Porterhouse BBQ CA
Rating
1621
peak 1634
Contests
50
in the data
First seen
2019-02-15
latest 2026-04-17
Best ToY finish
#40
Master 2015
Grand champs
2
3 reserve
Category wins
10
20 podiums
Overall top-10s
16
of 50 contests
Avg finish
top 41%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
2 🔥
Current form
687.57 ▲
last 5 vs career avg 678.66 (+8.91)
Walk rate
76%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
4
best run (overall)
Consistency
±26.72
std dev of overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 170.92 · weakest Pork Ribs (169.95)
Road miles
12890
mi across 50 mapped stops · furthest 1316 mi
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
BIG POPPA SMOKERS has finished one call ahead of Porterhouse BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
LADY OF Q has landed one call behind them 3 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ has come out ahead in 27 of their 38 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ in 13 of their 15 shared contests.
🏕️ Happy hunting ground
Best Dam Barbeque is their spot: 1 Grand Championship in 2 visits.
💔 The heartbreaker
Came within 0.1032 points of the Grand Championship at Indio California State BBQ Championship & Festival (2021-11-05).
🗡️ Giant slayer
Took the Grand Championship over a 33-team field at Best Dam Barbeque.
📅 A January team
Something about January: average finish in the top 29% across 7 contests, versus top 41% the rest of the year.
🃏 Against the odds
Their Grand Championship at Best Dam Barbeque (2024-05-24) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 24-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, Meat Candy Q.
Teams like this (closest power rating, CA first)
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 48 | 21 | 3 | 4 | 178.8572 | 160.5144 | 170.92 | top 45% |
| Pork Ribs | 48 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 178.8572 | 155.9540 | 169.95 | top 44% |
| Pork | 48 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 178.8572 | 158.2400 | 170.78 | top 45% |
| Brisket | 47 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 180.0000 🔥 | 155.9544 | 170.56 | top 39% |
“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 state / province
| Where | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA | 25 | 1 | top 38% |
| AZ | 11 | 0 | top 44% |
| NV | 5 | 1 | top 39% |
| KS | 4 | 0 | top 51% |
| OR | 2 | 0 | top 32% |
| ID | 1 | 0 | top 72% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 3 | 0 | top 46% |
| Medium (20–39) | 28 | 2 | top 40% |
| Large (40+) | 17 | 0 | top 41% |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2025 (13 contests)
- Cooks mostly in CA (25 of 50 contests)
- Most-entered category: Chicken (48 entries)
- First Grand Championship in the data: Best Dam Barbeque (2024-05-24)
- Wins it all in 4% of contests
- All-time average overall score: 678.66
- 2 perfect 180s on the books 🔥
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
Category scores over time
Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)
Where they finish (overall)
Best vs average (by meat)
Team of the Year rank by season
Season by season
| Season | Contests | GCs | Category wins | Best overall | Avg overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 705.0856 | 685.49 |
| 2025 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 697.0512 | 672.44 |
| 2024 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 701.7028 | 683.98 |
| 2023 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 691.3600 | 681.13 |
| 2022 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 700.5372 | 679.91 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 697.0512 | 697.05 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 658.7544 | 658.75 |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 673.0516 | 661.60 |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-17 | The Downtown Grand Master BBQ Showdown Las Vegas, NV | 21 / 29 (669.0632) | 26 (161.6916) | 8 (174.2744) | 23 (168.5372) | 22 (164.5600) |
| 2026-03-27 | Q's & Brews Bighorn BBQ Competition Lake Havasu City, AZ | 20 / 33 (681.0516) | 29 (163.9656) | 9 (175.4172) | 20 (169.6916) | 15 (171.9772) |
| 2026-01-30 | The Golden State Battle VIII Riverside, CA | 3 / 41 (705.0856) | 6 (177.7028) | 11 (173.1200) | 3 (178.8572) | 6 (175.4056) |
