12 BAR BLUES CUE

12 BAR BLUES CUE is a competition barbecue team with 24 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2014 and 2022. Their best overall finish is 4th of 20 at the Montana Pitmaster Classic (2017). They are ranked #5596 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#5,596

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1449

peak 1449 · rated over 24 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Jul 5, 2014

latest Aug 26, 2022 · 8.1 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#616

Master 2017 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

3 podiums

Overall top-10s

4% of 24 contests

Avg finish

top 69%

overall standings

Best overall

653.6228 / 720

Master · Montana Pitmaster Classic

Perfect 180s

Current form

637.04 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 627.98 (+9.07)

Walk rate

42%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

174.2972

Pork Ribs · Miles City Cowtown Cook Off

Consistency

±20.82

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 158.42 · weakest Chicken (155.09)

Road miles

3,753

across 24 mapped stops · furthest 270 mi

Schedule strength

35%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1547)

Purse competed for

$46K

listed at 4 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 6 state-championship entries

Master avg

627.98 / 720

24 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (8 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

Half Ass BBQ has finished one call ahead of 12 BAR BLUES CUE 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

20–0 behind in the head-to-head

Grate Expectations ahead in 100% of their meetings

Grate Expectations has come out ahead in 20 of their 20 shared contests.

The comeback

3 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 3 years, then back at Montana Pitmaster Classic (Aug 26, 2022).

last seen Aug 23, 2019
back Aug 26, 2022

Pork Ribs nemesis

18 of 20 shared pork ribs entries lost

MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ ahead 90% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ has out-cooked them in 18 of 20 shared pork ribs entries.

Looking over their shoulder

3× one call behind them

SMOKIN JERKS has landed one call behind them 3 times.

An August team

Top 61% average finish in August

Something about August: average finish in the top 61% across 9 contests, versus top 69% the rest of the year.

9 August contests
top 69% the rest of the year

The long haul

3,753 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 3,753 miles across 24 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 270 miles to Carnivores Classic.

24 mapped stops
furthest 270 mi

Show 1 more storyline

A standing appointment

6 years running at one contest

They've cooked Montana BBQ Cook-Off every year from 2014 to 2019 — the contest they never miss.

6 visits in all
best finish 15th

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Year	Series	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2022 ↗	Master	#1227 (80 pts)	#994 (135 pts)	#1404 (60 pts)	#1348 (60 pts)	#1164 (105 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#1003 (261 pts)	#1147 (226 pts)	#795 (406 pts)	#1164 (226 pts)	#803 (396 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#890 (340 pts)	#1054 (280 pts)	#889 (380 pts)	#851 (395 pts)	#895 (360 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#616 (632 pts)	#832 (472 pts)	#549 (727 pts)	#521 (752 pts)	#690 (577 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#841 (422 pts)	#1012 (347 pts)	#874 (442 pts)	#767 (512 pts)	#742 (522 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1281 (210 pts)	#1312 (225 pts)	#1377 (205 pts)	#1253 (250 pts)	#1311 (215 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to 12 BAR BLUES CUE, each with one reason worth a look.

116 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.

Blaz'n Weazel BBQ

#5,604 of the rated field

1449 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1449

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 20 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 20 contests
last seen Oct 9, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

B&D BBQ

#5,589 of the rated field

1449 power rating

Contests: 32
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1449

Careers of much the same size, 32 contests to 24, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 32 contests
last seen Jun 26, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

BOYMEETSGRILL

#5,584 of the rated field

1449 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 17%
Peak: 1449

Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 3 years before 12 BAR BLUES CUE's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 18 contests

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HOG STREET BULLIES

#5,599 of the rated field

1449 power rating

Contests: 35
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1449

35 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 6% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 35 contests
last seen Oct 18, 2019

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BETER WORDT HET NIET BBQ

#5,594 of the rated field

1449 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1449

Level with 12 BAR BLUES CUE on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Oct 23, 2021

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SMR GOOD BBQ'ERS

#5,597 of the rated field

1449 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1504

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2014.

