The taste of Victory was in full effect over the weekend, and no, I don’t just mean the beer selections from everyone’s favorite local brewery. What I am referring to is the ultimate prize for the best in BBQ, and the Pit Masters could taste it.
Saturday, August 4th marked Victory Brewing Company’s 4th Annual BrewBQ, a cook off competition showcasing the area’s best barbeque to benefit the Chester County SPCA. The event was held at the Paradise Farm Camps in Downingtown, providing more space for the competitors and the public. General admission was free and open to people and puppies of all ages.
There was a lot of ground to cover and plenty of activities for everyone at the event. Kids could play rounds of Corn Hole, toss a Victory Frisbee or enjoy the fun at the designated play area. Plenty of stations were serving up goodies such as Sliders, Pizza, Brisket and Pork. For those who didn’t feel like snacking, there were tables set up for cigars, food demonstrations and information regarding the SPCA. And of course, local musicians, The New Kings of Rhythm, brought the live music and the funk.
There was no denying the heat that day, but what better way to keep cool then with a nice cold one! Victory was pouring some of their best varieties: Prima Pils, Victory Lager, Mad King’s Weiss and my personal favorite, Head Waters Pale Ale. All perfect selections for a summer afternoon. In addition, root beer and wine were also available as well as free kegs of water. Being thirsty was certainly not an option at this event.
Everywhere I turned, guests were enjoying Victory brews while their noses led them to the aroma of barbeque. You couldn’t escape it! The participating restaurants offering samples and menu items included Kildare’s Irish Pub, the Social Lounge, Lione’s Pizza, Firecreek Restaurant & Bar, the Bordley House Grille and of course, Victory’s staff at the Beer Garden.
The Pit Master Teams surrounding the event were anxiously awaiting the Judges’ decisions. They had been there all day, eyeing up the trophies and the cash prizes. Not all those competing could offer free samples, but attendees were welcomed to get pictures and ask any questions.
By 4:30, the votes were in and the official KCBS judges had made their decisions. Vice President of Victory’s Retail Operations Matt Krueger and Victory Restaurant Manager Diane Desiderio were ready to present the awards for Best in Ribs, Best in Chicken, Best Overall and the People’s Pork Award, a new addition to the BrewBQ for the most-voted restaurant chosen by the people.
There were four sets of trophies, crafted specifically for each category. You can see the distinctions between best in chicken and ribs from the photos provided. The most voted restaurant not only received a unique trophy (the saucepan molded to the back was a nice added touch), but also a brand new smoker.
Below is a breakdown of the winners and their cash prizes:
Best in Chicken:
- 1st Place: Little Luke’s BBQ ($250) (pictured below, on left)
- 2nd Place: Widespread BBQ ($125)
- 3rd Place: Finns Finest BBQ ($75)
- 4th Place: R.A. McCoy Welding BBQ ($50)
Best in Ribs:
- 1st Place: Widespread BBQ ($250) (pictured below, on right)
- 2nd Place: Finns Finest BBQ ($125)
- 3rd Place: Mikey O’s BBQ ($75)
- 4th Place: R.A. McCoy Welding BBQ ($50)
Best Overall in Both Categories:
- Widespread BBQ
People’s Pork Award (Best Restaurant)
Overall, it was a very successful event and according to Matt, around a thousand people attended that day. All remaining attendees were entertained up until the very end of the BrewBQ. Whether it was from Matt’s jokes as he roasted each winner (no pun intended) or the tinfoil hats worn from Widespread BBQ, everyone was in high spirits as they cheered on the winning contestants.
Congratulations to Victory’s staff for a job well done. They ran a very smooth operation, leaving no one thirsty. It will come as no surprise when we welcome Victory’s 5th Annual Event.
After having my fair share of beer and barbeque, I can’t wait to see what’s cookin’ next year!
