Almost Heaven BBQ Bash

2023-06-16 – 2023-06-17 · Buckhannon, WV · State championship

Reps: JULIE COOK, RUSTY COOK · Prize money: $13,000.00

Grand Champion: WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ (702.2284) · 28 teams

🥇

Furlongs Smoke & Seafood

348.5600 · Backyard Series — Overall

🥈

Gold-N-Blue Barbecue

348.5256 · Backyard Series — Overall

🥉

Better Half Barbecue

342.8572 · Backyard Series — Overall

Entries

7 categories

Top score

348.5600

Winning margin

0.0344

GC over RC

Field average

332.15

median 331.63

Perfect 180s

3 🔥

Tightest race

Pork Ribs

2.8684 pts across the top 5

Top-10 cutoff

326.8116

what a walk cost here

Field spread

35.5200

winner to last place

Prize money

$13,000.00

on the line

Most consistent

Gold-N-Blue Barbecue

avg finish 3.33 across 3 meats

Double threats

teams with 2+ top-5 calls

Widest winning margin

Pork Ribs

won by 3.4400 pts — Bourbon & Blues BBQ

How hot was the win?

Top 88%

beats 12% of 2715 overall wins in the data

Field strength

1589

avg power rating going in · stronger than 86% of contests

Top-rated in the field

ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN

rated 1872 pre-contest

Storylines

👑 A dynasty in the making

UNDER THE RADAR has won this contest 2 times across its 11 tracked editions.

🪒 A razor-thin finish

The Grand Championship was decided by 0.0344 points — closer than 95% of every championship in the data.

🧳 Out-of-towners took the title

WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ took the Grand Championship home to VA.

🔥 A day of perfect scores

3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest.

🃏 An upset on the books

WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 33-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)

This contest over the years

Date	Where	Teams	High score	Grand Champion
2015-06-19		41	703.4172	3 EYZ BBQ
2016-06-17		42	699.9544	CHECKERED PIG
2017-06-16		57	706.2972	ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE
2018-06-15		59	690.8000	SPITTIN' FEATHERS BBQ
2019-06-07	Roanoke, WV	31	691.3944	ROCKY TOP BBQ
2021-06-18	Roanoke, WV	28	705.1428	UNDER THE RADAR
2022-06-17	Roanoke, WV	20	704.5600	UNDER THE RADAR
2023-06-16 ← this one	Buckhannon, WV	28	702.2284	WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ
2024-06-14	Buckhannon, WV	30	698.8228	CHUNKY BBQ
2025-06-13	Buckhannon, WV	30	698.2516	Chunky BBQ
2026-06-19	Buckhannon, WV	29	699.3484	Poor Boys BBQ

Official results on kcbs.us ↗

Backyard Series — Chicken

14 entries · top 180.0000 · median 170.2630 · 🔥 perfect 180

#	Team	Score
1	Furlongs Smoke & Seafood	180.0000 🔥
2	Better Half Barbecue	177.1544
3	Gold-N-Blue Barbecue	175.4056
4	Dogpatch Q	174.8572
5	BIRD DAWG BBQ	171.4860
6	Dog Bite Barbecue	171.4056
7	Full Throttle BBQ	170.8228
8	The Swine Doctor's BBQ	169.7032
9	Bourbon & Blues BBQ	165.6684
10	Little E's Que	164.0000
11	Pinky Out BBQ	163.9540
12	SB SMOKEHOUSE	155.3716
13	OAK AND ASH BARBECUE	154.2172
14	JAR HEAD BBQ	151.9772

Backyard Series — Overall

14 entries · top 348.5600 · median 331.6342

#	Team	Score
1	Furlongs Smoke & Seafood	348.5600
2	Gold-N-Blue Barbecue	348.5256
3	Better Half Barbecue	342.8572
4	Bourbon & Blues BBQ	342.2284
5	Dog Bite Barbecue	341.0972
6	Dogpatch Q	338.8000
7	Pinky Out BBQ	333.6340
8	Full Throttle BBQ	329.6344
9	BIRD DAWG BBQ	327.4288
10	Little E's Que	326.8116
11	The Swine Doctor's BBQ	326.2288
12	JAR HEAD BBQ	317.0744
13	OAK AND ASH BARBECUE	314.2060
14	SB SMOKEHOUSE	313.0400

