Today we are kicking off the 1st Annual Georgia BBQ Bracket Challenge with our friends at Peach State Pride. This should be a GREAT event, and will last until Masters Sunday. That’s right…five weeks. We have picked 64 BBQ spots in Georgia (a much tougher task than you’d think), and built a bracket. There are four regions – named after BBQ sauce flavors: Hot, Mild, Sweet, and Vinegar. 16 spots per region. We’ll spend one week per region, and the final four will fight it out during Masters week.
So this is where the rubber meets the road: are you passionate about Georgia BBQ? We need you to vote! Tell your friends to vote. Hashtag #GeorgiaBBQ on all your social media…we’d like to make this a really big event. Wouldn’t it be great if Peach State Pride made a Georgia BBQ t-shirt with the winner?
Today, we are going to start with the Hot Sauce bracket. You’ll have until Tuesday at 10PM ET to vote, and the winners will move on to the next round:
[CP_POLLS id=”2″]Don’t see your favorite in this bracket? We’ll release the next 16 spots next Monday morning at 8AM ET.
By the way: Smack talk and general BBQ love is encouraged in the comments section. Let’s try to keep it PG.
I’m from Columbus and Country’s shouldn’t be in a list of great BBQ restaurants anywhere. There are at least four better BBQ joints in town. Country’s is popular due to it’s charasmatic owners and decent vegetables. True BBQ lovers go to Smokey Pig or Clearview.
I am from Hawkinsville, GA and discovered Papa Bucks, Metter, GA. They have the best BBQ Brisket you could ever put in your mouth. Good luck to them.
I have eaten at many of these. You are not going to find better que than Southern Soul on the roundabout on St Simons.
Vanna BBQ is amazing! I’m so happy to see them on here. Their ribs are perfect, as is the bbq.
Southern Soul is amazing!! Love everything they put out there.
Southern soul is marvelous!
This is a photo of Fresh Air Barbecue in Jackson, Georgia. Please note they have not been included in the voting, but their image is being used to promote this competition somehow. Uncool.
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@Katy – Thanks so much for commenting. As I mentioned in the post, this is the first 16 of 64 total BBQ places around Georgia. Of course Fresh Air is included…just not in this section. Give it time…
I vote for Vanna BBQ, but I have to place a vote for seven other places to get Vanna one vote. I have never even heard of half of those places and you are asking me to choose one. Even with government elections you don’t have to pick a candidate in every section. The way the voting is set up is unfair.
Also, if you try to leave one of the brackets blank, it tells you that “This field is required.” and places it over the second option. The first restaurant in each field will get more votes by default because of this alone.
Papa Bucks is the hidden gem in this group! They are amazing, might not win it all (Southern Soul) but these guys are top notch! If your traveling down I-16 stop in Metter you won’t be disappointed!
Best BBQ , brisket and ribs around
I have eaten at most of these and Southern Soul is my favorite BBQ in the state, if not the country.
Scott’s Walk Up BBQ is the best around here. I do enjoy eating BBQ all around the south.
Scott’s in Cartersville is amazing. Try the wings!
I’ve eaten at Papa Bucks quite a bit and it is one of the best. They also have a huge pulled pork sandwich challenge and as of 2 years ago had never been accomplished.
I agree with several of the other comments. Papa Bucks in Metter, Georgia is likely the smallest joint in definitely the smallest no-name town, but they will stand up with anybody listed here. Gonna be hard to compete in this sort of vote against places in savannah and st. Simons, etc. but will stack their pulled pork, sliced brisket, and smoked turkey against anybody in the state.
I vote for Vanna BBQ
I’ve only eaten at Vanna (it’s great!) and have heard of a handful of the others. But, I think this competition is awesome and I can’t wait to check out some of the others in the challenge. Georgia seems to get overshadowed by some other states when it comes to BBQ and it’s all just public perception and hype. #georgiabbq
What? No Holcomb’s?
How about great BBQ houses that are no longer with us? Walter & Ralph’s (Athens), Georgia Pig (Macon & Brunswick), Porky’s (Macon)
Country’s??? That’s your submission from Columbus?
Bracket is shot already…
Jomax has great Barbque. The service is beyond good and if you lucky you’ll get to meet Joe and Maxine, the owners. by the way try the homemade onion rings also. Located just off I 16 in Metter.
Jomax has great BBQ. The service is beyond good and if you lucky you’ll get to meet Joe and Maxine, the owners. by the way try the homemade onion rings also. Located just off I 16 in Metter.
My favorite is the Oink Joint in Zebulon. Served my baby to go from there the night I proposed. (She said yes).
Vanna beats Old South any day of the week!!
I wouldn’t walk across the street for fresh air. Especially in Athens. My vote is for Vanna BBQ
Vanna BBQ in Vanna, GA is amazing. The best ribs, brisket and chicken around. Also amazing bananna pudding.
LOVE Vanna BBQ, best ribs EVER!
Hands down, Bar H in Royston, GA, best bbq in state of Georgia!
Vanna BBQ is the bomb by far some of the best BBQ I’ve ever ate
My family loves the barbeque there it is moist.
How about GA Butts in Greensboro, GA or Hot Thomas in Watkinsville, GA?