Alabama BBQ

Alabama is well-known for its barbecue, and now three local restaurants are in a running to be named the best of the best.

The Alabama Barbecue Battle, as part of the Alabama Tourism Department’s Year of Alabama BBQ, is officially underway. The competition will pit 50 nominees against one another in five categories to decide who gets bragging rights for the best barbecue in the state.

From Cullman, local shop Johnny’s Barbecue is a competitor in the “Mom and Pops” category, while Moe’s Original Barbecue and Jim ‘N Nicks are competing in the “Multi-Locations” category for franchises and chains.

The top 10 restaurants in each category were selected based on more than 1,600 nominations taken from social media over the past several months.

Voting in each category began Thursday, Aug. 6, and will conclude Aug. 31. Winners will be announced Sept. 1.                                                          “We look forward to seeing who is left when the hickory smoke clears. 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,” Alabama Tourism Director Lee Sentell said. “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.”

Josh Wiggins, with Johnny’s encouraged locals to take the time to support local businesses in the competition.

“We are honored to be included in the Mom and Pops division of the Alabama Barbecue Battle,” he said. “We were also very honored to be inducted into the Alabama Barbecue Hall of Fame in this Year of Barbecue for Alabama tourism. We just ask and appreciate everyone’s support by voting once a day until the 31st!”

Voting is open online at The Alabama Barbecue Battle website (http://www.alabamabbqbattle.com).

Check out a full list of competitors below.

‰ Legends: 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: 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: Leo and Susie’s Famous Green Top Bar-B-Q, Archibald’s, Bob Skyes, Johnny’s, 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: 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: 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.

‰ Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at tmoore@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 134.