Won without a category win
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
3 EYZ BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 4th
- Pork Ribs 10th
- Pork 7th
- Brisket 2nd
Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle 2025
Jun 21–22, 2025 · Washington, DC · 📍 Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW · State championship
Reps: Alex Jr Brown, Bill Jones · Prize money: $19,400
3 EYZ BBQ won Grand Champion at the Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle on June 21, 2025 in Washington, DC at Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW, scoring 707.3944 in a field of 26 teams. BLUE & GRAY BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 705.6684. Category winners: Chicken — WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — BLUE & GRAY BBQ (180.0000); Pork — MUTTLEY CREW BBQ (178.2972); Brisket — MUTTLEY CREW BBQ (180.0000). This is the 9th of 14 editions of this contest on record; the 2024 edition was won by Good Googly Goo BBQ; the next was held in 2025.
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.
575.86
median 685.37
707.39 🏆
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 180 🔥
- Pork 178.30
- Brisket 180 🔥
138.77
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2016 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
26
4 judged meats · 4 ancillary
Top score
707.3944
Winning margin
1.7260
GC over RC
Field average
675.18
575.86707.39
median 685.37 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
3 🔥
Tightest race
Chicken
1.1428 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
690.2288
575.86707.39
10th place overall
Field spread
131.5316
winner to last place
Prize money
$19,400
on the line
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 8%
beats 92% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
44%
16 of 36 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.76 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,616
avg power rating going in · stronger than 86% of contests
Storylines (6 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.
A day of perfect scores
3
perfect 180s
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- MUTTLEY CREW BBQ · Brisket
- WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ · Chicken
- BLUE & GRAY BBQ · Pork Ribs
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 12 tracked editions
APORKALYPSE NOW has won this contest 2 times across its 12 tracked editions.
- 2016
- 2017
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 14 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 3–4: UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT and 3 EYZ BBQ tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 4–5: 3 EYZ BBQ and Hoos Smokin' tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 5–6: Hoos Smokin' and Menke Boys BBQ tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Chicken 6–7 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
MUTTLEY CREW BBQ won Pork, Brisket — a double.
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 1st
Back to defend
3
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Mispillion Meat Works (won 2023), UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT (won 2023), Good Googly Goo BBQ (won 2024).
- Mispillion Meat Works · 2023
- UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT · 2023
- Good Googly Goo BBQ · 2024
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 25, 2016 | Washington, DC | Pennsylvania Ave | 35 | 690.2400 | APORKALYPSE NOW | BULL RUSH BBQ |
| Jun 24, 2017 | Washington, DC | Pennsylvania Ave NW | 33 | 708.5372 | APORKALYPSE NOW | ALQUEMY - VA |
| Jun 23, 2018 | Washington, DC | Pennsylvania Ave NW | 42 | 704.5944 | SERIAL GRILLER | COOL SMOKE |
| Jun 25, 2022 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 32 | 706.8228 | CHUNKY BBQ | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ |
| Jun 24, 2023 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 29 | 702.2400 | Mispillion Meat Works | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT |
| Jun 24, 2023 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 26 | 177.1428 | OPTIMUS SWINE | — |
| Jun 24, 2023 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 27 | 177.7372 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | — |
| Jun 22, 2024 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 36 | 704.0116 | Good Googly Goo BBQ | The Fat is Where It's At |
| Jun 21, 2025 ← this one | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 26 | 707.3944 | 3 Eyz BBQ | BLUE & GRAY BBQ |
| Jun 21, 2025 | Washington, DC | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jun 21, 2025 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 24 | 180 | Smokecraft - MD | — |
| Jun 26, 2026 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 31 | 703.3828 | Titans of BBQ | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ |
| Jun 27, 2026 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 28 | 178.8572 | Smoked & Furious | — |
| Jun 25, 2027 | Washington, DC | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jun 26, 2027 | Washington, DC | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 178.8572 | 175.4172 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 176.5716 | 174.2744 |
| Pork | 178.2972 | 175.4056 | 173.7028 |
| Brisket | 180 | 175.4172 | 169.6800 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
26 entries · top 707.3944 · median 685.3714
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 2 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 3 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 4 | Mispillion Meat Works | |
| 5 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 6 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 7 | House of Que | |
| 8 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 10 | Goudas Barbecue | |
| 11 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 12 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 13 | Piggy & Swine BBQ | |
| 14 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 15 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 16 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 17 | Hoos Smokin' | |
| 18 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 19 | Engine 2 BBQ | |
| 20 | Beerbelly's BBQ | |
| 21 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 22 | Old Fireman's BBQ | |
| 23 | Bayside Bull | |
| 24 | Thomas Family BBQ | |
| 25 | Down Range Smoke | |
| 26 | RIBS BY ANDY |
Chicken
26 entries · top 180 · median 174.2686 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 2 | Goudas Barbecue | |
| 3 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 4 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 5 | Hoos Smokin' | |
| 6 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 7 | Mispillion Meat Works | |
| 8 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 9 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 10 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 11 | Piggy & Swine BBQ | |
| 12 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 13 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 14 | House of Que | |
| 15 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 16 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 17 | Old Fireman's BBQ | |
| 18 | Beerbelly's BBQ | |
| 19 | Engine 2 BBQ | |
