In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in December 2015 — 1 Dec to 31 Dec.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
December 2015 in BBQ
The recap: every contest scored, every story, every board
Inside
The Stories
Score of the month
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ put up 706.8460 at King of the Smoker Invitational (JUDGES FULL) — the highest overall of the month.
- an invite-only field
First one ever
THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE won their first Grand Championship at Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ, in their 8th contest in the data.
- 4 Dec
Upset of the month
The ratings gave them a 14% chance
THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE won Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ over top-rated GETTIN' BASTED as the ratings underdog.
Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 3 perfect 180s were handed out in December 2015.
- Chicken ×1
- Pork Ribs ×1
- Pork ×1
Closest call
THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE edged SMOKIN BUTT CREW by 1.1200 at Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ.
- Master Series
Biggest riser
ROLLIN' SMOKE COMPETITION QUE gained 18 rating points across 1 contest — the biggest climb of the month.
- 1 contest
- now #3851 overall
State champion
THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE won Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ, a state championship, against a field of 36.
- Alabama
Biggest field
Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) drew 39 teams, and SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ won it.
- Calhoun, GA
Won without a meat
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ won Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 2nd.
- field of 39
New on the calendar
Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) ran for the first time on record, drawing 39 teams, and SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
- 3 first editions in Dec 2015
- Calhoun, GA
The Boards
Highest overall scores (Master · /720)
Best of each meat (both series · /180)
| Category | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken ×1 💯 | FUNTIME BBQ 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown |
180 |
| Pork Ribs ×1 💯 | ROLLIN' SMOKE COMPETITION QUE Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) |
180 |
| Pork ×1 💯 | WHISKEY RANCH BBQ 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown |
180 |
| Brisket | SMOKIN BUTT CREW Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ |
178.8572 |
Straight nines (perfect 180s)
| Team | Category | Contest |
|---|---|---|
| FUNTIME BBQ | Chicken | 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown |
| WHISKEY RANCH BBQ | Pork | 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown |
| ROLLIN' SMOKE COMPETITION QUE | Pork Ribs | Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) |
On the move (power rating)
| Team | Rating | Dec 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| ROLLIN' SMOKE COMPETITION QUE No. 3,851 in the power rankings |
1,486 | +18 |
| Smokin it Up BBQ No. 598 in the power rankings |
1,659 | +18 |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE No. 1,686 in the power rankings |
1,553 | +18 |
| SMOKIN BUTT CREW No. 533 in the power rankings |
1,671 | +14 |
| SWEET SMOKE BBQ No. 2,131 in the power rankings |
1,534 | +13 |
| Your Behind BBQ No. 749 in the power rankings |
1,634 | +12 |
| PIRATES OF PORKSCENTS No. 5,505 in the power rankings |
1,451 | +11 |
| PIG WHISPERERS No. 441 in the power rankings |
1,689 | +11 |
| FUNTIME BBQ No. 788 in the power rankings |
1,629 | +10 |
| STEEL CITY BBQ No. 860 in the power rankings |
1,621 | +10 |
| HOUNDSTOOTH BAR B Q | 1,488 | -12 |
| VEGAS SOL | 1,488 | -12 |
| BAINBRIDGE MEAT BURNERS | 1,479 | -13 |
| Big Bad Barbecue | 1,487 | -13 |
| Swanny's Smokehouse Que | 1,486 | -14 |
Who showed up
| Team | Contests | GCs | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Organizer Portal | 2 | — | 3 |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 2 | — | 9 |
| LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 Guys, No Fires | 1 | — | — |
| AirGas | 1 | — | — |
| Arrow Cattle Co. | 1 | — | — |
| Bull and Bones | 1 | — | — |
| KICKIN' BUTT BAR-B-QUE | 1 | — | — |
| LATE NIGHT BUTT RUBBERS | 1 | — | — |
| MASSKOSS | 1 | — | — |
| PIT ROW BBQ | 1 | — | — |
| PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q | 1 | — | — |
Where they cooked
| State/Prov. | Contests | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 | 50 |
| Georgia | 1 | 39 |
| Nevada | 1 | 30 |
| California | 1 | 24 |
By invitation (invite-only fields)
| Contest | Teams | Grand Champion |
|---|---|---|
| King of the Smoker Dec 11, 2015 · La Quinta, CA |
24 | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ |
New to the circuit
First editions (new on the calendar)
| Contest | Teams | Won by |
|---|---|---|
| Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) Calhoun, GA |
39 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ |
| 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown Las Vegas, NV |
30 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ |
| King of the Smoker Invitational (JUDGES FULL) La Quinta, CA |
24 | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ |
Running a contest? The organizer tools →
Every contest scored (4 in December 2015)
| Contest | Grand Champion | score |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown Dec 11, 2015 · Las Vegas, NV · 30 teams |
SMOKIN MO'S BBQ RC: SMOKIN IT UP BBQ |
697.0628 |
| King of the Smoker Invitational (JUDGES FULL) Dec 11, 2015 · La Quinta, CA · 24 teams |
LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ RC: JO-BAWB'S BBQ |
706.8460 |
| Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) Dec 4, 2015 · Calhoun, GA · 39 teams |
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ RC: PIG WHISPERERS |
693.0972 |
| Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ Dec 4, 2015 · Demopolis, AL · 36 teams |
THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE RC: SMOKIN BUTT CREW |
684.4572 |
The Archive
Every month with scored results, back to the start of the data. Subscribe to the monthly feed and each one lands as it closes.
2026 (338 contests) · the 2026 season in review
2025 (386 contests) · the 2025 season in review
2024 (343 contests) · the 2024 season in review
2023 (376 contests) · the 2023 season in review
2022 (376 contests) · the 2022 season in review
2021 (310 contests) · the 2021 season in review
2020 (134 contests) · the 2020 season in review
2019 (430 contests) · the 2019 season in review
2018 (480 contests) · the 2018 season in review
2017 (517 contests) · the 2017 season in review
2016 (505 contests) · the 2016 season in review
2015 (494 contests) · the 2015 season in review
2014 (469 contests) · the 2014 season in review
2013 (436 contests) · the 2013 season in review
2012 (1 contest) · the 2012 season in review
Every figure here is computed from the public results at kcbs.us, refreshed nightly. The Smoke Ring is not a publication of the Kansas City Barbeque Society.