The heartbreaker
0.0228
points from the title
Came within 0.0228 points of the Grand Championship at Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest (Aug 21, 2015).
BREWMASTERS BAR-B-QUE
BREWMASTERS BAR-B-QUE is a competition barbecue team with 51 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2026. They have won 2 Grand Championships, most recently at the MVH BBQ BIVOUAC (Armed Forces Tribute) (2015), and finished Reserve Grand Champion 6 times. They are ranked #308 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “BREW MASTERS BAR-B-QUE”.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1723
peak 1741 · rated over 47 contests3 invitational or side-series contests not counted
Contests
51
in the data
First seen
Sep 27, 2013
latest Apr 17, 2026 · 12.6 years on the trail
Grand champs
2
6 reserve · wins it all 4% of the time
Category wins
8
30 podiums
Overall top-10s
25
49% of 51 contests
Best top-10 run
6
straight overall top-10s
Avg finish
top 30%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
3 🔥
Current form
686.99 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 678.84 (+8.16)
Walk rate
78%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±10.79
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Brisket
avg 170.35 · weakest Chicken (168.46)
Road miles
9,230
across 51 mapped stops · furthest 464 mi
Schedule strength
73%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1592)
Purse competed for
$28K
listed at 3 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 3 state-championship entries
Master avg
678.84 / 720
50 Master contests · 2 GCs
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #908 (100 pts) | #971 (105 pts) | #1142 (65 pts) | #756 (155 pts) | #759 (155 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #867 (122 pts) | #1097 (92 pts) | #801 (207 pts) | #822 (162 pts) | #1104 (82 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #1065 (89 pts) | #884 (154 pts) | #1304 (64 pts) | #1198 (69 pts) | #1191 (64 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #408 (911 pts) | #575 (701 pts) | #584 (691 pts) | #433 (886 pts) | #516 (766 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #314 (1,141 pts) | #346 (1,066 pts) | #193 (1,456 pts) | #390 (996 pts) | #274 (1,231 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #47 (2,292 pts) | #208 (1,420 pts) | #48 (2,078 pts) | #32 (2,255 pts) | #78 (1,952 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #300 (1,185 pts) | #402 (930 pts) | #270 (1,250 pts) | #374 (985 pts) | #260 (1,315 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to BREWMASTERS BAR-B-QUE, each with one reason worth a look.
#307 of the rated field
- Contests
- 58
- GCs
- 4
- Top-10s
- 59%
- Peak
- 1739
5–7 in 12 shared contests (42% to BREWMASTERS BAR-B-QUE)
These two have cooked 12 of the same contests — RURAL ROUTE BBQ ahead 7–5 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.
⚔ Head-to-head#306 of the rated field
- Contests
- 210
- GCs
- 5
- Top-10s
- 47%
- Peak
- 1759
1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to BREWMASTERS BAR-B-QUE)
They've been 1759 at their best, 36 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.
⚔ Head-to-head#309 of the rated field
- Contests
- 62
- GCs
- 6
- Top-10s
- 60%
- Peak
- 1754
Their last contest in the data was back in 2021, 5 years before BREWMASTERS BAR-B-QUE's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#310 of the rated field
- Contests
- 45
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 64%
- Peak
- 1722
1–1 in 2 shared contests (50% to BREWMASTERS BAR-B-QUE)
Careers of much the same size, 45 contests to 51, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Head-to-head#312 of the rated field
- Contests
- 61
- GCs
- 2
- Top-10s
- 48%
- Peak
- 1730
4–5 in 9 shared contests (44% to BREWMASTERS BAR-B-QUE)
Their rating is built on 2 Grand Championships in 61 contests, alongside a 48% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Head-to-head#300 of the rated field
- Contests
- 100
- GCs
- 4
- Top-10s
- 47%
- Peak
- 1781
1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to BREWMASTERS BAR-B-QUE)
Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.