| 20 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 21 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 22 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 23 | Bayside Bull | |
| 24 | Thomas Family BBQ | |
| 25 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 26 | Down Range Smoke |
Pork Ribs
26 entries · top 180 · median 171.1314 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 2 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 3 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 4 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 5 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 6 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 7 | Beerbelly's BBQ | |
| 8 | House of Que | |
| 9 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 10 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 11 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 12 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 13 | Mispillion Meat Works | |
| 14 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 15 | Goudas Barbecue | |
| 16 | Piggy & Swine BBQ | |
| 17 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 18 | Old Fireman's BBQ | |
| 19 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 20 | Engine 2 BBQ | |
| 21 | Hoos Smokin' | |
| 22 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 23 | Bayside Bull | |
| 24 | Down Range Smoke | |
| 25 | Thomas Family BBQ | |
| 26 | RIBS BY ANDY |
Pork
26 entries · top 178.2972 · median 171.4172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 2 | Piggy & Swine BBQ | |
| 3 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 4 | Goudas Barbecue | |
| 5 | Mispillion Meat Works | |
| 6 | Hoos Smokin' | |
| 7 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 8 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 9 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 10 | Beerbelly's BBQ | |
| 11 | Engine 2 BBQ | |
| 12 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 13 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 14 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 15 | Bayside Bull | |
| 16 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 17 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 18 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 19 | House of Que | |
| 20 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 21 | Old Fireman's BBQ | |
| 22 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 23 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 24 | Down Range Smoke | |
| 25 | Thomas Family BBQ | |
| 26 | RIBS BY ANDY |
Brisket
26 entries · top 180 · median 168.2628 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 2 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 4 | House of Que | |
| 5 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 6 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 7 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 8 | Mispillion Meat Works | |
| 9 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 10 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 11 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 12 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 13 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 14 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 15 | Engine 2 BBQ | |
| 16 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 17 | Piggy & Swine BBQ | |
| 18 | Goudas Barbecue | |
| 19 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 20 | Thomas Family BBQ | |
| 21 | Hoos Smokin' | |
| 22 | Bayside Bull | |
| 23 | Beerbelly's BBQ | |
| 24 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 25 | Old Fireman's BBQ | |
| 26 | Down Range Smoke |
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 — Bachan'S Best Bbq
19 entries · top 177.7028 · median 168.5828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beerbelly's BBQ | |
| 2 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 3 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 4 | Down Range Smoke | |
| 5 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 6 | House of Que | |
| 7 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 8 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 9 | Goudas Barbecue | |
| 10 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 11 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 12 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 13 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 14 | Mispillion Meat Works | |
| 15 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 16 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 17 | Bayside Bull | |
| 18 | Engine 2 BBQ | |
| 19 | Hoos Smokin' |
Ancillary — Impossible Foods Championship
19 entries · top 180 · median 169.7028 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goudas Barbecue | |
| 2 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 3 | Engine 2 BBQ | |
| 4 | Thomas Family BBQ | |
| 5 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 6 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 7 | Beerbelly's BBQ | |
| 8 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 9 | Hoos Smokin' | |
| 10 | Mispillion Meat Works | |
| 11 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 12 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 13 | House of Que | |
| 14 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 15 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 16 | Bayside Bull | |
| 17 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 18 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 19 | Down Range Smoke |
Ancillary — Roseda National Steak
19 entries · top 180 · median 171.4516 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 2 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 3 | Engine 2 BBQ | |
| 4 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 5 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 6 | Goudas Barbecue | |
| 7 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 8 | Thomas Family BBQ | |
| 9 | Beerbelly's BBQ | |
| 10 | Bayside Bull | |
| 11 | Mispillion Meat Works | |
| 12 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 13 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 14 | Down Range Smoke | |
| 15 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 16 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 17 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 18 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 19 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC |
Ancillary — Turkey Smoke
21 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.1656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 2 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 3 | Piggy & Swine BBQ | |
| 4 | Mispillion Meat Works | |
| 5 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 6 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 7 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 8 | Thomas Family BBQ | |
| 9 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 10 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 11 | Goudas Barbecue | |
| 12 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 13 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 14 | Hoos Smokin' | |
| 15 | Beerbelly's BBQ | |
| 16 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 17 | House of Que | |
| 18 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 19 | Engine 2 BBQ | |
| 20 | Down Range Smoke | |
| 21 | RIBS BY ANDY |