Guy at the Fort Worth Stock Show told me my brisket was "too smoky to judge fair," and now I'm second guessing my whole wood pile | BBQ Pitmasters - Free To Speak
Guy at the Fort Worth Stock Show told me my brisket was "too smoky to judge fair," and now I'm second guessing my whole wood pile
Last month I was at the Fort Worth Stock Show and a judge pulled me aside after turn-in and said my brisket was "too smoky to judge fair." I use post oak and pecan, nothing crazy, and I keep my fire clean with a bed of coals. He told me the smoke ring was thin and the bark was ashy, which stung because I thought it was my best cook in 2 years. Now I'm hearing two sides from everyone I talk to. Some pitmasters say you need that heavy smoke to stand out in a contest, and the judges who don't get it are just used to oven meat. Others say clean blue smoke is the only way and any ash taste means you're cooking dirty. I get that both can be true depending on the sanctioning body. But I'm sitting here with a 14 pound packer and a wood pile wondering if I should switch to all charcoal and chunks for my next competition in Glen Rose. Was that judge right that a heavy smoke profile costs you points, or should I just cook my style and let the chips fall?