There are barbecue societies, barbecue books, barbecue competitions. But Brunswick stew is the poor cousin in the barbecue world. Always hanging around in the background, hoping somebody will notice it. Tucked on to a plate of barbecue more to round out the meal than to actually be eaten. Heck, nobody is even sure of its lineage.
Nobody can even agree on exactly what goes in it.
So hunches are as good as anything. When people were living in the woods, this was kind of their Campbell soup. There are Brunswick stew aficionados, though. James Villas is one. It's all about the great American stewpot, including Brunswick stew.