By Brian Walrath, Pitmaster of Brown Liquor BBQ

Those who know me well, know I like to go south any chance I get.  I spent all my summer vacations as a kid in North Carolina (still do) and went to college in the great state.  So, any chance I get to cook in the Tarheel state, I’m gone!  And the Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down in Rocky Mount, NC is one of the best and well run comps out there.  Combine that with two of my best friends from Rocky Mount helping me cook (well, mainly brown liquor hydration specialists) and having a handful of our best barbecue buddies also make the trek south, and you have a recipe for good times all around!

The town of Rocky Mount takes care of its competitors very well.  Everything we need from electric, water, close bathrooms, and ice, is readily available and without any hiccups.  After the prep work was done, an impromptu golf tournament emerged around the Brown Liquor tent and several participants took there shot at strategic targets in our site!  Jerry and Roxanne from Redneck Scientific hosted an awesome pizza dinner with the help of Luke from Old Virginia Smoke.

When the dust and the awards were handed out (the best in barbecue in my opinion), here’s who took top honors:

Chicken: Muttley Crew BBQ (perfect 180 score)
Ribs: Muttley Crew BBQ
Pork: The Smokehouse Mafia
Brisket: Old Virginia Smoke

GC: Muttley Crew BBQ
RGC: The Smokehouse Bandits!!!

Full KCBS results here.