Pretty Good at Drinking Beer BBQ with Jason Rains

SummaryThis is the story of how a "pipe dream," a full-time job, and a Billy Currington song accidentally launched one of barbecue's most memorable brands.Jason Rains, the founder of "Pretty Good At Drinking Beer Barbecue," joins us to share his wild 15-year journey. He started with zero experience and a team name that’s a marketing nightmare (but a fan favorite). He pulls no punches, recounting the story of finishing "dead ass last" at a major competition only to fight his way back to a Grand Reserve (second place) finish years later.In this episode, Jason shares the unfiltered story behind his brand, his bold quest to create a sauce "better than Head Country" (a big deal in Oklahoma!), and his new projects, including a non-traditional smoker cookbook and a revolutionary no-sugar-added sauce sweetened with monk fruit.More than just barbecue, this is a story about community, passion, and hustle. Jason balances his full-time job and a return to college for digital marketing, all while running his growing business. His core philosophy? "Food doesn't care about your race. Food doesn't care about your religion... Food brings people together."In this episode, you'll learn:The Origin Story: How a Billy Currington song on a back porch led to the "PGADB" brand.The Competition Grind: The truth about competing, from finishing "dead ass last" in 2015 to claiming a top prize.Oklahoma Sauce Wars: The cultural importance of Head Country and Jason's mission to create a sauce he loves even more.What's Next: A sneak peek at his upcoming second cookbook (focused on non-traditional smoker dishes) and his new no-sugar-added sauce.The "Pipe Dream": How Jason's passion project evolved into a legitimate business with employees.Core Philosophy: Why supporting local businesses and the spirit of community define the barbecue world.The Big Picture: Jason's powerful belief that food is the ultimate unifier, transcending politics, religion, and race.Chapters:0:23 The Origin of "Pretty Good At Drinking Beer Barbecue"3:06 Branding Challenges and Success4:18 Barbecue Competition Experiences5:38 The Evolution of BBQ Sauces6:07 Head Country BBQ Sauce in Oklahoma7:07 Changing Judge Preferences8:12 Developing a Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce10:11 Barbecue Sauce and Family11:37 The Science of Smoking Meat15:06 Smoker Recommendations: Hasty Bake and Oklahoma Joe19:00 The Nook and Local Business Support21:19 Philosophy of Supporting Local Businesses22:19 Challenges of Competing with Big Box Retailers24:26 Why "Pretty Good At Drinking Beer Barbecue" Avoids Walmart25:27 Working with Homeland Stores27:38 The Realities of the BBQ Sauce Business29:59 Shipping BBQ Sauce Nationwide31:09 The Power of Food to Bring People Together31:56 Juggling a Full-Time Job and a "Pipe Dream" Business33:09 The First Cookbook: "I'd Smoke That"34:09 Non-Traditional Smoker Recipes37:18 Plans for the Second Cookbook39:31 The Value of Teaching and Community40:06 Smooth Sailing and Stressful Times41:09 Leaving a Legacy41:35 The Camaraderie of the Barbecue World43:24 First Grand Reserve Win46:25 Helping Fellow Competitors50:18 Favorite Food (Not Barbecue)51:00 Regional Barbecue Styles52:48 Belief in Luck vs. Smartness53:34 Returning to College for Digital MarketingBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/brews-business--5630487/support.