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| The big prize for the Boss Hog winner was a 60-by-36-inch grill. |
Brew-B-Q is a wonderful community event for the Triangle region of North Carolina. Sponsored by the general contracting company Brasfield & Gorrie, it raises money for two important local charities. This year the recipients were The Salvation Army of Wake County and Blood Cancer United—North Carolina.
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| Many teams compete each year in Brew-B-Q. |
Now in its eighth year, Brew-B-Q invites subcontractors and business partners of Brasfield & Gorrie to compete as cooking teams in two meat categories: pork BBQ and pork ribs. For the rights to compete, the teams contribute $5,000 to enter the Boss Hog division, $4,000 for the Hog division, and $2,000 for the Piglet division. The winner in each division is awarded a huge trophy and a gas BBQ grill.
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| Raleigh East Concrete competes annually in the Brew-B-Q. Photo: Raleigh East Concrete/Facebook. |
I was a judge again in the Piglet division, which had the most cooking teams (17) registered. Judges followed the blind judging rules of the N.C. Pork Council for its Whole Hog Barbecue Series, although the event wasn’t a sanctioned contest.
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| Garnish is not a factor, although some teams include it in their turn-ins. |
This event was the fourth time that I have participated as a judge; the contests in 2022, 2024, and 2025 were equally lively events that fostered a sense of community among business partners. Being part of this annual event is very rewarding, and Brasfield & Gorrie is very successful in using a barbecue cookoff to bring people together to benefit community charities.