Backyard Series — Pork Ribs

14 entries · top 176.5600 · median 164.5200

#	Team	Score
1	Bourbon & Blues BBQ	176.5600
2	Gold-N-Blue Barbecue	173.1200
3	Dog Bite Barbecue	169.6916
4	Pinky Out BBQ	169.6800
5	Furlongs Smoke & Seafood	168.5600
6	Better Half Barbecue	165.7028
7	JAR HEAD BBQ	165.0972
8	Dogpatch Q	163.9428
9	Little E's Que	162.8116
10	OAK AND ASH BARBECUE	159.9888
11	Full Throttle BBQ	158.8116
12	SB SMOKEHOUSE	157.6684
13	The Swine Doctor's BBQ	156.5256
14	BIRD DAWG BBQ	155.9428

Master Series — Brisket

28 entries · top 180.0000 · median 169.6856 · 🔥 perfect 180

#	Team	Score
1	ALE YEAH BBQ	180.0000 🔥
2	WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	178.8572
3	CHUNKY BBQ	176.5600
4	UNDER THE RADAR	176.5600
5	Optimus Swine	174.2628
6	D’Qued Barbeque	174.2628
7	OFF THE RACK BBQ	173.7028
8	HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ	172.5600
9	PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS	172.0000
10	CONVICTED PIGS BBQ	171.4172
11	POOR BOYS BBQ	171.4056
12	WHO CARES BBQ	170.8228
13	OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE	169.7256
14	PIGGIN' WHISKEY	169.7028
15	MUTTLEY CREW BBQ	169.6684
16	BEER TIME BBQ	168.0000
17	CIRCLE L BBQ	167.3944
18	ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN	167.3828
19	OUR BARK IS BETTER THAN YOUR BITE	167.3828
20	Kickin' Ash BBQ	162.8344
21	smokey anderson bbq	160.5716
22	BIG DOG BBQ VA	160.5600
23	HOLT BROTHERS BBQ	157.0628
24	VINTAGE SMOKE	156.0460
25	PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ	155.9544
26	MORT'S MEAT MAFIA	154.7884
27	DAVEY JONES LOCKER BBQ	153.1200
28	Iron Head Barbeque	150.8000

Master Series — Chicken

28 entries · top 179.4400 · median 169.9886

#	Team	Score
1	HOLT BROTHERS BBQ	179.4400
2	Optimus Swine	178.2972
3	WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	176.5600
4	D’Qued Barbeque	175.4172
5	ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN	175.4056
6	CHUNKY BBQ	174.2972
7	Kickin' Ash BBQ	173.1200
8	POOR BOYS BBQ	173.1084
9	PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ	173.1084
10	MUTTLEY CREW BBQ	173.1084
11	UNDER THE RADAR	172.5600
12	BEER TIME BBQ	170.8228
13	CIRCLE L BBQ	170.3316
14	OFF THE RACK BBQ	170.2972
15	WHO CARES BBQ	169.6800
16	BIG DOG BBQ VA	168.5600
17	ALE YEAH BBQ	168.5256
18	HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ	168.5256
19	OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE	167.9656
20	PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS	167.4056
21	OUR BARK IS BETTER THAN YOUR BITE	166.8572
22	PIGGIN' WHISKEY	166.8228
23	CONVICTED PIGS BBQ	159.9544
24	smokey anderson bbq	159.3944
25	VINTAGE SMOKE	157.6916
26	Iron Head Barbeque	157.6800
27	MORT'S MEAT MAFIA	155.9544
28	DAVEY JONES LOCKER BBQ	150.8344

Master Series — Overall

28 entries · top 702.2284 · median 676.4340

#	Team	Score
1	WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	702.2284
2	CHUNKY BBQ	700.5372
3	ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN	696.5028
4	UNDER THE RADAR	695.3600
5	Optimus Swine	693.6688
6	D’Qued Barbeque	691.3372
7	ALE YEAH BBQ	689.0856
8	PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS	685.0856
9	HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ	685.0628
10	OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE	684.5256
11	POOR BOYS BBQ	684.4684
12	PIGGIN' WHISKEY	679.9428
13	OFF THE RACK BBQ	678.8116
14	MUTTLEY CREW BBQ	678.1596
15	WHO CARES BBQ	674.7084
16	HOLT BROTHERS BBQ	672.4456
17	PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ	667.8972
18	CONVICTED PIGS BBQ	666.8004
19	CIRCLE L BBQ	666.2172
20	OUR BARK IS BETTER THAN YOUR BITE	663.8972
21	BEER TIME BBQ	656.9940
22	BIG DOG BBQ VA	653.6344
23	Kickin' Ash BBQ	651.8404
24	smokey anderson bbq	642.1948
25	MORT'S MEAT MAFIA	641.5084
26	VINTAGE SMOKE	627.3832
27	Iron Head Barbeque	621.6116
28	DAVEY JONES LOCKER BBQ	606.1260

