What a Day, San Jose.
Thank You.

BBQ & Brews 2026 brought our community together for an unforgettable afternoon of great food, great beer, and a greater cause.

A Sizzling Debut for a Great Cause

On May 30th, nearly 800 people gathered at San Jose Plaza for the inaugural BBQ & Brews. From the first bite of tri-tip to the last pour of craft beer, the day was filled with energy, competition, and community spirit.

Together, we raised $93,000 to support housing stability across the Bay Area. Every ticket purchased, every team that competed, and every sponsor who stepped up made that possible. This was just the beginning.

800
Attendees

$123K
Grossed

12
BBQ Teams

15
Breweries

See all of the photos from the day

OVERALL GRAND CHAMPION

Pop’s BBQ

RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION

Bone Sauce N Harmony

WILDCARD WINNER

Pop’s BBQ

BEST BREWERY

Standard Deviant

People’s Choice

GRAND CHAMPION
Pop’s BBQ

2ND PLACE
Cuzzo’s BBQ

3RD PLACE
Los Mexi”Q”tioners

Smoking Up for Housing

1ST PLACE
El Mero Mero Taquero

2ND PLACE
Bernie’s BBQ

3RD PLACE
Lord of the Ribs

Grilling for Housing

1ST PLACE
Pop’s BBQ

2ND PLACE
CenCal Smoke

3RD PLACE
Bone Sauce N Harmony

THANK YOU

To Our BBQ Teams & Breweries

None of this happens without the teams who showed up, fired up their smokers, and poured their hearts (and hops) into the competition. Thank you all for being part of BBQ & Brews’ delicious first chapter.

See all of our Teams

THANK YOU

To Our Judges

Especially Head Judges Tracy Allen and Max Finnance
Our judges brought expertise, discernment, and a serious appetite to the table. We’re grateful for the time and care they put into making the competition fair and fun.

See our Judges

THANK YOU

To Our Sponsors

BBQ & Brews wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors. Your support directly funds HIF’s work helping families and individuals maintain stable housing across the Bay Area.