For the last four years one of my best friends and I have entered one local competition here in Pensacola (http://www.smokininthesquare.com) in the Backyard division. I was in charge of chicken and my buddy did ribs. After years of mediocre finishes and no finishes above 5th finish, we decided to do the only thing we could think of doing.....entering the pro division. Ugh. So here we go. My teammate gets the easy meats, ribs and pork, and I'm lucky enough to try not to annihilate chicken and brisket. I've done boneless breasts removing the fat off the skin, I've done with the fat on, and I've even done brined bone-in Cornish hen breast. None finished higher than the top 50%. This year I'm trying something new this year....lollipop chicken legs....and the test runs have been very well received. Brisket is the centerpiece of my nightmares now. I have until March to get this down. Fingers crossed.
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I was waiting for a go pro video of a cook or something. Good luck, I have the same issue with chicken, though mine comes out more like tofurkey.
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I am competing in my first competition in November. I am also doing chicken legs. Am using the recipe from CandySueQ. See this link: http://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/for...ut-even-trying
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Administrator
- May 2014
- 19883
- Clare, Michigan area
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Follow me on Instagram, huskeesbarbecue
Smokers / Grills- Yoder loaded Wichita offset smoker
- PBC
- Grilla Silverbac pellet grill
- Slow 'N Sear Deluxe Kamado (SnSK)
- Masterbuilt Gravity 560
- Masterbuilt Digital Charcoal Cabinet
- Weber 22" Original Kettle Premium (copper)
- Weber 26" Original Kettle Premium (light blue)
- Weber Jumbo Joe Gold (18.5")
- Weber Smokey Joe Silver (14.5")
- Brinkmann cabinet charcoal smoker (repurposed)
Thermometers- SnS 500 4-probe wireless
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- ThermoPop, yellow, plus a few more in a drawer for gifts
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- ThermoWorks fridge & freezer therms as well
Accessories- Instant Pot 6qt
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Beverages- Favorite summer beers: Leinenkugels Summer & Grapefruit Shandy, Hamm's, Michelob Ultra Pure Gold
- Fav other beers: Zombie Dust (an IPA by 3 Floyd's Brewing), Austin Bros IPA, DAB, Sam Adams regular, Third Shift amber or Coors Batch 19, Stella Artois
- Fav cheap beers: Pabst, High Life, Hamm's & Stroh's
- Most favorite beer: The one in your fridge
- Wine: Red- big, bold, tannic & peppery- Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauv, Sangiovese, Syrah, etc
- Whiskey: Buffalo Trace, E.H. Taylor, Blanton's, Old Forester 1870, Elijah Craig Toasted, Basil Hayden's. Neat please.
- Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About me
Real name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan- near Clare. (dead center of lower peninsula)
Occupation:- Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
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Competition Pitmaster & Moderator
- Jul 2014
- 2124
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Backyard Jambo, T1000 Woodmaster, MAK 2 star, 14" & 22" WSM, 2x 22" Weber Kettle, Stoven, Hot Box Grill, Hasty Bake Ranger, RecTeq Bullseye, GMG Davy Crockett; Original Grilla and others I'm not remembering!
I like that friend! Me and the team (myself and I) have many detailed discussions at competitions...
Smokin' on the Square in Pensacola is one of my favorite events! I've cooked it every year except for #2 (had to be at some trade show for business). Never ever even gotten a call there. It's usually the first comp of the year for me and I guess I'm just rusty. I go for Joe Patti -- give all my bbq away and have a full cooler of seafood for the freezer.
Come by and say hi next year!
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Founding Member
- Aug 2014
- 120
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Weber Kettle, lid gasket, and Smokenator.....Perfection! Weber Smokey Mountain, 22.5", DigiQ, Cajun Bandit Door w/compression latch and door gasket.....Party Perfection! Makers Mark in my hand Ruger SR1911 on my hip
Well here I am, T-minus 10 days until my first pro entry in a KCBS event and I'm about as ready as I'm going to be. I have had my prime brisket wet-aging for what will be about 35 days. Just did my last dress rehearsal this past weekend with great results in both flavor as well as timing. I'm cleaning up the gear, going over the checklist now, and getting ready to stage what we're going to need for next weekend. Looking forward to a fun time!
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Founding Member
- Aug 2014
- 120
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Weber Kettle, lid gasket, and Smokenator.....Perfection! Weber Smokey Mountain, 22.5", DigiQ, Cajun Bandit Door w/compression latch and door gasket.....Party Perfection! Makers Mark in my hand Ruger SR1911 on my hip
Thanks John. I'll be sporting the 21.5" WSM as well as a Weber Kettle with a Smokenator and my home made, aptly named 'Frankenpan' (a piece of sheet metal that I cut and sized to fit perfectly in the remaining space of the cook-top so as to not cover up the Smokenator). The Frakenpan is double lined in aluminum foil and used as my vessel to do the first step on my chicken cook.
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Founding Member
- Aug 2014
- 120
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Weber Kettle, lid gasket, and Smokenator.....Perfection! Weber Smokey Mountain, 22.5", DigiQ, Cajun Bandit Door w/compression latch and door gasket.....Party Perfection! Makers Mark in my hand Ruger SR1911 on my hip
@ Guy (sorry....my message board skills suck so I have no idea how to imbed a response within a post). I will be there at SITS. We show up early Friday to set up. Not sure where we'll be but I requested from the organizer to be at the southwest corner across from the Brewery. I hoped as a 5th year competitor in P'cola I might get to choose but without a six-figure $$ big rig I might not pull as much weight. But come find us. We are the aptly named No Clue BBQ Krewe
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Founding Member
- Aug 2014
- 120
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Weber Kettle, lid gasket, and Smokenator.....Perfection! Weber Smokey Mountain, 22.5", DigiQ, Cajun Bandit Door w/compression latch and door gasket.....Party Perfection! Makers Mark in my hand Ruger SR1911 on my hip
Well we survived...barely. Never got a call but for only doing one competition a year and this being the first time going into the pro division we weren't expecting much. It was a learning experience for sure. I was happy that my chicken did come in one spot ahead of Byron Chism (buttrub.com)...not that I have anything against Byron, it's just cool when you score higher than one of the teams with a reputation for winning.
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