boxers BBQ | |
| 15 | Last Best BBQ | |
| 16 | Cluster Cluck Barbecue | |
| 17 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 18 | Whistle Pig BBQ | |
| 19 | 202 BBQ | |
| 20 | No Measurements BBQ | |
| 21 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 22 | Willy Mo's | |
| 23 | Shane Edd's BBQ | |
| 24 | O Face BBQ | |
| 25 | UNCLE J'S | |
| 26 | BIG PIG BBQ | |
| 27 | BULL SLAP BBQ | |
| 28 | O Lazy U BBQ | |
| 29 | Yellowstone Bank | |
| 30 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 31 | Boo Boo Bus BBQ | |
| 32 | Montana Kick A$$ BBQ | |
| 33 | Terrae | |
| 34 | Beartooth Stockgrowers | |
| 35 | My Meat In Your Mouth | |
| 36 | Double Barrel BBQ |
Chicken
36 entries · top 180 · median 169.1258 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 2 | No Measurements BBQ | |
| 3 | BURNT TREES BBQ | |
| 4 | Dirty Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 5 | Bull-B-Que | |
| 6 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 7 | Bushmaster BBQ | |
| 8 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 9 | AMERICAN HEROES BBQ | |
| 10 | Smokin Boxers BBQ | |
| 11 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 12 | Cluster Cluck Barbecue | |
| 13 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 14 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 15 | O Face BBQ | |
| 16 | Last Best BBQ | |
| 17 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 18 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 19 | SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ | |
| 20 | Whistle Pig BBQ | |
| 21 | Shane Edd's BBQ | |
| 22 | BIG PIG BBQ | |
| 23 | Willy Mo's | |
| 24 | HEIFERS, BUTTS, & CLUCKS BBQ | |
| 25 | O Lazy U BBQ | |
| 26 | Boo Boo Bus BBQ | |
| 27 | My Meat In Your Mouth | |
| 28 | BULL SLAP BBQ | |
| 29 | Terrae | |
| 30 | Yellowstone Bank | |
| 31 | 202 BBQ | |
| 32 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 33 | UNCLE J'S | |
| 34 | Beartooth Stockgrowers | |
| 35 | Montana Kick A$$ BBQ | |
| 36 | Double Barrel BBQ |
Pork Ribs
36 entries · top 177.1428 · median 167.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whistle Pig BBQ | |
| 2 | Bull-B-Que | |
| 3 | AMERICAN HEROES BBQ | |
| 4 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 5 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 6 | UNCLE J'S | |
| 7 | Dirty Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 8 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 9 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 10 | 202 BBQ | |
| 11 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 12 | SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ | |
| 13 | Bushmaster BBQ | |
| 14 | Smokin Boxers BBQ | |
| 15 | Willy Mo's | |
| 16 | Yellowstone Bank | |
| 17 | HEIFERS, BUTTS, & CLUCKS BBQ | |
| 18 | Cluster Cluck Barbecue | |
| 19 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 20 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 21 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 22 | Last Best BBQ | |
| 23 | O Face BBQ | |
| 24 | No Measurements BBQ | |
| 25 | Shane Edd's BBQ | |
| 26 | Beartooth Stockgrowers | |
| 27 | BURNT TREES BBQ | |
| 28 | BULL SLAP BBQ | |
| 29 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 30 | My Meat In Your Mouth | |
| 31 | O Lazy U BBQ | |
| 32 | BIG PIG BBQ | |
| 33 | Boo Boo Bus BBQ | |
| 34 | Terrae | |
| 35 | Montana Kick A$$ BBQ | |
| 36 | Double Barrel BBQ |
Pork
36 entries · top 178.8800 · median 167.4286
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 2 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 3 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 4 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 5 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 6 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 7 | Bushmaster BBQ | |
| 8 | HEIFERS, BUTTS, & CLUCKS BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ | |
| 10 | Bull-B-Que | |
| 11 | BURNT TREES BBQ | |
| 12 | Dirty Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 13 | Smokin Boxers BBQ | |
| 14 | Last Best BBQ | |
| 15 | Cluster Cluck Barbecue | |
| 16 | Whistle Pig BBQ | |
| 17 | AMERICAN HEROES BBQ | |
| 18 | O Lazy U BBQ | |
| 19 | 202 BBQ | |
| 20 | BIG PIG BBQ | |
| 21 | O Face BBQ | |
| 22 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 23 | Willy Mo's | |
| 24 | Shane Edd's BBQ | |
| 25 | UNCLE J'S | |
| 26 | Montana Kick A$$ BBQ | |
| 27 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 28 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 29 | BULL SLAP BBQ | |
| 30 | Double Barrel BBQ | |
| 31 | No Measurements BBQ | |
| 32 | Yellowstone Bank | |
| 33 | Boo Boo Bus BBQ | |
| 34 | Terrae | |
| 35 | My Meat In Your Mouth | |
| 36 | Beartooth Stockgrowers |
Brisket
36 entries · top 177.7028 · median 166.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HEIFERS, BUTTS, & CLUCKS BBQ | |
| 2 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 3 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 4 | AMERICAN HEROES BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ | |
| 6 | BURNT TREES BBQ | |
| 7 | 202 BBQ | |
| 8 | Dirty Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 9 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 10 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 11 | Last Best BBQ | |
| 12 | Willy Mo's | |
| 13 | Shane Edd's BBQ | |
| 14 | Bushmaster BBQ | |
| 15 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 16 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 17 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 18 | BULL SLAP BBQ | |
| 19 | Smokin Boxers BBQ | |
| 20 | No Measurements BBQ | |
| 21 | Cluster Cluck Barbecue | |
| 22 | BIG PIG BBQ | |
| 23 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 24 | UNCLE J'S | |
| 25 | Bull-B-Que | |
| 26 | Whistle Pig BBQ | |
| 27 | O Face BBQ | |
| 28 | Boo Boo Bus BBQ | |
| 29 | Yellowstone Bank | |
| 30 | Beartooth Stockgrowers | |
| 31 | O Lazy U BBQ | |
| 32 | Montana Kick A$$ BBQ | |
| 33 | Double Barrel BBQ | |
| 34 | Terrae | |
| 35 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 36 | My Meat In Your Mouth |
Ancillary categories
Run by the organizers alongside the sanctioned contest. These are judged on their own terms and do not count toward the overall score, so they're kept out of the meat stats above.
Ancillary — Anything Goes
23 entries · top 180 · median 169.6800 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG PIG BBQ | |
| 2 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 3 | AMERICAN HEROES BBQ | |
| 4 | Montana Kick A$$ BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ | |
| 6 | O Face BBQ | |
| 7 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 8 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 9 | No Measurements BBQ | |
| 10 | Boo Boo Bus BBQ | |
| 11 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 12 | Willy Mo's | |
| 13 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 14 | Yellowstone Bank | |
| 15 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 16 | Smokin Boxers BBQ | |
| 17 | Terrae | |
| 18 | Last Best BBQ | |
| 19 | Shane Edd's BBQ | |
| 20 | Double Barrel BBQ | |
| 21 | Dirty Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 22 | 202 BBQ | |
| 23 | O Lazy U BBQ |