DES MOINES, Iowa –The annual Chili Cookoff was held at Firetrucker Brewery on Sunday.

Dozens of chefs showed up at Firetrucker Brewery equipped with family recipes and secrets to prove their chili was the best of the bunch.

Brian Maschka prepared his family recipe and said the possibility of prizes meant nothing compared to getting to share some good food with good people.

“It’s just about community and having fun, I know that they are giving out prizes but it’s fun to just be with the people next to me,” said Maschka. “Make a joke or two with the person to the left or to the right of you, get the family involved, my son is here and he’s having fun just cooking and serving.”

Steven DeMeester has attended the cookoff several times and say’s the competition adds a level of fun to the even. He also used a little something special in his chili hoping to land it in first place.

“My chili is made with our best-selling beer, in my opinion, the Cat Dragon, it is a thirteen and a half ginger beer, best ginger beer in the county, haven’t found a better one yet. I made mine with a white chicken chili and it’s amazing.”

DeMeester’s extra kick didn’t win him first prize, but he did walk away with third and is ready for another go at top prize next year.

Once attendees has stuffed themselves into a food coma, everyone got to enjoy some live music by Harrison Ingraham and Nick McClure from 4 to 6 p.m.