⚔ Head-to-headFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 34 | 5 | 29 | 15% | ⚔ compare |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 24 | 9 | 15 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| OKLAHOMA JOE'S SERIOUS QUE | 22 | 10 | 12 | 45% | ⚔ compare |
| OUTLAW HAWGS BBQ | 20 | 10 | 10 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | 19 | 9 | 10 | 47% | ⚔ compare |
| PITMASTERIQ BBQ | 19 | 6 | 13 | 32% | ⚔ compare |
| QUAU | 18 | 7 | 11 | 39% | ⚔ compare |
| BRICKHEAD BBQ | 16 | 10 | 6 | 63% | ⚔ compare |
| SLAPS BBQ | 16 | 6 | 10 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE | 16 | 5 | 11 | 31% | ⚔ compare |
| THE SMOKING HILLS | 16 | 2 | 14 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| BLAZIN' BLUES BBQ | 15 | 9 | 6 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| BUTCHER BBQ | 15 | 6 | 9 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
| Smoke-A-Holics | 14 | 5 | 9 | 36% | ⚔ compare |
| One2BBQ | 14 | 4 | 10 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 51 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 177.1428 | 155.9200 | 168.46 | top 48% |
| Pork Ribs | 50 | 25 | 2 | 8 | 178.2972 | 160.4912 | 169.81 | top 35% |
| Pork | 50 | 24 | 2 | 10 | 180 🔥 | 152.5256 | 170.26 | top 34% |
| Brisket | 51 | 27 | 2 | 6 | 180 🔥 | 157.0628 | 170.35 | top 31% |
“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) | 4 | 0 | top 26% |
| Medium (20–39) | 17 | 1 | top 27% |
| Large (40+) | 29 | 1 | top 32% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | 4 | 4 | 0 | top 29% | May 5, 2017 |
| Table Rock Boats and Bones | 3 | 3 | 0 | top 12% | Sep 16, 2017 |
| MVH BBQ BIVOUAC (POW/MIA Tribute) | 2 | 1 | 1 | top 24% | Nov 7, 2015 |
| Code 3 Spices - Smokin' on Main | 2 | 12 | 0 | top 47% | Jul 26, 2025 |
| 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) | 2 | 57 | 0 | top 22% | Oct 29, 2016 |
| The National BBQ Cup (Day 2) | 2 | 36 | 0 | top 75% | May 28, 2016 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2015
18 contests · 2 GCs
Contests a season
6.4
across 8 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
MO
23 of 51 contests · 9 states in all
Contests visited
41
6 of them more than once
First title
Jul 3, 2015
Blues Hog Barbecue, Music & Craft Festival
Opponents faced
1,753
finished ahead 2,774 times, behind 1,099
Longest layoff
6.9 yrs
Sep 16, 2017 → Jul 27, 2024
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20261 milestone
- Most recent contest Knox Co. 4-H/FFA Ring of Smoke
20251 milestone
- 50th tracked contest Code 3 Spices - Smokin' on Main
20172 milestones
- Career-best overall score703.3712 Table Rock Boats and Bones
- Peak power rating (1741) Table Rock Boats and Bones
20154 milestones
- 10th tracked contest 3rd Annual Smokin At The Run
- First Grand Championship Blues Hog Barbecue, Music & Craft Festival
- Biggest field won (51 teams) Blues Hog Barbecue, Music & Craft Festival
- 25th tracked contest 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open
20144 milestones
- First category win (Brisket) 6th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest
- First perfect 180 (Brisket) 6th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest
- First overall podium Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay
