Phill Young, who died unexpectedly a year ago, was the winner of the first two Black History Month BBQ Cook-Off events. Full Circle Brewing photo

On Saturday, Full Circle Brewing Co. will host its third annual Full Circle Black History Month BBQ Cook-Off.

The event runs from noon to 11:30 p.m., and will feature some of Fresno’s most celebrated barbecue experts including Grill Masters BBQ, Papi’s Papas BBQ and Sam Neely among others, all seeking the “Phill Young Award for BBQ Excellence.”

“This is about charting a path for success for other minority-owned breweries who have historically been underrepresented, representing less than 1% of the nearly 9,000 breweries in the country,” said Full Circle Brewing Co. CEO Arthur Moye. “We strongly believe representation matters.”

In addition to live music and performances, ByBlack — a Black-owned business directory — will be in attendance to shed light on the importance of certifying minority-owned businesses.

The event will also feature three additional Black-owned breweries: Hella Coastal Brewing, Oak Park Brewing and Crowns and Hops.

This year’s award is named after the late local BBQ connoisseur Phill Young, the owner of Phill’s Corner Grill BBQ which was located inside Peacock Market in Clovis until January 2023 when Young stepped away from the business to undergo knee surgery.

Young won the previous two BBQ cook-off awards. This year’s trophy is named to honor the legacy built by Young.

Young died unexpectedly in early 2023.

Tickets to the event start at $5 for the cook-off, with concert/cook-off combo tickets available for $20. An additional 50 VIP tickets will be available for $50 and will include all access passes to the cook-off and concert, as well as a meet and greet with the grill masters.

“As the nation’s largest Black-owned brewery, Full Circle is thrilled to host a Black History Month celebration showcasing local chefs, vendors, fellow Black-owned breweries, and artists,” Moye said. “We are committed to raising awareness about the underrepresentation of Black brewers, with less than 1% of the over 8,000 breweries in the U.S. being Black-owned.”

The Full Circle Black History Month BBQ Cook-Off will be held at Full Circle Brewing Co., located at 712 Fulton St. in Fresno.

Full Circle Brewing is the Valley’s only Black-owned brewery and is Fresno’s longest continuously owned and operated brewery.