Forty-four professional BBQ teams traveled to Milledgeville, Georgia on October 20, 2018 to compete as part of Deep Roots Festival. This extended the current streak of every GBA sanctioned contest of the 2018-19 season having at least forty teams. The teams not only fought for their share of over $15,000 in prize money, but also bragging rights as the GBA State Champion.

For the second time this season, Holy Smokes was crowned Grand Champion with a trophy and $3,500 check. Along the way, Holy Smokes also finished first in both ribs and loin, and received a perfect 600 score for their preliminary loin entry. The Reserve Grand Championship went to Smokin’ the Good Stuff for the highest cumulative preliminary scores in all three categories by finishing 5th in loin, 3rd in pork, and 2nd in ribs.

Holy Smokes won the Loin category, with Off the Chain in second, and Blue Diablo BBQ finishing third. It was the first finals call for Blue Diablo.

Bubba Grills returned to GBA competition by winning the Pork category and scoring a 600 in the preliminary round. They were followed by Weekend Warriors in second place and Smokin’ the Good Stuff in third.

The top three teams in Ribs were Holy Smokes, Smokin’ the Good Stuff, and Tuff Dawg Grillers. This was the first GBA sanctioned contest for Tuff Dawg Grillers.

In the ancillary categories, Nut Job won poultry, Forget Me Not took the stew category, local team 5 O’clock Somewhere won desserts, and Sensational Pigs claimed the Bloody Mary title. Hold Your Horses won the People’s Choice award as the fans’ favorite.

Full Loin, Pork, and Rib Results are available here: https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Contest%20Results/DRF%202018%20Pro%20Categories.pdf
All Reserve Scores are available here: https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Contest%20Results/DRF%202018%20Reserve%20scores.pdf

The Team of the Year points should already be updated on the GBA website.

The next GBA sanctioned event will be the 6th Annual Smokin’ Flamingo BBQ and Music Festival in Jacksonville, Florida on November 17 with 56 teams already scheduled to compete. Please register online at BBQGA.com if you would like to judge this new GBA contest. Contests in Moultrie on December 1, and a first time event in Americus on December 15, wrap up the 2018 calendar.

The next GBA judging class will be held in Griffin, Georgia shortly after the first of the year. Additional details and class registration information will be posted soon.

Off The Chain wins 6th Annual Doc Holliday BBQ and Music Festival

Forty professional BBQ teams gathered in Griffin, Georgia on September 22, 2018 to compete in the 6th annual Doc Holliday BBQ and Music Festival. Both of the first two GBA sanctioned contests of the season have had at least forty teams participating. The teams contended for their share of $10,000 in prize money and very unique western themed trophies valued at an additional $3,000.

At the end of the day, Off The Chain returned to form by winning the Grand Championship for their rib entry. In addition to being Grand Champion, they also finished 3rd in loin, 10th in pork, and 1st in ribs.

For the second contest in row, We Want Que won Reserve Grand by finishing 2nd in both loin and pork, and 10th in ribs. They also received the highest possible score of 600 for their preliminary loin entry.

Fire in the Hole won their first ever category by taking the Loin category. They were followed by We Want Que, and Off The Chain.

Hickory Flat BBQ Company finished first in the Pork category, with We Want Que coming second and Pots BBQ taking third place.

The top three finishers in the Rib category were Off The Chain, Hawk Eye BBQ, and Smoke ‘em Low BBQ. This was only the second competitive BBQ contest for Smoke ‘em Low, and their first GBA contest.

Wright On Q beat out twenty-two other teams to win the ancillary brisket category and a $500 check, followed by Smoke ‘em Low BBQ, and Hawk Eye BBQ.

Finally, the Griffin contest is home of the Official Georgia State Brisket Championship. For the last several years, this award has been based on the cumulative results from all GBA brisket competitions during the previous year. As a result, this year’s winner was Hold Your Horses. Beginning next year, the title will be awarded to the winner of the brisket category at the Griffin contest.

Full Loin, Pork, and Rib Results (these reports were mistakenly left out of the team packets on Saturday)
Doc Holliday BBQ and Music Festival 2018 Category Rankings

Full Brisket results
Doc Holliday BBQ and Music Festival 2018 Brisket Rankings

All Reserve Scores
Doc Holliday BBQ and Music Festival 2018 Reserve Scores

The next GBA sanctioned event will be the GBA State Championship in Milledgeville on October 20. Then we travel to Jacksonville, Florida on on November 17 for a new GBA contest (the 6th Annual Smokin Flamingo & BBQ Contest), followed by the 6th Annual Moultrie Moose Lodge #1158 BBQ Cookoff in Moultrie on December 1 and another new event in Americus on December 15 – the Brickyard BBQ Bash at Americus KOA. Hope to see everyone there!

Holy Smokes wins Douglas

Forty-four teams traveled from 4 states to Douglas, Georgia on September 8, 2018 to compete in the first Georgia Barbeque Association sanctioned contest of the 2018-19 season.  Not only did the teams fight for their share of $20,000 in prize money, but also an early advantage in the race for the GBA Team of the Year in this double point event.

When the smoke cleared, Holy Smokes took home the Grand Championship trophy and a check for $5,000 for their pork entry.  Holy Smokes also won another $1,300 for their 5^th place loin, 1^st place pork, and 5^th place ribs.  The trophy and $2,500 check for Reserve Grand Champion went to We Want Que, who finished 8^th in loin, 2^nd in pork, and 2^nd in ribs.

Forget Me Not won the Loin category, followed by Cobra Q and EZQ.  EZQ received the highest possible score from the judges, a 600, for their preliminary loin entry.  Cobra Q began last season as a cooking for fun team before stepping up to the pros late in the season.

The top three finishers in the Pork category were Holy Smokes, We Want Que, and Belly Up.  Rescue Smokers won Ribs, followed by We Want Que, and Hold Your Horses BBQ.

Rescue Smokers also won the ancillary brisket category and a $1,000 check, followed by Pot’s BBQ, and Belly Up.  This was the first GBA contest for Pots BBQ, who also finished 8^th in pork.

The full results for each category and reserve scores can be found at the following links:

Loin, Pork, and Rib Results

https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Contest%20Results/Douglas%202018%20Category%20Results.pdf

Brisket results

https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Contest%20Results/Douglas%202018%20Brisket%20Results.pdf

All Reserve Scores

https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Contest%20Results/Douglas%202018%20Reserve%20Scores.pdf

We look forward to seeing everyone again in Griffin on September 22, and the GBA State Championship in Milledgeville on October 20.  Also make plans now to attend the new GBA contest in Jacksonville, Florida on November 17.