- First Reserve Championship Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay
20134 milestones
- First tracked contest Hermann BBQ & Brats Festival
- First call Hermann BBQ & Brats Festival
- First overall top-10 Hermann BBQ & Brats Festival
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score663.8856 Hermann BBQ & Brats Festival
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +18.4 | 3rd Annual Smokin At The Run | Mar 20, 2015 |
| +14.6 | Wabash Ribberfest Barbecue Championship | Apr 25, 2014 |
| +14.2 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay | Jul 11, 2014 |
| +14.1 | MVH BBQ BIVOUAC (Armed Forces Tribute) | Nov 6, 2015 |
| +14 | Blues Hog Barbecue, Music & Craft Festival | Jul 3, 2015 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -10.7 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship | Sep 30, 2016 |
| -10.6 | The National BBQ Cup (Day 1) | May 27, 2016 |
| -8.9 | Code 3 Spices - Smokin' on Main | Jul 27, 2024 |
| -7.9 | The National BBQ Cup (Day 2) | May 28, 2016 |
| -6.6 | Knox Co. 4-H/FFA Ring of Smoke | Apr 17, 2026 |
Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — 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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 60% | 94.4% | 94.4% |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 38% | 96.3% | 96.3% |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 48% | 94.7% | 94.4% |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 80% | top 18% | 97.7% | 94.5% |
| 2016 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 73% | top 39% | 96% | 94.4% |
| 2015 | 18 | 2 | 14 | 4 | 83% | top 21% | 97.3% | 94.7% |
| 2014 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 63% | top 32% | 94.8% | 92.9% |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | top 26% | 92.2% | 92.2% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 2026 | Knox Co. 4-H/FFA Ring of Smoke 🏅 Edina, MO | 15 / 25 (679.8628) | 14 (170.8228) | 22 (165.0972) | 7 (173.1200) | 7 (170.8228) |
| Jul 26, 2025 | Code 3 Spices - Smokin' on Main 🏅 Collinsville, IL | 12 / 32 (693.0744) | 18 (172.5716) | 4 (176.5716) | 7 (175.4056) | 20 (168.5256) |
| Oct 11, 2024 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) unrated Lynchburg, TN | 35 / 87 (682.1828) | 45 (169.6800) | 66 (166.2628) | 3 (178.8572) | 53 (167.3828) |
| Jul 27, 2024 | Code 3 Spices - Smokin' on Main 🏅 Collinsville, IL | 19 / 34 (676.4688) | 8 (176.5716) | 24 (167.9772) | 23 (165.0972) | 24 (166.8228) |
| Sep 16, 2017 | Table Rock Boats and Bones Kimberling, MO | 3 / 47 (703.3712) | 9 (173.7028) | 5 (176.5600) | 2 (180) | 13 (173.1084) |
| Sep 1, 2017 | 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 107 / 407 (677.0284) | 149 (169.6800) | 140 (168.5600) | 66 (173.7028) | 193 (165.0856) |
| Jul 1, 2017 | I-39 Smokin Car Show Minonk, IL | 2 / 18 (664.4688) | 4 (166.2400) | 5 (166.3088) | 4 (166.2400) | 6 (165.6800) |
| Jun 9, 2017 | Beardstown Blues,Brews & Barbecue Beardstown, IL | 2 / 24 (695.3940) | 2 (174.2628) | 5 (173.7028) | 3 (176.0228) | 5 (171.4056) |
| May 5, 2017 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour St. Charles, MO | 11 / 29 (663.2568) | 28 (155.9200) | 15 (162.8228) | 8 (170.8112) | 2 (173.7028) |