| 2026-01-16 | 11th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge Bullhead City, AZ | 13 / 53 (686.7428) | 1 (178.8572) | 36 (167.3828) | 26 (169.6800) | 16 (170.8228) |
| 2025-11-21 | BBQ Jackpot Las Vegas, NV | 12 / 90 (695.9200) | 64 (167.3828) | 11 (175.4172) | 29 (173.1200) | 1 (180.0000) |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest Kansas City, KS | 138 / 158 (669.5660) | 142 (163.9544) | 75 (171.9888) | 101 (169.6800) | 135 (163.9428) |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest Kansas City, KS | 138 / 401 (684.5028) | 228 (168.5600) | 285 (165.1200) | 27 (177.7028) | 94 (173.1200) |
| 2025-09-12 | 21st Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest Riverside, CA | 14 / 35 (695.9316) | 10 (176.5600) | 13 (175.4172) | 16 (173.1316) | 20 (170.8228) |
| 2025-08-29 | Meat & Tater BBQ Fest Meridian, ID | 28 / 39 (677.0400) | 28 (168.5372) | 28 (169.1544) | 29 (166.2400) | 12 (173.1084) |
| 2025-05-31 | The Santiam Smoke Show (Day 2) Sweet Home, OR | 5 / 28 (697.0512) | 4 (177.7028) | 20 (169.6800) | 2 (177.7028) | 12 (171.9656) |
| 2025-05-30 | The Santiam Smoke Show (Day 1) Sweet Home, OR | 14 / 30 (677.0632) | 10 (171.9772) | 24 (162.2744) | 9 (171.9772) | 8 (170.8344) |
| 2025-05-16 | Rotary Day at Galway BBQ Competition Temecula, CA | 14 / 19 (668.4572) | 16 (161.6800) | 8 (172.5716) | 11 (168.5372) | 11 (165.6684) |
| 2025-04-11 | BBQ, Boots & Brew Perris, CA | 1 / 26 (695.9544) | 7 (174.2744) | 1 (178.8572) | 16 (167.3828) | 4 (175.4400) |
| 2025-03-28 | Q's & Brews Lake Havasu, AZ | 26 / 26 (516.5260) | 10 (173.1316) | 10 (169.6916) | 10 (173.7028) | — |
| 2025-02-21 | Best in the Southwest Yuma, AZ | 3 / 29 (694.7888) | 6 (174.2744) | 5 (171.9772) | 3 (175.4172) | 7 (173.1200) |
| 2025-01-17 | 10th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge Bullhead City, AZ | 2 / 48 (696.5372) | 4 (175.4172) | 5 (173.7144) | 5 (174.2972) | 12 (173.1084) |
| 2024-12-06 | BBQ Jackpot Las Vegas, NV | 53 / 74 (670.2056) | 50 (166.8228) | 46 (167.4400) | 41 (169.1200) | 45 (166.8228) |
| 2024-10-30 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024-10-30 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest Kansas City, KS | 83 / 169 (684.5144) | 91 (171.9772) | 151 (165.1428) | 134 (167.3944) | 3 (180.0000) |
| 2024-10-30 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest Kansas City, KS | 152 / 444 (683.8972) | 214 (169.6800) | 54 (175.4172) | 235 (167.9772) | 133 (170.8228) |
| 2024-06-28 | 20th Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest Riverside, CA | 5 / 35 (701.7028) | 4 (176.5828) | 7 (174.2972) | 7 (176.5600) | 10 (174.2628) |
| 2024-06-14 | Ignite your Passion Winchester, CA | 5 / 22 (696.5144) | 1 (177.7028) | 7 (176.0116) | 8 (173.1200) | 9 (169.6800) |
| 2024-05-31 | Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival Norco, CA | 19 / 39 (666.7316) | 14 (170.2628) | 14 (165.6800) | 20 (167.3944) | 24 (163.3944) |
| 2024-05-24 | Best Dam Barbeque Boulder City, NV | 1 / 33 (695.3600) | 3 (177.1428) | 11 (174.2628) | 4 (175.4172) | 16 (168.5372) |
| 2024-04-12 | BBQ Boots & Brew Perris, CA | 12 / 39 (687.3712) | 5 (177.1428) | 21 (169.1544) | 20 (170.8228) | 21 (170.2512) |
| 2024-03-15 | Dinuba's BBQ & Brew Fest Dinuba, CA | 14 / 27 (675.3368) | 16 (166.2628) | 6 (173.7256) | 25 (161.6456) | 8 (173.7028) |
| 2024-01-12 | 9th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge Bullhead City, AZ | 24 / 58 (678.2056) | 45 (167.9656) | 1 (178.8572) | 44 (162.8456) | 26 (168.5372) |
| 2023-11-17 | Golden State Battle of Indio Indio, CA | 13 / 40 (691.3600) | 5 (176.5716) | 26 (170.2628) | 19 (173.1200) | 18 (171.4056) |
| 2023-11-03 | Downtown Mesa BBQ Classic Mesa, AZ | 18 / 26 (662.1256) | 7 (173.1200) | 24 (157.1088) | 14 (168.5256) | 19 (163.3712) |
| 2023-08-04 | Dinuba's Annual BBQ & Brew Fest Dinuba, CA | 10 / 29 (681.0744) | 1 (177.7144) | 13 (168.5600) | 17 (166.2400) | 9 (168.5600) |
| 2023-06-02 | Horse Town Brew n Que Festival Norco, CA | 13 / 43 (687.3256) | 14 (173.1200) | 18 (170.2628) | 18 (171.9772) | 12 (171.9656) |
| 2023-05-26 | Best Dam Barbeque Boulder City, NV | 9 / 27 (689.0284) | 16 (169.6800) | 12 (169.6800) | 10 (175.4056) | 6 (174.2628) |
