Boston, NY

GC: Smoke on Wheels
RGC: Transformer BBQ

NH Awards

Thanks to Gary Taft from Lunchmeat for capturing the awards at Merrimack last weekend.

Pictures From Ribfest and Rib Wars

I've uploaded pics from the weekend and Monday nights Rib Wars. Check em out!
Click here.

Really?!

As most of you know I usually don’t write a full recap of many competitions. It’s most likely a few pictures and a list of the winners. This will probably not be a full recap, but there were some highlights this weekend that I would like to share with you. Kris and I are entering our fourth year of competing. Over these past years we have strung together some decent runs, good finishes, and a few Reserve Champion trophies. But the Grand has always eluded us…until yesterday. Surrounded by family and friends, we took that ultimate walk to the stage. It truly felt amazing. In the blur of excitement after walking back from that stage, something that I will never forget is how everyone seemed genuinely excited and extremely happy for us. I have never hugged more people in my life. They say you never forget your first, and now I know why.

What also made this comp great was hanging out with all our friends on the Circuit, and also meeting some new ones. We were set up next to Q-Haven which gave us a great area to hang out in. This spot became the scene for an impromptu party on Friday night. We cooked some burgers, dogs, pastrami sandwiches, and the Mighty Swine Dining team brought over a giant pan of paella that was incredible! After diner Brendan brought over his new projector and we watched Best in Show. Next thing I knew it was 3:30AM. Saturday the rain held off, we sucked at grilling, and we had many, many visitors. Chaotic at times, but looking back it's nice to have so many people who take an interest in our insane hobby. Saturday night I crashed hard and actually got a few hours of sleep. Sunday...well Sunday was a good day.

NH

GC: Lakeside Smokers
RGC: I Smell Smoke!!!

Happy Fathers Day

Damn Dip!

NH Grilling:
I Smell Smoke GC
Transformer BBQ RGC

Happy Birthday Julie!!

Paella

Oh Boy...

We're Here

Rock'N Ribfest

This weekend Kris and I will be competing at The 7th annual Rock'N Ribfest at the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Merrimack, NH. This was the first competition that we ever competed in and we have returned every year since. This comp often gets some bad press from other competition teams. The prize money was never that great, it's a little difficult to get in and out of, and sometimes you felt like they just didn't need or want us there. But some of the positives are great power and water, 20' X 40' spots, and a Jack Daniels automatic for the Grand Champion. Also for this year is increased prize money for both the NEBS grilling on Saturday and the KCBS comp on Sunday. The venue is 20 minutes from our house, so it's a no-brainer for us.

As I pack up, trim meat, and talk with other competitors, there seems to be one thing that we all are thinking about: rain! It is absolutely going to rain from Thursday night until Monday. Heavy at times, showers, overcast, cloudy, and damp. But, this is nothing new for any of us. Some of my non-BBQ friends have been asking me "are you still going?" They clearly don't understand the addiction. If we canceled going to BBQ comps because of the rain, we would need to find a different hobby. We don't even need to pack anything extra. We have a bin dedicated for rain gear and Kris and I both have some kick ass waterproof boots. So, let it rain.

Mud Bowl 2006, Merrimack, NH

Check back this weekend for updates, grilling results, and pictures of mud. And if you're in the area please stop by and say hi.

Try This Beer

Unibroue La Terrible

I have said it thousands of times: I don’t have a favorite beer. It is impossible for me to choose just one. When summer is here it’s all about the IPA’s, around the holidays it’s Celebration Ale, and I just can’t get enough Allagash Double when fall settles in. When I’m drinking a beer that I love I’ll always say something like “this one is in my top three right now.” Or, “this one is in my top five of all time.” But, every time I put together these imaginary lists, Unibroue La Terrible is always on them. Over the past three years or so, this beer never falls off the list. It is always in my beer geek subconscious. So, it got me thinking…is this my favorite beer? I think I have to say yes...yes, it is. Unibroue La Terrible is the best beer ever.

This beer produces a thick, dark tan head that defies gravity. The mellow carbonation keeps the foam floating like a cloud atop this dark, almost black ale. Holding this beer up to the light you can see a spectrum of dark red and deep mahogany. A nose of fruit, yeast, and alcohol take their turns as the predominate aroma. The first sip hits me with subtle sweetness and dark fruit; the next reveals baked bread; and another sip has warming alcohol and raisins. It's a big, unique, and very complex beer that takes you on a new adventure with every sip. La Terrible weighs in at 10.5% alcohol but has a smoothness not often found in a big, bold beer like this one. It will creep up on you if you're not careful. This beer is best enjoyed from a cracked plastic cup, during a torrential rainstorm, while sitting in a dilapidated, abandoned horse track in New Jersey...it's just that good.

Pictures From NJ

I've uploaded the pics from The Art of BBQ competition in Mays Landing, NJ.
Click here.

Art of BBQ:
GC: Low and Slow BBQ
RGC: 3 Eyz BBQ
3rd: SMB Productions

Poolside at The Hotel

The forcast today calls for 1-2 inches of rain with flood warnings. The good news is it will clear up later tonight.

AC

We're off!

SMB Productions Hit The Road

This weekend SMB Productions will be competing at The Art of BBQ competition in Mays Landing, NJ. Much like The BBQ Bailout last winter, this was thrown together at the last minute. It was suggested, we drank good beer, and before you knew it...we had a plan. When ever I look back at the great times in my life, they usually start spontaneously. So, I got a good feeling about this trip. The plan is simple...well, it's more like a time line than an actual plan: Steve, Brendan, and myself are meeting Thursday morning and will start driving down to a hotel near Atlantic City, NJ. We'll most likely do some partying in AC Thursday night, but come Friday morning we will be pulling onto the contest site in near by Mays Landing, NJ. The three of us will split up the duties, get the prep done, and start cooking some BBQ. Should be a blast! I'll try to keep this blog updated through out the weekend.