(revised Dec 5, 2021) -- [Download Official Packet]

1. COOKED ON SITE

All meats that are entered into judging will be cooked from scratch within the constraints of the event. Pre-cooking, pre-marinating, etc. will not be allowed either on or off the cook site prior to start of the cook-off as defined by the cook-off promoter. Meat may not be seasoned or marinated prior to 6:00 p.m. on the day before a cook-off.

2. SANITATION

All cooks are to prepare and cook in a sanitary manner as possible. Cooking conditions are subject to inspection by the judging committee at any given time.

3. MULTIPLE ENTRIES PER PIT

CTBA does not permit multiple entries on one BBQ Pit. Only one team per BBQ Pit.

4. COOK’S MEETING

After the welcome by the PROMOTER, the HEAD JUDGE will be responsible to address the cooks on rules and judging procedures according to official CTBA rules and regulations.

Clarification on BBQ Pits
Pit – Any commercial or homemade trailered or un-trailered pit or smoker. May include gas or electricity to start natural fiber substance, wood or wood products. Electrical accessories such as spits, augers or force drafts are permitted. This includes pellet cookers. The use of propane or electric heat sources are still prohibited. The use of heat lamps or any other electrical heating or HOLDING device is prohibited.

5. OPEN FIRES

CTBA further recognizes that no ground pits will be used and that all burn down barrels will have some sort of safety barrier placed across the top or around the barrel. Promoter to include this information in the invitation and non-compliance could be grounds for disqualification.

6. CATEGORIES

Recognized categories for CTBA are as follows:

(NOTE: Brisket, Pork Ribs and Chicken ARE THE ONLY CATEGORIES used for determining the Grand Champion or Overall Winner.)

BEEF:

Brisket Only

PORK RIBS

Slab Only (spare or baby back or St. Louis style)

CHICKEN

Any type - no Cornish Game Hen

OPEN PORK

Any type of pork meat as specified by promoter, other than slab ribs, if slab ribs is a category.

PORT BUTT

Garnished w/green leaf lettuce and parsley only

EXOTIC

Any meat other than the above categories

BEANS

Promoters choice, not a scored category

OUTLAW CHILI

Cooked on site

7. CRITERIA FOR TURN IN SAMPLES

One showpiece for each category plus 10 bite size pieces. Rib samples must have bone in it and can be any length as long as the lid will close. Each rib is a showpiece only turn in 10 NOT 11. Brisket slice shall be cut once or in half for bite size pieces. There shall be no more than 10 bite size pieces in your turn in box.

8. JUDGING TRAYS

CTBA recommends the use of a Styrofoam tray with a hinged lid and without dividers or the best readily available judging container that is approximately 9 inches square on the bottom half.

All judging containers shall be clean and free of obvious marks. Marked containers may be disqualified at the Head Judges’ discretion. Cooks are responsible for insuring the containers they receive are clean and undamaged. Cooks are also required to sign the duplicate ticket on
your turn in box. No prize will be awarded if the matching duplicate ticket is not signed.

9. JUDGING TRAY CONTENTS

CTBA requires that the promoter and/or Head Judge advise all cooks entered into competition at any given event of the exact quantities and cuts of meats that will be placed into the judging tray.

10. GARNISHES

Unless specified by the cook-off promoter, any and all garnishes are prohibited. The only item allowed in the turn in tray is the foil and protein being turned in. Jack pot items are different the promoter may allow garnishes for Jack pot Items.

11. TURN-IN TIMES

CTBA requires promoter and/or head judge to pre-set firm turn-in times for each category to be judged. Once this time is set and announced to the contestants, no change or variation will be made. CTBA does allow for a turn-in time window that will be 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after turn-in time. Judging trays received after this window time will be accepted but not judged. Brisket is always the last category judged.

CTBA strongly recommends the following turn-in times:

3 Categories - 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM

4 Categories - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM

5 Categories - 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM

 

12. JUDGES

CTBA prohibits the use of participating cooks and/or assistants as tasting judges in all phases. They may however, be used as table monitors.

13. JUDGING

Judging will be done by preliminary. Amount of judges for tasting will be decided according to the number of entries. 10 pieces shall be the maximum per judge per category.

14. PRIZES

CTBA recommends all top ten entries be called out in each category and all trays that make the finals table.

15. OUTLAW CHILI

Anything goes, but cooks must take a bite at turn-in of their chili before being accepted.

16. BEAN CATEGORY

This is a jack pot item. You must start with a dry pinto bean. Anything goes but keep in mind it’s the beans that are being judged.

17. SHOWMANSHIP

CTBA recommends that the times for judging showmanship will be clearly stated by the promoter and further recommends that the time does not interfere with entry turn-in times. We suggest either before or after entry turn-ins.

18. BEST PIT/PIT AREA

No time limit. These two categories will be judged at any time during the day. Judges are to remember that while judging these pits and areas, if done during turn-in times, that they take this into consideration.

19. ALL DECISIONS BY CTBA JUDGES REGARDING CTBA RULES ARE FINAL.

20. RULE VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES

Any cooking team found to be in violation of the above stated rules are subject to being disqualified from the current cooking event and or season. Any infractions will be brought to the attention of the current CTBA officers who along with the Board of Directors will review the allegations and determine the consequence of the alleged action. Teams and or individual team members may be prohibited from competing in CTBA sanctioned cook offs for a period of time not to exceed 5 years.