| 2023-01-13 | Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge Bullhead City, AZ | 16 / 45 (675.8628) | 33 (162.8000) | 15 (167.9772) | 26 (167.3828) | 1 (177.7028) |
| 2022-09-30 | 2022 Mazatzal Grill Masters BBQ Competition & Testicle Festival Payson, AZ | 6 / 21 (689.6344) | 15 (169.1200) | 5 (171.9656) | 4 (175.4288) | 7 (173.1200) |
| 2022-09-17 | BBQ on the Bay Day 2 San Diego, CA | 3 / 16 (700.5372) | 10 (171.4056) | 1 (178.2972) | 4 (176.5600) | 7 (174.2744) |
| 2022-09-16 | BBQ on the Bay Day 1 San Diego, CA | 8 / 17 (682.2400) | 9 (171.4172) | 9 (167.4172) | 9 (169.7028) | 5 (173.7028) |
| 2022-07-08 | Clayton BBQ Cook-off Clayton, CA | 2 / 27 (685.0628) | 7 (170.2744) | 3 (170.2628) | 5 (174.2628) | 5 (170.2628) |
| 2022-06-03 | Horse Town Brew N Que Festival Norco, CA | 26 / 37 (666.6856) | 17 (169.6800) | 30 (164.5256) | 21 (168.5372) | 27 (163.9428) |
| 2022-05-28 | Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championships (Day 2) Big Bear Lake, CA | 14 / 25 (677.0172) | 18 (169.6800) | 4 (174.8572) | 15 (168.5372) | 18 (163.9428) |
| 2022-05-27 | Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championships (Day 1) Big Bear Lake, CA | 14 / 25 (668.4572) | 18 (160.5144) | 16 (166.8344) | 15 (167.3828) | 4 (173.7256) |
| 2022-04-02 | 9th Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship - Day 2 Arcadia, CA | 21 / 27 (678.2172) | 17 (169.7028) | 23 (166.2744) | 6 (177.7028) | 21 (164.5372) |
| 2022-04-01 | 9th Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship Arcadia, CA | 12 / 37 (678.8000) | 9 (173.7028) | 20 (167.9772) | 33 (158.2400) | 1 (178.8800) |
| 2022-02-18 | BBQ & Brew 'Best in the Southwest' Festival Yuma, AZ | 14 / 34 (685.0632) | 17 (171.9772) | 24 (164.5488) | 21 (169.6800) | 1 (178.8572) |
| 2022-01-21 | The Golden State Battle IV - Day 1 Santa Barbara, CA | 7 / 30 (687.3944) | 15 (170.8344) | 11 (170.3200) | 16 (169.6800) | 3 (176.5600) |
| 2022-01-14 | Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge Bullhead City, AZ | 38 / 59 (659.8400) | 34 (167.3828) | 50 (160.5144) | 28 (168.5600) | 30 (163.3828) |
| 2021-11-05 | Indio California State BBQ Championship & Festival Indio, CA | 2 / 33 (697.0512) | 11 (174.2628) | 9 (170.8228) | 11 (173.1084) | 2 (178.8572) |
| 2020-02-21 | The Tyson Guinea Pig, Matt Dalton Memorial Coachella, CA | 30 / 50 (658.7544) | 39 (162.8228) | 2 (175.4172) | 36 (163.4172) | 42 (157.0972) |
| 2019-03-29 | 8th Annual Santa Anita Winners Circle BBQ Championship Day 1 Arcadia, CA | 52 / 70 (650.1484) | 35 (166.2744) | 58 (155.9540) | 16 (171.9656) | 58 (155.9544) |
| 2019-02-15 | The Smithfield Guinea Pig (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL) Indian Wells, CA | 19 / 49 (673.0516) | 5 (174.8572) | 38 (161.6800) | 3 (174.2744) | 38 (162.2400) |
Team of the Year standings (rank per category by season — year links to the full board on kcbs.us)
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #168 (637 pts) | #192 (632 pts) | #215 (612 pts) | #221 (502 pts) | #128 (742 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #125 (1447 pts) | #153 (1338 pts) | #167 (1283 pts) | #133 (1368 pts) | #170 (1197 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #138 (1293 pts) | #83 (1573 pts) | #145 (1272 pts) | #186 (1061 pts) | #173 (1133 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #492 (386 pts) | #453 (491 pts) | #644 (326 pts) | #585 (316 pts) | #464 (431 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #85 (1633 pts) | #181 (1165 pts) | #98 (1503 pts) | #121 (1366 pts) | #36 (1983 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #1957 (60 pts) | #2049 (60 pts) | #2028 (60 pts) | #1766 (105 pts) | #2012 (60 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #527 (678 pts) | #512 (718 pts) | #393 (908 pts) | #502 (728 pts) | #553 (663 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #153 (1715 pts) | #182 (1470 pts) | #209 (1410 pts) | #116 (1740 pts) | #240 (1355 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #116 (1899 pts) | #177 (1494 pts) | #217 (1392 pts) | #142 (1609 pts) | #162 (1629 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #40 (2335 pts) | #109 (1737 pts) | #132 (1686 pts) | #38 (2171 pts) | #122 (1771 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #123 (1904 pts) | #78 (1967 pts) | #249 (1299 pts) | #30 (2319 pts) | #249 (1354 pts) |