MONTGOMERY – The competition for Alabama’s best barbecue restaurants is heating up as establishments across the state vie for votes and bragging rights during The Alabama Barbecue Battle as part of The Year of Alabama BBQ. This year, 50 nominees will compete in five brand-new categories to determine the best in each.
Voting Categories:
Legends: Even the house of Alabama barbecue needs a foundation, and these legends laid the bricks. They’re leaving their legacies, one plate at a time.
Restaurants nominated: Archibald’s, Dreamland, Big Bob Gibson, J. Rodgers, Lannie’s, Big Daddy’s, Leo and Susie’s Famous Green Top Bar-B-Q, Bob Sykes, The Brick Pit and Golden Rule.
Multi-locations: More than one location means your favorite barbecue is never out of reach.
Restaurants nominated: Full Moon, Dreamland, Jim ’N Nick’s, Big Bob Gibson, Saw’s, Golden Rule, Whitts, Moe’s Original Bar B Que, Mike & Ed’s and LawLers.
The Mom and Pops: Nothing beats the old-school, single-location, family-run ’cue joint with a story just as good as the food. Soak in the familiar smiles as you soak your napkins in sauce.
Restaurants nominated: Leo and Susie's Famous Green Top Bar-B-Q, Archibald's, Bob Skyes, Johnny's Bar-B-Q, Sam's, Big Daddy’s Real Pit Bar-B-Que, The Brick Pit, Rusty's, Miss Myra's Bar B-Q, and L.A. Barbeque.
The Rookies: In Alabama, it takes decades to become a barbecue legend, but these rookies are on their way to the hickory-smoked hall of fame.
Restaurants nominated: Little Bit of R&R BBQ, Hickory Barn, Smokin' on the Boulevard (2014 winner), Saw's, Hog Wild, Cotton State, 306 Barbecue, Smokey C's BBQ and Wings, Landmark, and Hoo's Q BBQ.
The Dives: You know the place. There’s always a line of hungry locals, your meal is served on something not normally considered a plate and you leave smelling like hickory smoke.
Restaurants nominated: Charlie's BBQ, Hickory Barn, Dale's, Jim's Highway 82 Barbecue, Top Hat Barbecue, The Brick Pit, Smokin' on the Boulevard, Miss Myra's Pit Bar B-Q, Archibald & Woodrow's, and Ken's BBQ.
The top 10 restaurants in each category were selected based on more than 1,600 nominations that poured in from social media over the past several months. Voting in each category begins Thursday, Aug. 6, and concludes on August 31. Winners will be announced Sept. 1, 2015.
“We look forward to seeing who is left when the hickory smoke clears,” said Alabama Tourism Director Lee Sentell.
“The barbecue bracket has been one of our most popular social media promotions in the past few years, and this year will prove to be the biggest battle of them all. While almost all communities in Alabama have their favorite, and unique, barbecue joints, our followers took some time to nominate their favorites. With so many nominations pouring in to seed each category, we anticipate the number of overall votes to be in the thousands.”
Learn more about The Alabama Barbecue Battle and Alabama culinary destinations and events at ILoveAlabamaFood.com.
Join the fun by using #AlabamaBBQ on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
