A new barbecue competition is debuting in metro Phoenix. Here's how to compete or taste

Tiffany Acosta, Arizona Republic
·5 min read

For the first time ever, the Downtown Mesa BBQ Classic, in association with the Kansas City Barbecue Society, will celebrate barbecue culture and bring pitmasters together to compete head-to-head for a chance to win $2,000 on Nov. 3 and 4.

The competition is open to all levels, from those with local barbecue businesses to people who just love to smoke. And applications for the contest are still open for those who want to compete for One-Meat, Masters Series, and People’s Choice awards. The only catch? All contests must be Kansas City Barbecue Society members to participate.

Ticket are on sale now for those who want to sample the goods. Besides Kansas, Texas and North Carolina style, barbecue.

Here’s your guide to the first Downtown Mesa BBQ Classic.

Must try barbecue restaurants 19 pit barbecue restaurants in metro Phoenix sling pulled pork, ribs and brisket

What is the Downtown Mesa BBQ Classic?

Nancy Hormann, president and executive director of the Downtown Mesa Association, said that the BBQ Classic started with a previous board chair who was a Kansas City certified barbecue judge.

"He was telling us how he went all over the country for the fun of it and judged barbecue contests. Then he said we ought to do one here. So we said, OK, let's look into it," Hormann said.

"We knew that there was one that had been happening up in Payson for years and that one went away and then they had another one in Kingman and that one went away," Hormann said. "They all stopped and didn't do it and they haven't brought it back yet."

They decided to launch the event at the beginning of November and hope to host the event annually.

What to expect at the Downtown Mesa BBQ Classic

Attendees can learn about different barbecue styles, cooking techniques and the art of barbecuing by interacting with competitors and experienced judges as skilled pitmasters compete in various categories like chicken, pork, ribs, and brisket.

"They're still signing up," Hormann said. "We have, I believe, 14 competitors at the moment, but it's still early. They all seem to sign up at the last minute. So at that point, there are about 10 judges per table and one table captain. So there's a lot of eating to do."

The judges, including local community members who underwent training, will evaluate the entries based on taste, texture, and technique.

In addition to the barbecue competition, the event includes a craft festival featuring a variety of artisans and people selling sauces, rubs and barbecue essentials.

"We're doing this in conjunction with craft festival," Hormann said. "It's all different kinds of crafts and one of the crafts is craft Q, so we're bringing in local barbecue people from all over the Valley and the public is gonna get to vote on who's their favorite barbecue."

There will be live music from local musicians throughout the event, adding to the festive atmosphere and enhancing your overall experience. And there's a possibility there may be a small beer garden near the barbecue area, but this detail had not yet been finalized.

Attendees will also have the chance to sample plenty of barbecue.

Attendance is free, but attendees will be able to purchase a $20 people’s choice ticket with coupons for 10 samples.

"You buy a ticket, you go through and you get a taste from each of the competitors and then you have one token and you put that token in that barbecue person's jar and the one who has the most tokens is who wins," Hormann said.

Guests can also purchase full-size and tasting portions of bbq without a people's choice ticket.

How to compete in the Downtown Mesa BBQ Classic

The number of judges for the barbecue competition can vary based on the number of competitors and the specific setup of the event. Hormann said there are typically 10 judges per table, along with one table captain. The judges are responsible for evaluating the barbecue entries in different categories such as chicken, pork, ribs, and brisket.

"It's not as much about the sauce but about the cook," Hormann said. "It's taste and texture and how the rib meat falls off the bone or do you bite it off the bone? You know, those are different things. It's very intricate the way they judge them."

All contest awards will be presented following the conclusion of judging and voting, in categories including:

Masters Series Prize:

  • Grand Champion - $2,000.

  • Reserve Grand Champion - $1,000.

4 Meat Competition Prize (Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork Butt, Brisket):

  • 1st Place - $550.

  • 2nd Place - $450.

  • 3rd Place - $350.

  • 4th Place - $250.

  • 5th Place - $150.

1 Meat Competition Prize (Pork Ribs):

  • 1st Place - $450.

  • 2nd Place - $300.

  • 3rd Place - $125.

  • 4th Place - $75.

  • 5th Place - $50.

Those interested in competing can apply through the Downtown Mesa BBQ Classic website.

This Arizona city named best for BBQ Here's why it's a weird choice

How to attend the Downtown Mesa BBQ Classic

Attendance is free. Food and beverage will be available for purchase.

When: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 and 9 a.m. to 4 pm. Saturday, Nov. 4.

Where: 100 N. Center St., Mesa.

Details: 480-890-2613, bbq-brews-blues.squarespace.com.

Got a story you want to share? Reach out at Tiffany.Acosta@gannett.com. Follow @tiffsario on Instagram.

Support local journalism Subscribe to azcentral.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Downtown Mesa BBQ Classic debuts in metro Phoenix. How to attend