Master Series — Pork

28 entries · top 180.0000 · median 170.2514 · 🔥 perfect 180

#	Team	Score
1	ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN	180.0000 🔥
2	CHUNKY BBQ	176.5600
3	Optimus Swine	174.8688
4	WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	174.2628
5	ALE YEAH BBQ	174.2628
6	OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE	174.2628
7	MUTTLEY CREW BBQ	173.7028
8	HOLT BROTHERS BBQ	173.1428
9	UNDER THE RADAR	173.1200
10	PIGGIN' WHISKEY	172.5716
11	PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ	172.5600
12	OFF THE RACK BBQ	172.0000
13	HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ	170.8228
14	MORT'S MEAT MAFIA	170.8228
15	PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS	169.6800
16	D’Qued Barbeque	168.5256
17	POOR BOYS BBQ	165.6916
18	CONVICTED PIGS BBQ	164.5372
19	CIRCLE L BBQ	163.3828
20	OUR BARK IS BETTER THAN YOUR BITE	161.6572
21	BIG DOG BBQ VA	161.1200
22	WHO CARES BBQ	161.0856
23	Kickin' Ash BBQ	158.8116
24	DAVEY JONES LOCKER BBQ	155.3828
25	smokey anderson bbq	154.8460
26	VINTAGE SMOKE	154.8112
27	BEER TIME BBQ	154.7884
28	Iron Head Barbeque	150.8344

Master Series — Pork Ribs

28 entries · top 176.0000 · median 166.8400

#	Team	Score
1	PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS	176.0000
2	POOR BOYS BBQ	174.2628
3	ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN	173.7144
4	HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ	173.1544
5	D’Qued Barbeque	173.1316
6	UNDER THE RADAR	173.1200
7	WHO CARES BBQ	173.1200
8	CHUNKY BBQ	173.1200
9	OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE	172.5716
10	WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	172.5484
11	CONVICTED PIGS BBQ	170.8916
12	PIGGIN' WHISKEY	170.8456
13	OUR BARK IS BETTER THAN YOUR BITE	168.0000
14	smokey anderson bbq	167.3828
15	ALE YEAH BBQ	166.2972
16	PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ	166.2744
17	Optimus Swine	166.2400
18	CIRCLE L BBQ	165.1084
19	BIG DOG BBQ VA	163.3944
20	BEER TIME BBQ	163.3828
21	OFF THE RACK BBQ	162.8116
22	HOLT BROTHERS BBQ	162.8000
23	Iron Head Barbeque	162.2972
24	MUTTLEY CREW BBQ	161.6800
25	MORT'S MEAT MAFIA	159.9428
26	VINTAGE SMOKE	158.8344
27	Kickin' Ash BBQ	157.0744
28	DAVEY JONES LOCKER BBQ	146.7888

Turkey Smoke Series — Turkey smoke

21 entries · top 177.7372 · median 168.5256

#	Team	Score
1	OAK AND ASH BARBECUE	177.7372
2	BIRD DAWG BBQ	177.1428
3	CIRCLE L BBQ	174.8572
4	Bourbon & Blues BBQ	174.2628
5	Gold-N-Blue Barbecue	170.8228
6	Pinky Out BBQ	170.2628
7	PIGGIN' WHISKEY	170.2628
8	The Swine Doctor's BBQ	169.7028
9	D’Qued Barbeque	169.1428
10	MUTTLEY CREW BBQ	168.5256
11	CONVICTED PIGS BBQ	168.5256
12	Optimus Swine	168.5256
13	OFF THE RACK BBQ	167.9772
14	PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS	167.4628
15	Better Half Barbecue	165.6800
16	Iron Head Barbeque	165.6800
17	MORT'S MEAT MAFIA	165.0972
18	VINTAGE SMOKE	164.5372
19	Full Throttle BBQ	163.9656
20	WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	163.9544
21	Little E's Que	160.5028