About smoked bbq source

Our goal is to be the #1 resource for pit masters of all levels who want to master the art of grilling and smoking meat.

We are a team of pit masters dedicated to building the definitive resource for learning the art and science of barbecue.

We come from different countries and backgrounds. Some of us are backyard warriors and some have competed on the competition circuit. We are all united by our love of good barbecue, and our desire to pass on our knowledge to the community. 

The world of barbecue can be confusing, especially for beginners. Since launching in 2016 we have published hundrends of guides, recipes and reviews. With thousands of products available across a huge range of price points, it can be overwhelming to know what to buy.

We aim to help you make the best purchasing decision by streamlining your product research process.

The story of SmokedBBQSource

Hi, I’m Joe, the founder of Smoked BBQ Source. I eat, sleep and breathe barbecue. It wasn’t always that way though.

As the son of two vegetarians, meat was a rare treat in our household when I was a kid. Like anything you can’t have, I craved meat from an early age…

One of my first purchases after leaving home was a second-hand gas barbecue.

A real piece of junk…

It didn’t stop me though. I was obsessed, and cooked on it every chance I could.

When I finally had my first taste of authentic, ‘low and slow’ barbecue, I knew I had to learn how to cook like that in my own backyard.

With a small Weber Kettle and a few bags of charcoal, I set out to cook a brisket for the first time.

After one bite I realized I clearly had no idea what I was doing…

So I set out to learn everything I could about the art of ‘low and slow’ barbecue.

Hundreds of Google searches later I was left scratching my head.

Should I be cooking with lump charcoal or briquette? What makes a great beginner smoker? Why the hell has my brisket temperature not moved in 3 hours and what is the Texas Crutch I keep hearing about?

The more I researched the more confusing, conflicting advice I read.

I decided to create Smoked BBQ Source, so I could document everything I learned about barbecue.

Over the years we’ve been lucky enough to grow, eventually becoming one of the largest barbecue and grilling websites on the web.

I’m lucky to be joined by a team of like-minded pitmasters who share my goal of creating the most useful resource for amateur pitmasters and backyard cooks in the world.

Our Team

Joe Clements

Founder

Breanna Stark

Operations Manager & Content Creator

Jeff "Ricer" Rice author profile

Jeff Rice

Video Producer & Content Creator

Want to join the team?

Why should you trust us?

There’s no shortage of barbecue content out there, so why should you follow what we have to say? We are an independent company with no corporate overlords and no loyalty to any specific brand or products. 

We have all been in your shoes, and know what it’s like to be overwhelmed with information. All of our recipes are carefully tested and created so that they can be cooked by beginners and experts alike. 

We test a variety of grills, smokers, and accessories and always aim to provide honest, objective reviews. In some cases, we receive free products from companies for the purpose of reviewing but we never accept cash or allow the free gear to influence our final review.

We may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you if you decide to buy a product through certain links on our website. You can read more about how we recommend products.

Get in touch

We’re always keen to hear from our readers so if you have a question, comment or suggestion fire away. If you are a brand that’s interested in working with us or having your product reviewed we would be happy to hear from you.