2027 Hands-On BBQ Class
2027 Hands-On BBQ Class · MarylandGOOD BBQ
ISN’T LUCK.
IT’S A CRAFT.
Trim chicken, ribs, and pork butts yourself.
Build skills for your backyard or first competition.
Brisket demo for everyone · Optional hands-on brisket trimming.
01 / LEARN BY DOING
ROLL UP
YOUR SLEEVES
A full day of working with the meat, asking questions, and building skills you can use on your very next cook.
At our 2027 hands-on BBQ class in Orchard Beach, Maryland, you’ll trim chicken, ribs, and pork butts yourself with the Smokecraft Championship BBQ Team. Put techniques into practice, talk through your decisions, and ask questions as you go.
Built for backyard BBQ cooks and people getting started in competition, the class teaches a KCBS Master’s Series competition timeline. The preparation, flavor, tenderness, and timing skills carry straight into your backyard cooks—whether or not you ever compete.
See what you’ll learnINSIDE OUR PAST CLASSES
REAL COOKS. REAL QUESTIONS.
RIGHT THERE WITH THE TEAM.
A look inside our 2025 and 2026 classes—from the first trim to the finishing touch.
Ask questions.
Build your skills.2025 Master’s Class · Learning with Drew
02 / THREE MEATS IN YOUR HANDS. BRISKET FOR EVERYONE.
KNOW YOUR CUTS.
OWN YOUR COOK.
You’ll trim chicken, ribs, and pork butts yourself. Everyone sees the brisket demonstration, with optional hands-on brisket trimming for those who want to practice too.
Trim chicken, ribs, and pork butts yourself. Learn meat selection, injections, rubs, and sauces.
Learn a KCBS Master’s Series competition timeline, fire management, and how to adapt the skills to your backyard.
Understand tenderness, finishing, and competition presentation. Ask questions throughout the day.
DREW & THE SMOKECRAFT CHAMPIONSHIP BBQ TEAM03 / LEARN FROM THE TEAM BEHIND THE CALLS
COMPETITION TESTED.
READY TO SHARE.
Meet Andrew “Drew” Darneille and the Smokecraft Championship BBQ Team.
The team takes its craft from the competition circuit to Smokecraft Modern Barbecue in Arlington, Virginia. In class, learn alongside them as you trim, ask questions, and connect each technique to better barbecue at home or at your first competition.
2023 WORLD CHAMPIONChef’s Choice · Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue
MD STATE CUP CHAMPION
MABA TIER 2 TEAM OF THE YEAR
Career highlights from the Smokecraft team. View team credentials ↗
THE PASSION BEHIND THE PROCESS
THE JACK.
A BBQ STORY.
Go behind the scenes with Smokecraft at one of barbecue’s most celebrated competitions.
From the Smokecraft BBQ YouTube channel ↗MORE FROM THE COMPETITION CIRCUIT
ALL THE FIRE.
ALL THE FEELING.
The Warrior BBQ Cookoff.
The Great Hawaiian Smoke Out.
Step into competition day with Smokecraft. The focus, the food, and the people who make the whole journey worth it.
From the Smokecraft BBQ YouTube channel.
04 / FROM PEOPLE WHO’VE BEEN THERE
THEIR NEXT COOK
STARTED HERE.
Practical skills. A clearer process. More confidence at the pit. Hear what previous students took into their next cook.
HANDS-ON KNOWLEDGE · SOMETHING FOR EVERY LEVEL
If you have the opportunity to take this class,
don’t hesitate…you won’t regret it!
If you have the opportunity to take this class, don’t hesitate…you won’t regret it!
Drew shares an incredible amount of knowledge and insight into every aspect of the competition process, from selecting the right cuts of meat and hands-on trimming to cooking techniques, flavor profiles, tenderness, and everything in between. There is truly something for everyone to take away from this class!
Whether you’re a seasoned competition cook looking to fine tune your skills or a newcomer who hasn’t entered your first competition yet, you’ll walk away with invaluable knowledge, practical tips, and a better understanding of what it takes to elevate your cooking to the next level.
This class is an investment in your competition journey, and the knowledge you gain will absolutely make a difference!
YOUR FIRST COMPETITION
We got calls in
every category!
After being a BBQ judge for several years, I always wanted to enter a KCBS BBQ competition. Smokecraft’s BBQ Class did not disappoint! The team shared all of their secrets, and the recipes and timelines were a huge key for us being prepared for our first competition, where we got calls in every category! We can’t recommend this class enough! Drew and his crew will show you everything you need to be successful!
A PROCESS YOU CAN PUT TO WORK
The class was
incredibly helpful
and absolutely worth it!
The class was incredibly helpful and absolutely worth it! They walked us through their entire process from meat selection and trimming to ingredients, cooking timelines, boxing, and overall competition strategy. The class was easy to follow and immediately useful. I left with a much better understanding of how to approach competitions, and what it takes to win!
ONE STUDENT’S COMPETITION JOURNEY
1st EVER
Grand Championship!
Phil’s reported results after taking the class. His full story, in his own words:
🔥 SmokeCraft BBQ Class — The Results Speak for Themselves! 🔥
Going into my second full season in the KCBS Backyard Series, I attended SmokeCraft BBQ’s Chicken, Ribs & Pork Competition Class to take my BBQ game to the next level.
