The 2025 German Barbecue Championship will take place on July 26 and 27 in Ferropolis. Seventeen barbecue teams will compete in the amateur and eleven in the professional categories. Over 7,000 tickets have been sold in advance. The German Barbecue Association (GBA) acts as the organizer and sets the rules and various categories.
The Nuremberg butcher shop Freyberger is also participating, with Dirk Freyberger, Frank Heller, Markus Rheindt, and Pascal Karatay as the active grill team. They prepare the prescribed courses using the specified ingredients and present the dishes to a jury. In 2024, the grillers participated in a competition for the first time. They chose the world championship and won the prize for the best beef .
“Participation is a hurdle”
"We'll be on site with five grills ," explains team captain Dirk Freyberger. This is because the courses have to be prepared and cooked simultaneously. Initially, the participants have a little time to grill their courses, but the teams' submission deadlines for their creations are then every hour. "Even participating is a hurdle," Freyberger reveals.
The team trained for several weeks in advance, developing recipes and perfecting grilling techniques .
Furthermore, it's a logistical and organizational challenge. Participants must bring all their own equipment. Teams also provide a covered stand with water, electricity, and seating and a comfortable environment for judges. Winning, however, isn't always the primary goal.
“Sweetened the judges’ day”
"Barbecuing is fun, and all teams compete to show it," says the team captain. A cheerful atmosphere, delicious grilled food, and a friendly competitive spirit are what make this event special.
"The competition is really tough," says Dirk. Only top teams are competing. Among them are the current runners-up (Gogrillaz Barbie-Q). Freyberger's BBQ achieved fifth place overall, placing them directly behind the runners-up. They also received second place for best dessert. "Our sweet and sour gooseberry cake simply made the judges' day," jokes Freyberger.