| Oct 29, 2016 | 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 69 / 557 (679.9656) | 22 (175.4628) | 247 (166.2628) | 135 (169.6800) | 140 (168.5600) |
| Oct 28, 2016 | 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL) unrated Kansas City, KS | 57 / 180 (683.9428) | 117 (168.5372) | 112 (166.2628) | 24 (173.7372) | 28 (175.4056) |
| Sep 30, 2016 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship Bentonville, AR | 45 / 50 (674.7540) | 49 (166.8572) | 37 (168.5256) | 36 (170.2628) | 38 (169.1084) |
| Sep 23, 2016 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Midwest City, OK | 10 / 30 (683.2912) | 30 (162.7884) | 5 (174.2628) | 3 (177.7028) | 18 (168.5372) |
| Sep 17, 2016 | Table Rock Boats and Bones Kimberling City, MO | 8 / 43 (691.3252) | 10 (175.4056) | 18 (169.1084) | 10 (173.7028) | 9 (173.1084) |
| Sep 10, 2016 | St. Louis 1st Annual Kosher BBQ Cookoff ( COMPETITOR'S SERIES) Olivette, MO | — | 1 (171.4056) | — | — | 2 (169.6800) |
| Jul 22, 2016 | The Kansas Smithfield Guinea Pig Desoto, KS | 23 / 49 (684.4684) | 36 (169.1200) | 28 (170.2512) | 33 (168.5372) | 6 (176.5600) |
| Jul 8, 2016 | 9th Annual Wellsville BBQ Cookoff Wellsville, MO | 6 / 26 (681.0856) | 5 (174.2628) | 5 (169.6800) | 9 (170.8800) | 14 (166.2628) |
| May 28, 2016 | The National BBQ Cup (Day 2) Nashville, TN | 36 / 50 (674.7084) | 35 (169.6800) | 32 (169.6684) | 36 (167.9772) | 36 (167.3828) |
| May 27, 2016 | The National BBQ Cup (Day 1) Nashville, TN | 40 / 51 (675.2684) | 47 (162.7884) | 25 (168.5372) | 30 (168.5256) | 9 (175.4172) |
| May 6, 2016 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour St. Charles, MO | 4 / 30 (684.5600) | 2 (176.5944) | 10 (168.5600) | 12 (168.5600) | 4 (170.8456) |
| Apr 15, 2016 | Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO | 15 / 53 (667.9312) | 12 (169.1200) | 2 (177.7372) | 27 (163.9656) | 34 (157.1084) |
| Apr 1, 2016 | Blues Hog BBQ & Music Fest Jackson, TN | 20 / 61 (675.3256) | 34 (167.3828) | 9 (172.5600) | 27 (168.5256) | 31 (166.8572) |
| Mar 19, 2016 | Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2 Tupelo, MS | 24 / 61 (678.7544) | 44 (166.8344) | 2 (178.2972) | 31 (166.2400) | 33 (167.3828) |
| Mar 18, 2016 | Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 Tupelo, MS | 18 / 95 (683.8856) | 66 (163.3944) | 19 (171.9656) | 23 (171.9656) | 5 (176.5600) |
| Nov 7, 2015 | MVH BBQ BIVOUAC (POW/MIA Tribute) St. James, MO | 8 / 18 (683.3372) | 9 (170.2744) | 8 (171.4172) | 13 (170.8228) | 4 (170.8228) |
| Nov 6, 2015 | MVH BBQ BIVOUAC (Armed Forces Tribute) St. James, MO | 1 / 26 (695.9544) | 8 (173.7144) | 2 (177.1544) | 3 (174.2628) | 6 (170.8228) |
| Oct 3, 2015 | 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO | 232 / 606 (660.4108) | 342 (162.8228) | 400 (160.4912) | 338 (162.8340) | 38 (174.2628) |
| Oct 2, 2015 | 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO | 75 / 187 (678.2056) | 51 (172.5828) | 148 (162.8228) | 63 (170.8228) | 60 (171.9772) |
| Sep 19, 2015 | Table Rock Boats and Bones Kimberling City, MO | 4 / 33 (693.0976) | 7 (173.1432) | 17 (165.0972) | 1 (178.8572) | 6 (176) |
| Sep 4, 2015 | Q'ing for a Cause Columbia, MO | 5 / 21 (682.1712) | 11 (168.5484) | 1 (176.5600) | 15 (163.9428) | 5 (173.1200) |