CTBA JUDGING PROCEDURES (RECOMMENDED)

1. TRAYS AND CUPS

CTBA furnishes all cups and trays.

2. SELECTION OF JUDGES

Judging will be accomplished using separate phases, Preliminary and Finals, and when required there will be a Semi-Finals table. It is highly recommended that ample numbers of judges be pre-invited and familiarized with the judging system. There shall be NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES within the confines of the judging area while judging is taking place. At no time will any judge be allowed to consume any alcoholic beverages while actively judging the event.

  1. Preliminary Judges: Head Cooks may never be used as a judge for tasting. Spectators are the most logical choice for this phase of judging. With a proper briefing, anyone should be able to judge satisfactorily.

  2. Finals' Judges: It is recommended that judges in this phase refrain from sampling any competitor's barbeque prior to judging. Finals' judges must not be associated with any team entered into the competition at the cook-off.

3. JUDGING CRITERIA FOR MEATS

  • Aroma: in your opinion, does it smell like barbeque

  • Appearance/Color: does each meat look like barbeque and does it have eye appeal. A good example of this is the smoke ring in brisket, the pinkish tone of chicken and the redness of pork.

  • Texture: is the meat moist and is it cooked just right.

  • Taste: this is a personal preference but should consider 1) how the smoke tastes; 2) how the spice tastes; 3) and the overall palate appeal of the meat and spice combination.

  • Overall: the final criteria, what is the overall effect of the barbeque, your total impression.

4. JUDGING CRITERIA FOR BEANS/OR CHILI

Same type criteria as in barbeque: Aroma, Color, Texture, Taste, Overall. This is really a personal preference for the individual judges.

5. SCORING

Each tray of barbeque or cup of either chili or beans will be scored on its own merit. One must not be compared to another. Scoring shall be in whole numbers. The scale that will be used will be 1 to 15, with 1 being the lowest and 15 being the highest score given to each individual tray or cup.

6. JUDGING SHEETS

CTBA forms must be used for judging meats and/or beans and chili.

7. JUDGING

  1. Turn-In Time: Contestants must be notified by promoter/Head Judge of category turn in times both at registration and at the cooks’ meeting. Once these times are announced, they shall not be changed.

  2. Turn-in/Check-in: CTBA recommends that each competitor judging tray or cup be brought to the designated turn in area by the head cook or his or her representative at the appointed time. It is the cook’s responsibility to insure compliance of contents.

  3. Table Monitors: Each phase of judging table should have a knowledgeable monitor for each table. Table monitor is to check each tray, prior to judging, for sauce or markings. Responsibilities will include insuring a smooth flow of containers onto and off of the judging table and also controlling table talk. Any questions regarding disqualification of a tray or judge’s sheet should be referred to the Head Judge. Discretion shall be used when a disqualification is being considered. The Head Judge’s decision shall be final. Monitors shall insure that each judge has judged and scored each tray/cup before releasing judges.

  4. Numbering Containers: Once a number of trays have been turned in, the Head Judge or their designated representative can then assigning them judging numbers. The same quantity of trays or cups, or as close to equal as possible, shall be assigned to each judging table. The Head Judge or designated representative will randomly select tray/cups and mark each for the judging table with a judging designation on the lid of each tray and side of each cup. This process will continue until all containers have been properly marked and then taken to the appropriate tables.

  5. Tasting: Judges will normally be provided with beverages along with crackers, grapes and bite size pieces of celery. CTBA recommends dairy products not be used. This will allow judges to cleanse their palate between each tasting. Ample toothpicks will be supplied to the tasting judges so that none will be reused. Once sample meat has been tasted and passed to the next judge, it cannot be re-tested. Each entry shall be judged on its own merit. Do not compare one against another. Total points received from the judges will determine the winner. No alcoholic beverages are allowed to be consumed while judging.

8. TABLE MONITOR DUTIES

  1. PRIOR TO JUDGING

    • Ensure all judges are seated as they arrive. Judging will not begin until all tables have the appropriate number of judges seated.

    • Ensure that there is a judging sheet and pencil for each judge.

    • Ensure that sufficient toothpicks, napkins, palate cleansers and beverages are available for each judge, and that a disposal box is available.

  2. STARTING THE JUDGING

    • As each tray/cup is removed from the holding box, the Table Monitor will inspect the outside and inside of the tray/cup for marks, unauthorized marks, garnishes, sauces on the meat, etc. not authorized by CTBA. Tray/cups that are found to be in question will be referred to the Head Judge for final decision.

  3. COMPLETING THE JUDGING

    • Once all trays/cups are judged, the Table Monitor shall ensure that a judging sheet is turned in from each judge before releasing any judges.

    • The Table Monitor shall bring the judging sheets to the tally area for tabulating.

    • Once the sheets are tallied and the predetermined numbers of trays/cups are determined, the Table Monitor shall pull the non-advancing trays/cups from the holding box at the direction of the Head Judge. The holding box with the advancing trays/cups will be taken to the next judging area for advancement.

9. TIE BREAKERS

Category tie breakers used shall be the first and last judge at each table. When a tie occurs for Overall winner the tie breaker will be the Brisket points. If a tie still exist you go to the Rib points and if needed the chicken points. If no tie can be broken the last resort is to flip a coin with both winners present.

CTBA requires returning the meat trays, in each category, to the winner during the awards program.