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Remembering when BBQ contests were all about the smoke ring
Back in the day, a good smoke ring and simple rub meant everything in competitions. Now I see pitmasters using complex injections and fancy finishes that hide the meat's true flavor. It makes me curious if the core skills are getting lost. What's your take on this change?
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tessa_thompson3mo ago
Watched my uncle compete years ago and the judges would actually lift the brisket to check the ring. Tbh now it feels more like a food science fair than barbecue.
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lewis.seth3mo ago
Spot on. It's the same story with so many things now. Coffee shops debate brew times more than taste, and beer fans score drinks like it's a sport. The heart of a thing gets lost when you focus only on the rules. Barbecue used to be about low heat and good company, not checking boxes for judges. We keep turning simple pleasures into problem sets. Kind of takes the fun out of it all.
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jakefox3mo ago
Totally, like analyzing your favorite song till it feels like homework.
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