| Aug 21, 2015 | Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest Cape Girardeau, MO | 2 / 58 (682.2628) | 16 (165.1428) | 4 (171.4172) | 2 (176) | 7 (169.7028) |
| Aug 7, 2015 | Missouri's North Star BBQ Championship Kirksville, MO | 5 / 26 (670.1600) | 8 (168.5256) | 15 (162.8344) | 7 (169.1200) | 5 (169.6800) |
| Jul 24, 2015 | Effing-Ham-Jam State BBQ Championship Effingham, IL | 3 / 18 (676.5260) | 16 (159.4172) | 4 (168.5488) | 1 (174.8572) | 5 (173.7028) |
| Jul 17, 2015 | Wine, Brew & Bar-B-Que Too! New Palestine, IN | 22 / 44 (675.3256) | 17 (170.8228) | 13 (172) | 24 (168.5256) | 24 (163.9772) |
| Jul 3, 2015 | Blues Hog Barbecue, Music & Craft Festival Jackson, TN | 1 / 51 (700.5256) | 6 (175.4400) | 2 (177.7028) | 19 (168.5256) | 1 (178.8572) |
| Jun 19, 2015 | Knights of Columbus Quincy, IL | 2 / 28 (689.0740) | 2 (177.1428) | 8 (169.7028) | 10 (168.5256) | 5 (173.7028) |
| Jun 12, 2015 | Smokin' On The River Jeffersonville, IN | 9 / 59 (679.8856) | 23 (167.3828) | 31 (164.5256) | 2 (175.4172) | 7 (172.5600) |
| May 22, 2015 | 34th Annual Kennett Jaycee Show-Me State BBQ CookOff Kennett, MO | 8 / 32 (683.3828) | 23 (163.9428) | 9 (170.2856) | 5 (174.2744) | 4 (174.8800) |
| May 15, 2015 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour St. Charles, MO | 8 / 30 (665.0052) | 19 (164.5140) | 4 (171.9772) | 18 (158.2284) | 8 (170.2856) |
| Apr 17, 2015 | 7th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO | 5 / 49 (678.7656) | 30 (163.9772) | 12 (168.5256) | 6 (172) | 3 (174.2628) |
| Mar 21, 2015 | 2nd Annual Smokin At The Run Shootout Miami, OK | 31 / 82 (683.9200) | 65 (168.5372) | 47 (167.4056) | 5 (177.1544) | 32 (170.8228) |
| Mar 20, 2015 | 3rd Annual Smokin At The Run Miami, OK | 2 / 87 (695.9428) | 79 (164.5256) | 2 (177.7144) | 2 (180) | 11 (173.7028) |
| Oct 17, 2014 | Casino Queen BBQ Competition Greater St. Louis, IL | 31 / 44 (651.8512) | 36 (161.0972) | 16 (168.5600) | 40 (152.5256) | 15 (169.6684) |
| Sep 18, 2014 | Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off Murphysboro, IL | 26 / 57 (662.7200) | 20 (169.1200) | 43 (161.6800) | 13 (170.8344) | 39 (161.0856) |
| Aug 22, 2014 | 22nd Annual Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest Cape Girardeau, MO | 12 / 52 (661.6456) | 15 (166.2628) | 18 (167.4400) | 26 (161.1200) | 14 (166.8228) |
| Jul 11, 2014 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay Green Bay, WI | 2 / 42 (682.2396) | 1 (176.0228) | 8 (167.4056) | 5 (168.5484) | 3 (170.2628) |
| Jun 26, 2014 | Legacy State BBQ Championship Cook-Off Effingham, IL | 6 / 18 (670.7196) | 11 (164.5372) | 1 (174.8456) | 11 (165.6684) | 8 (165.6684) |
| May 9, 2014 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour St. Charles, MO | 12 / 30 (671.3484) | 19 (165.6568) | 19 (164.5716) | 6 (173.7256) | 13 (167.3944) |
| Apr 25, 2014 | Wabash Ribberfest Barbecue Championship Mt. Carmel, IL | 4 / 50 (678.8228) | 28 (161.0856) | 6 (170.3200) | 9 (172) | 5 (175.4172) |
| Apr 11, 2014 | 6th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO | 13 / 46 (670.2168) | 39 (155.9428) | 3 (175.4628) | 34 (158.8112) | 1 (180) |
| Sep 27, 2013 | Hermann BBQ & Brats Festival Hermann, MO | 10 / 39 (663.8856) | 3 (172) | 8 (168.5828) | 15 (166.2400) | 23 (157.0628) |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.