The Florida Keys BrewBQ owes its success to the efforts of Chamber of Commerce staff and volunteers, who braved the heat to deliver an excellent guest experience.
Sweltering heat couldn’t stop cold beer and tasty smoked meat at the third annual Florida Keys BrewBQ, held last weekend at Marathon Community Park. Showcasing their dedication to their craft, the five teams in the weekend’s amateur barbecue competition battled through two days to produce their finest burnt ends and pulled pork, while attendees enjoyed dozens of vendor booths, cold beers and fantastic local tunes before ending each day with a People’s Choice tasting of each team’s final product.
When the judges’ scores were totaled, the Smoked ’Que team of Craig and Ashley Thompson returned to defend their 2022 title, earning the Best Overall and Best Pulled Pork trophies. After a disappointing 2022 outing, Tyler Blanton’s Pits ’N’ Giggles roared back in defiant fashion, earning the title of Best Burnt Ends and collecting the most votes for the People’s Choice Award.
“It was a great event celebrating delicious barbecue, craft beers, great live music and good times for all,” said Daniel Samess, CEO of the Marathon Chamber of Commerce, which puts on the annual event. “We appreciate all the support from our sponsors,volunteers,and guests.”
Pits ’N’ Giggles’ Tyler Blanton celebrates his Best Burnt Ends award with his son Luke.Craig and Ashley Thompson’s Smoked ’Que defended their2022 BrewBQ title, winning Best Pulled Pork and Best Overall on Saturday.
THE WINNERS’ CIRCLE
Best Burnt Ends: Pits ’N’ Giggles – Tyler Blanton
Best Pulled Pork: Smoked ’Que – Craig & Ashley Thompson
Best Overall: Smoked ’QuePeople’s Choice Award: Pits ’N’ Giggles
The Tackle Box BBQ team.ttendees visit animals at Julio’s Zoo 2 U, one of the festival’s Saturday attractions.Luke Blanton holds Pits ’N’ Giggles’ official mascot, Bo.Though they were competitors this weekend, at the end of the day, Marathon barbecue is a brotherhood for Matt Pitcher, left, and Chris Still.The Florida Keys BrewBQ owes its success to the efforts of Chamber of Commerce staff and volunteers, who braved the heat to deliver an excellent guest experience.Teams prepare samples for Saturday’s pulled pork People’s Choice tasting.With barbecue this good, it’s impossible not to smile.The Tackle Box’s barbecue maestro Chris Still, right, is all business as Milton Davis shreds the pork.Apache Dragon rocks the Marathon Community Park stage to close Saturday’s festivities.Craig and Ashley Thompson’s Smoked ’Que defended their2022 BrewBQ title, winning Best Pulled Pork and Best Overall on Saturday.The self-proclaimed ‘Michelin star restaurant’ was in team Thin Blue Smoke’s tent with Matt Pitcher, left, and Jason Koler.Judge Ben Nusser gives his scores after tasting Friday’s pork belly burnt ends.The smack talk was already in rare form by 11 a.m. on Friday between Thin Blue Smoke’s Jason Koler, left, the Tackle Box’s Milton Davis and Chris Still, and Pits ’N’ Giggles’ Tyler Blanton.Pits ’N’ Giggles’ Tyler Blanton celebrates his Best Burnt Ends award with his son Luke.Petersen’s Backyard Bar-B-Q returned for another round – with fantastic team shirts, if we do say so ourselves.