rated over 14 contests
last seen Oct 20, 2017

⚔ Compare careers

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ	20	1	19	5%	⚔ compare
Grate Expectations	20	0	20	0%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN JERKS	16	13	3	81%	⚔ compare
PARROTHEAD SMOKERS	16	0	16	0%	⚔ compare
Camp House BBQ	14	1	13	7%	⚔ compare
Up In Smoke BBQ	13	1	12	8%	⚔ compare
Beer Belly BBQ	13	0	13	0%	⚔ compare
YOU QUE'D ME ALL NIGHT LONG	12	0	12	0%	⚔ compare
LONESTAR SMOKE RANGERS	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
B-S BBQ OUTLAWS	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
PAPA'S PIT CREW	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
BIG PIG BBQ	9	3	6	33%	⚔ compare
Lucky Smoke	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
JO-BAWB'S BBQ	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
BIG BONE BBQ-MT	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	24	1	0	0	172.5600	142.3084	155.09	top 77%
Pork Ribs	24	5	1	1	174.2972	133.0972	158.42	top 63%
Pork	24	3	0	1	172.0456	140.5716	157.70	top 65%
Brisket	24	4	0	1	173.1544	141.0856	156.77	top 62%

“Calls” = top-10 category finishes (getting called to the stage). Scores here are the final weighted totals KCBS publishes; per-criterion appearance/taste/tenderness marks aren’t in the public results feed.

By field size and state

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	1	0	top 88%
Medium (20–39)	23	0	top 69%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
MT	21	0	top 69%
WY	3	0	top 73%

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Montana BBQ Cook-Off	6	15	top 70%	Jun 22, 2019
Montana Pitmaster Classic	4	4	top 41%	Aug 26, 2022
Miles City Cowtown Cook Off	2	22	top 84%	Jun 14, 2019
BBQ in the Badlands	2	21	top 85%	Sep 28, 2018
Pepsi WY State Championship BBQ & Bluegrass Festival	2	16	top 75%	Aug 18, 2017
Montana State BBQ Championship at Montana Fair	2	19	top 82%	Aug 11, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2017 6 contests

Contests a season 3.4 across 7 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MT 21 of 24 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 12 6 of them more than once

Opponents faced 261 finished ahead 199 times, behind 420

Longest layoff 3 yrs Aug 23, 2019 → Aug 26, 2022

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

20222 milestones

Aug 26 Career-best overall score653.6228 Montana Pitmaster Classic
Aug 26 Most recent contest Montana Pitmaster Classic

20191 milestone

Jun 14 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)174.2972 Miles City Cowtown Cook Off

20181 milestone

Aug 24 First overall past 90% of a perfect score648.5140 Montana Pitmaster Classic

20172 milestones

Aug 25 First category win (Pork Ribs) Montana Pitmaster Classic
Aug 25 First overall top-10 Montana Pitmaster Classic

20161 milestone

Sep 23 10th tracked contest Carnivores Classic

20143 milestones

Jul 5 First tracked contest Montana BBQ Cook-Off
Jul 5 First call Montana BBQ Cook-Off
Jul 5 Peak power rating (1488) Montana BBQ Cook-Off

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+13.7	Montana Pitmaster Classic	Aug 25, 2017
+6.3	Montana Pitmaster Classic	Aug 23, 2019
+4.9	Montana Pitmaster Classic	Aug 24, 2018
+3.3	Montana BBQ cook-off	Jun 25, 2016
+2.7	Pepsi WY State Championship BBQ & Bluegrass Festival	Aug 18, 2017

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12.5	Montana BBQ Cook-Off	Jul 5, 2014
-9.6	Montana State BBQ Championship at Montana Fair	Aug 12, 2014
-9.4	Miles City Cowtown Cook-Off	Jun 19, 2015
-9.1	Pepsi WY State Championship BBQ & Bluegrass Festival	Aug 19, 2016
-7.1	BBQ in the Badlands	Sep 28, 2018

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Season	Contests	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2022	1	0	0	100%	top 57%	90.8%	90.8%
2019	3	0	0	67%	top 64%	89%	88.5%
2018	4	0	0	25%	top 69%	90.1%	88.2%
2017	6	1	1	33%	top 61%	90%	88.6%
2016	5	0	0	60%	top 70%	89.4%	88.1%
2015	3	0	0	0%	top 80%	86.3%	83.6%
2014	2	0	0	50%	top 90%	81%	81%