I started competing just one week after the class in March, and here’s what I’ve accomplished since:
- 🏆 1st EVER Grand Championship!
- 🏆 3 Reserve Grand Championships!
- 🔥 Top 10 overall in 65% of my competitions!
- 💪 5 straight Top 10 overall finishes!
- 📈 Climbed 62 points in the Power Rankings over my last 11 comps!
- 🥇 Multiple 1st-place chicken calls, including a PERFECT 180!
- 🐷 Major improvement in my rib scores!
This class helped me improve my techniques, consistency, and confidence at the turn-in table. I’m still learning every competition, but there’s no doubt SmokeCraft helped elevate my BBQ game!
If you’re serious about improving your competition BBQ, I HIGHLY recommend this class.
Testimonials from previous Smokecraft classes. Individual experiences and results vary.
YOUR NEXT COOK STARTS WITH WHAT YOU LEARN
Bring your questions. Get your hands dirty. Build your skills with the team.
05 / MAKE A DAY OF IT
ROLL UP.
GET STUCK IN.
TAKE IT HOME.
Learn by doing, connect the steps, and understand the why. Leave with practical skills for better backyard BBQ and a clearer path into competition.
AT THE PIT
Put the prep in your hands.
Trim chicken, ribs, and pork butts yourself. Explore meat selection, injections, rubs, and sauces with the team. Everyone sees the brisket demonstration; add hands-on brisket trimming if you’d like to practice.
Follow the timeline. Understand the cook.
Learn a KCBS Master’s Series competition timeline and how fire management, timing, and tenderness work together. Connect those decisions to the barbecue you cook at home.
Turn what you learn into your next cook.
Explore finishing and competition presentation, ask about the challenges in your own cooks, and take home knowledge you can put into practice.
Class window: 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Detailed running order and preparation instructions will be shared before class.
06 / WE’LL MEET YOU IN MARYLAND
A DAY AWAY.
A BETTER COOK AHEAD.
Orchard Beach Community Hall
1000 Hilltop RoadOrchard Beach, MD 21226
The same venue as our 2026 Backyard class, with room to spend the day learning alongside the Smokecraft team.
Get directions2027
- Time
- 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET
- Format
- Interactive · Hands-on
- Class size
- 25 students
- Venue
- Orchard Beach Community Hall
The date and venue are confirmed. We look forward to cooking with you.
A FEW THINGS YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING
GOOD QUESTIONS.
CLEAR ANSWERS.
Still curious about something?
Ask Drew and the team ↗
Do I need competition experience?
No. This class is built for backyard BBQ cooks and people just getting started in competition. We teach a KCBS Master’s Series competition timeline, but the skills in preparation, seasoning, fire management, timing, and tenderness will help you improve your barbecue even if you never compete.
Is the class hands-on?
Yes—you’ll trim chicken, ribs, and pork butts yourself. This is an interactive skills class: put techniques into practice and ask the team questions as you go. Everyone sees the brisket demonstration. Hands-on brisket trimming is optional; bring your own brisket or purchase a USDA Prime brisket for $125 to trim and take home.
What are the date and location?
Saturday, January 16, 2027, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET at Orchard Beach Community Hall, 1000 Hilltop Road, Orchard Beach, MD 21226. The date and venue are confirmed.
What is included in the price?
Tuition is $500 for one student and includes the full day of instruction, hands-on trimming of chicken, ribs, and pork butts, and the brisket demonstration. Add one teammate/spouse for $400 when registering both people together; both names are required. For optional hands-on brisket trimming, bring your own or purchase a USDA Prime brisket for $125 to trim and take home. Contact the team for meal and other inclusion details.
How do I register and pay?
Use the registration button to enter your contact details, attendee names and class preferences, then continue to secure Square payment. Full payment is required at registration. Opening checkout or sending an inquiry does not reserve a seat; registration is confirmed only after successful payment.
Can I cancel or transfer my seat?
Cancellation and transfer terms have not yet been published. Please contact info@smokecraftbbq.com for the terms before purchasing.
What should I bring? What about dietary needs?
Preparation instructions will be shared before class. Contact the team in advance about dietary requirements, accessibility, or any other arrangements you need for the day.
THE NEXT GREAT COOK STARTS WITH YOU
25 SEATS.
ONE FULL DAY.
LET’S GET COOKING.
Trim it yourself. Ask your questions. Build your skills.
A full day for backyard cooks and new competitors.
“There is truly something for everyone to take away from this class!”
Read Lauren’s full story ↗
$500 / student
$400 to add one teammate/spouse to a student registration. Register both together. Optional USDA Prime brisket: +$125 to trim and take home.
Secure payment through SquareFull payment at registration.
Your seat is confirmed after payment.
Cancellation and transfer terms are pending; contact the team for terms before purchasing.
Register & pay25 seats total · Availability will be shown at checkout.
Questions before you sign up? Contact Drew ↗GOOD PEOPLE. GREAT BARBECUE.
OUR SPONSORS
& PARTNERS.
Thank you to the brands and barbecue community supporting Smokecraft and the craft we share.
