Crimson Red Sports

(http://media.al.com/entertainment_impact/photo/alabama-tourism-bbq-bracketjpg-30d6af6026fea56f.jpg)

http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2013/03/alabama_barbecue_bracket_pits.html

I am a big fan of Big Bob Gibson's. They get my vote.

Jim 'N Nick's is very over rated and over priced.

Golden Rule is pretty good too.

A few missing:
Country's in Montgomery
Johnny Ray's in B'ham
Pruiett's Gadsden

pmull, if you like brisket come over to south Madison (right off exit 9 on 565) and try out Chuck Wagon.  They're the 5th seed in the north bracket.

This is one tasty tournament.  Lotta good Q in there.  Like you, though, I find it hard to believe you can't find better Q than Jim n' Nicks in central Alabama.  I'd take Archibald's in Northport any day.

I've never heard of Chuch Wagon before. I will have to try it. I never cared much for Greenbrier in that area.

I lived in Decatur back in the 70's.

Big Bob Gibson's was my favorite then.

Do they still have one in Huntsville?

My favorite in the Shaols area is Southern BBQ

Sounds like a road trip to check them all is in order!

Voting seems skewed to the chains or entries in larger metro markets.  ???

FtBAMAWV challenges the winner! (I'll have to shovel out the smoker)

Big Bob Gibson's only has two locations, both in Decatur. Huntsville has a Gibson's BBQ and it is often confused.

Chuck Wagon keeps funny hours, so if you ever decide to go, call ahead.  Also, the seating inside is pretty limited, so better to go in the summer.  They have some screened in porches outside that are nice.  It's ran by a fellow who comes from cattle drive cooks, and some of his recipes/knowledge have been passed down a long way.  As he says, "We may not have the best food in the world, but it's the only place in the world you can get it."

Re: Gibson's - the ones in Huntsville were all started by Big Bob's family.  There's one about a mile from where I work started by David Gibson, who was either Big Bob's son or grandson.  It is overpriced and mediocre at best.

There are a lot of Q places that are overrated.  I can smoke (pardon the pun) about 90% of them with a butt off my side fire box barrel smoker.  Of course, I'm not trying to cook for 500 either.

I have to admit that I have never had the opportunity to eat at most of the pacles on the board. However, I do think that Archibald's in Northport is worthy of a higher seed than 8. The Brick Pit in Mobile is good, too, but I'm not big on the other two from Mobile on this list, Saucy Q and The Shed. The latter's sauce is WAY too sweet, and Saucy Q just, well, sucks.

Judging BBQ is so subjective you'd almost have to use a panel of judges, rather than the public (popularity contest), to select a winner. BTW, imagine living just down the road from any of the open pit entrants, and smelling BBQ all day!

Too true. And no kidding on the open pit thing.

BTW, you can't drive 50' in Texas without seeing a "World's Best BBQ" sign. :Huge Eye Roll: I remember Big Daddy at Dreamland telling people, "You want french fries, go to Horne's BBQ, you want BBQ..."