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Aug 26, 2022	Montana Pitmaster Classic 🏅 Bozeman, MT	21 / 37 (653.6228)	10 (172.5600)	25 (165.1200)	37 (147.3828)	16 (168.5600)
Aug 23, 2019	Montana Pitmaster Classic 🏅 Bozeman, MT	12 / 29 (641.0972)	23 (153.6800)	9 (164)	18 (150.2628)	3 (173.1544)
Jun 22, 2019	Montana BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Absarokee, MT	21 / 29 (638.1136)	25 (153.6568)	16 (162.8228)	19 (159.9540)	13 (161.6800)
Jun 14, 2019	Miles City Cowtown Cook Off 🏅 Miles City, MT	22 / 28 (631.9772)	14 (165.1544)	6 (174.2972)	25 (147.9772)	25 (144.5484)
Sep 28, 2018	BBQ in the Badlands Glendive, MT	23 / 26 (620.4000)	25 (152.5256)	19 (158.8344)	16 (162.2628)	25 (146.7772)
Aug 24, 2018	Montana Pitmaster Classic Bozeman, MT	12 / 26 (648.5140)	22 (151.3484)	6 (172.5828)	12 (162.2628)	12 (162.3200)
Jun 23, 2018	Montana BBQ Cook-Off Absarokee, MT	18 / 26 (644.0116)	15 (166.8684)	20 (154.8344)	21 (160.0116)	13 (162.2972)
Jun 15, 2018	Miles City Cowtown Cook Off Miles City, MT	20 / 27 (626.0680)	23 (153.6456)	24 (153.0740)	13 (163.3828)	19 (155.9656)
Oct 14, 2017	Nile Beer-B-Q Billings, MT	15 / 17 (633.6000)	14 (166.2516)	12 (160.5600)	15 (154.2400)	16 (152.5484)
Sep 29, 2017	BBQ in the Badlands Glendive, MT	21 / 26 (641.0512)	25 (153.6912)	19 (162.2628)	18 (159.9772)	15 (165.1200)
Aug 25, 2017	Montana Pitmaster Classic Bozeman, MT	4 / 20 (647.9888)	13 (150.7884)	1 (173.7488)	3 (168.0344)	7 (155.4172)
Aug 18, 2017	Pepsi WY State Championship BBQ & Bluegrass Festival 🏅 Worland, WY	16 / 28 (629.0972)	21 (153.1428)	14 (160.5716)	15 (158.2856)	16 (157.0972)
Jun 24, 2017	Montana BBQ Cook-Off Absarokee, MT	21 / 35 (642.2628)	24 (157.1200)	24 (159.9772)	10 (172.0456)	25 (153.1200)
Jun 16, 2017	Miles City Cowtown Cookoff Miles City, MT	16 / 26 (631.3712)	19 (156.5484)	16 (153.7372)	12 (165.6800)	19 (155.4056)
Sep 23, 2016	Carnivores Classic Missoula, MT	19 / 25 (631.4856)	25 (142.3084)	6 (171.4972)	20 (156.5600)	18 (161.1200)
Aug 19, 2016	Pepsi WY State Championship BBQ & Bluegrass Festival 🏅 Worland, WY	24 / 26 (610.6744)	25 (149.0856)	18 (158.8344)	25 (151.3600)	21 (151.3944)
Aug 12, 2016	Best of the West Sheridan, WY	18 / 26 (643.4056)	21 (158.2284)	23 (160.0344)	12 (166.8572)	16 (158.2856)
Jun 25, 2016	Montana BBQ cook-off Absarokee, MT	15 / 29 (642.2400)	26 (154.2628)	22 (154.8572)	7 (172.0228)	15 (161.0972)
Jun 17, 2016	Custer County Community Table/Miles City Cowtown Cook-off Miles City, MT	16 / 26 (642.7776)	11 (162.8688)	23 (145.0744)	13 (162.8572)	6 (171.9772)
Aug 11, 2015	Montana State BBQ Championship at Montana Fair Billings, MT	19 / 25 (621.6108)	19 (154.8112)	21 (153.6684)	22 (154.2628)	15 (158.8684)
Jul 3, 2015	Montana BBQ Cook-Off Absarokee, MT	22 / 29 (603.3488)	24 (145.1316)	21 (150.8228)	11 (163.4172)	25 (143.9772)
Jun 19, 2015	Miles City Cowtown Cook-Off Miles City, MT	23 / 26 (580.5600)	18 (152.5828)	23 (146.2628)	23 (140.5716)	23 (141.1428)
Aug 12, 2014	Montana State BBQ Championship at Montana Fair Billings, MT	23 / 26 (582.8112)	23 (149.7028)	16 (151.4400)	26 (140.5828)	22 (141.0856)
Jul 5, 2014	Montana BBQ Cook-Off Absarokee, MT	23 / 25 (583.3596)	22 (146.2856)	25 (133.0972)	23 (144.5484)	9 (159.4284)

12 BAR BLUES CUE

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (8 found in their record)

The one to beat

A tough matchup

The comeback

Pork Ribs nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

An August team

The long haul

A standing appointment

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

By meat

By field size and state

By contest size

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

More numbers

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)