In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in December 2017 — 1 Dec to 31 Dec.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
December 2017 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
PORKY BUTTS BBQ put up 701.1428 at The Smithfield King of the Smoker (INVITATIONAL) (JUDGES FULL) — the highest overall of the month.
- an invite-only field
Upset of the month
The ratings gave them a 35% chance
YES, DEAR BBQ won Smokin up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) over top-rated QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N as the ratings underdog.
Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 6 perfect 180s were handed out in December 2017.
- Chicken ×3
- Pork ×2
- Pork Ribs ×1
Closest call
VICTORY LANE BBQ edged CONTAGIOUS Q by 0.5256 at Christmas on the River.
- Master Series
Back on top
YES, DEAR BBQ won Smokin up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) — their first Grand Championship since May 2015, after 29 contests without one.
- last won May 2015
- 29 contests in between
Biggest riser
Meat Sweats BBQ gained 14 rating points across 1 contest — the biggest climb of the month.
- 1 contest
- now #2377 overall
Best debut
Rio Valley Meat BBQ finished 9th at The Smithfield King of the Smoker (INVITATIONAL) (JUDGES FULL) — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
- 19 new teams in Dec 2017
- field of 25
Biggest field
Smokin up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) drew 30 teams, and YES, DEAR BBQ won it.
- Calhoun, GA
Milestone
SMOKIN TRIGGERS cooked their 100th contest on record at The Smithfield King of the Smoker (INVITATIONAL) (JUDGES FULL), with 2 Grand Championships along the way.
- 2 GCs along the way
Won without a meat
YES, DEAR BBQ won Smokin up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 2nd.
- field of 30
New on the calendar
Smokin up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) ran for the first time on record, drawing 30 teams, and YES, DEAR BBQ won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
- 2 first editions in Dec 2017
- Calhoun, GA
Busiest weekend
3 sanctioned contests were cooked on 1 Dec alone.
- 1 Dec
The Boards
Highest overall scores (Master · /720)
Best of each meat (both series · /180)
| Category | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken ×3 💯 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ The Smithfield King of the Smoker (INVITATIONAL) (JUDGES FULL) |
180 |
| Pork Ribs ×1 💯 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ Down Town Barbecue Throw down (JUDGES FULL) |
180 |
| Pork ×2 💯 | Cool Smoke The Smithfield King of the Smoker (INVITATIONAL) (JUDGES FULL) |
180 |
| Brisket | PORKY BUTTS BBQ The Smithfield King of the Smoker (INVITATIONAL) (JUDGES FULL) |
179.4400 |
Straight nines (perfect 180s)
On the move (power rating)
| Team | Rating | Dec 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Meat Sweats BBQ No. 2,377 in the power rankings |
1,524 | +14 |
| BALLS OUT BBQ No. 1,455 in the power rankings |
1,568 | +12 |
| Sheats Smoked Meats No. 1,078 in the power rankings |
1,597 | +11 |
| YES, DEAR BBQ No. 252 in the power rankings |
1,741 | +10 |
| Porterhouse BBQ No. 412 in the power rankings |
1,695 | +10 |
| Angry Jack BBQ No. 180 in the power rankings |
1,764 | +10 |
| B-S BBQ OUTLAWS No. 94 in the power rankings |
1,812 | +10 |
| FYC BARBEQUE No. 950 in the power rankings |
1,611 | +9 |
| UTAH BBQ COMPANY No. 322 in the power rankings |
1,719 | +9 |
| SHIG NINJA BBQ No. 264 in the power rankings |
1,735 | +9 |
| Beef Hammer | 1,489 | -11 |
| Bigg Stankys BBQ | 1,489 | -11 |
| Pigout Bar BQ No. 5,423 in the power rankings |
1,453 | -12 |
| RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ No. 113 in the power rankings |
1,800 | -12 |
| GETTIN' BASTED No. 11 in the power rankings |
1,921 | -14 |
Who showed up
| Team | Contests | GCs | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 2 | — | 3 |
| SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 2 | — | 3 |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 2 | — | 7 |
| SMOKIN TRIGGERS | 2 | — | 17 |
| BIG POPPA SMOKERS | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| PORKY BUTTS BBQ | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| VICTORY LANE BBQ | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| YES, DEAR BBQ | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 Guys No Fries | 1 | — | — |
| A Slab and More BBQ | 1 | — | — |
| Arrow Cattle Company | 1 | — | — |
| BBQ Brothers | 1 | — | — |
| Bull & Bones | 1 | — | — |
| Colonel Rusty's | 1 | — | — |
| Kajun Kaos | 1 | — | — |
Where they cooked
| State/Prov. | Contests | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 | 41 |
| Georgia | 1 | 30 |
| Nevada | 1 | 30 |
| California | 1 | 25 |
By invitation (invite-only fields)
| Contest | Teams | Grand Champion |
|---|---|---|
| King of the Smoker Dec 1, 2017 · Rancho Mirage, CA |
25 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ |
New to the circuit
First editions (new on the calendar)
| Contest | Teams | Won by |
|---|---|---|
| Smokin up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) Calhoun, GA |
30 | YES, DEAR BBQ |
| Down Town Barbecue Throw down (JUDGES FULL) Las Vegas, NV |
30 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS |
Running a contest? The organizer tools →
Every contest scored (4 in December 2017)
| Contest | Grand Champion | score |
|---|---|---|
| Down Town Barbecue Throw down (JUDGES FULL) Dec 15, 2017 · Las Vegas, NV · 30 teams |
BIG POPPA SMOKERS RC: PORTERHOUSE BBQ |
699.9428 |
| Smokin up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) Dec 1, 2017 · Calhoun, GA · 30 teams |
YES, DEAR BBQ RC: HOT COLE'S BBQ |
695.9084 |
| Christmas on the River Dec 1, 2017 · Demopolis, AL · 27 teams |
VICTORY LANE BBQ RC: CONTAGIOUS Q |
695.3484 |
| The Smithfield King of the Smoker (INVITATIONAL) (JUDGES FULL) Dec 1, 2017 · Rancho Mirage, CA · 25 teams |
PORKY BUTTS BBQ RC: SHIGGIN & GRINNIN |
701.1428 |
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.