Not exactly Ozark Oak but all things considered......

SGH

Not so long ago, Ozark Oak sadly became unavailable. For the record and clarity, OO along with Rockwood were my personal favorites. With supplies of OO drying up rapidly, I have been on the lookout for something else to use once all reserves are diminished. As luck would have it, I found the lump below. Let me say up up front that it's not the full equal of OO, but for the money it is fantastic. Upon first lighting, it has a very sweet smell but it quickly diminishes. It seems to burn real clean with minimal fuss. Again, it's not the full equivalent of neither OO nor RW, but at less than 50 cents a pound it's far better than Royal Oak. Thus far I have only done a couple of small direct cooks so it would be hard to give a full review at this point. However just basing its performance off of what I have seen so far, I'm pleased overall with it. All the pieces are nice size with minimal shake. 

Eggcelsior

What terrible lump. I get a rock or two, but a stopwatch!?!?!?!

At least it works 

tarheelmatt

Where'd you get this @SGH?

tisoypops

Nice find. I recently got a bag of central market lump, which is an heb brand in Texas. 20 lbs for only 12 bucks and it rocks. I filled my large to the top of the fire ring for a brisket cook and after 15 hours from light to closing it down and then another indirect cook at 400 for an hour and half light to close and the lump is still above the firebox. 

SGH

Eggcelsior said:

What terrible lump. I get a rock or two, but a stopwatch!?!?!?!

At least it works 

I hear ya buddy. The stopwatch was for size comparison. I do wish that each bag came with a stopwatch though.  

SGH

tarheelmatt said:

Where'd you get this @SGH?

I found it at Winn Dixie brother tar. It's honestly pretty good for the money. It will startle you at first as it smells like burning sugar (very sweet) for a few minutes. This quickly subsides though.  

fruitguy

Full Circle is private label or store brand for many chains. It is supplied by Topco. I do not know who is producing it for them. 

SGH

fruitguy said:

Full Circle is private label or store brand for many chains. It is supplied by Topco. I do not know who is producing it for them. 

I do not know who produces it either. But whomever they are, they do a pretty good job. Going to try it on a long indirect cook tonight to put it to the real test. 

Grillin_beers

I've been using a lot of KJ red bag lately.  Looks like a good find though

SGH

Grillin_beers said:

I've been using a lot of KJ red bag lately.  Looks like a good find though

The KJ is actually pretty good as well. But as of late it has got quite pricey in my area. A year ago it was very affordable.  

Photo Egg

Nice find...and the price is great.
Will have to keep my eyes open when we travel your way.
We blew through your area going to and from Georgia Mnt Fest but we were full of rattling bottles for friends in the South.lol

SGH

Photo Egg said:

Nice find...and the price is great.
Will have to keep my eyes open when we travel your way.


Every Winn Dixie down here has it as well as the Rouses in Biloxi at the corner of Lorraine Cowan and Pass road. 

WeberWho

http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lumpdatabase/lumpbag77.htm

Carolina Q

Gotta love the RO haters. This stuff is "far better than RO"! Except the Whiz says...

"In our Quick Stats section, we say that the country of origin and type of wood is unknown, but we thought we would allow ourselves a bit of speculative luxury and suggest that this charcoal MAY be manufactured by Royal Oak. The following was printed on the bag:

"

  

Photo Egg

 Carolina Q 
I just like to stock up on a good deal...It might take an extra 5 minutes to burn clean but 8 bucks a bag for almost 18 pounds is a deal.
This was my first run to the store after installing the racks in my garage.

Grillin_beers

SGH said:

Grillin_beers said:

I've been using a lot of KJ red bag lately.  Looks like a good find though

The KJ is actually pretty good as well. But as of late it has got quite pricey in my area. A year ago it was very affordable.  

I stock up when Costco sellers it.  Normally 2 bags for $29

SGH

Grillin_beers said:

I stock up when Costco sellers it.  Normally 2 bags for $29

Unfortunately I do not have a Costco in my area. Sure wish that we did.  

Legume

my Costco has 40 lb bags of Cowboy, lucky me

WeberWho

@Photo Egg That's not even right!  You could eat off your garage floor!!!  That's the cleanest and most clutter free garage I've seen in a looooooonnnng time.  Nice bike by the way

Parkersquared

I will have to pick some up and try it. 

SGH

Parkersquared said:

I will have to pick some up and try it. 

If you do, let us know what you think. Thus far, I have been pretty satisfied especially when you factor in the price. 

jimithing

Legume said:

my Costco has 40 lb bags of Cowboy, lucky me

Have you tried it?  Better or worse than RO?  Now that Ozark Oak is gone I'm in the market for a new charcoal and I'm not a fan of RO so far.

Legume

I tried a bag of cowboy maybe 18 months ago when I first got my egg.  It was like the fourth of July, so many sparks shooting out, popping, cracking.  I hated it because I was afraid of it.  I honestly can't remember if it was as sooty or smokey as what I've heard, I had nothing really to compare it to.

ChillyWillis

SGH said:

Unfortunately I do not have a Costco in my area. Sure wish that we did.  

@SGH  after seeing the way you eat I'm surprised you don't have a Costco in your pantry. 

DoubleEgger

@SGH concerned about price? What is the world coming to?!

SGH

DoubleEgger said:

@SGH concerned about price? What is the world coming to?!

Actually it's not about the price. Not at all my friend. I have never minded paying top price for top quality. But this being a elcheapo brand, you would expect it to suck like Royal Oak. However it is a surprisingly decent lump. I still give Rockwood the thumbs up. However sometimes we all get caught in a jam and are out of our premium lump. This makes for a good back up in a pinch. It lacks the sooty taste that RO is known and famous for. In my area we are very limited on lump that is available in a reasonable driving distance. The choices are usually RO and assorted store brands. I much prefer this one over the RO. Rockwood will always be my go to lump as long as it's available. But sometimes I'm out and have to improvise. Not often, but it does happen.  

SGH

jimithing said:

Legume said:

my Costco has 40 lb bags of Cowboy, lucky me

Have you tried it?  Better or worse than RO?  Now that Ozark Oak is gone I'm in the market for a new charcoal and I'm not a fan of RO so far.

Cowboy and RO are equally crappy. Look for alternatives my friend. 

Jeremiah

@Photo Egg you should send those beer pics to yuengling, they put them on Facebook for smuggler of the month. 

pescadorzih

Glad I don't have to "smuggle" Yuengling. Brewery is only an hour away from me.

gmac

@SGH I should mail you a bag of Maple Leaf Lump. That's all I use. 

DoubleEgger

SGH said:

DoubleEgger said:

@SGH concerned about price? What is the world coming to?!

Actually it's not about the price. Not at all my friend. I have never minded paying top price for top quality. But this being a elcheapo brand, you would expect it to suck like Royal Oak. However it is a surprisingly decent lump. I still give Rockwood the thumbs up. However sometimes we all get caught in a jam and are out of our premium lump. This makes for a good back up in a pinch. It lacks the sooty taste that RO is known and famous for. In my area we are very limited on lump that is available in a reasonable driving distance. The choices are usually RO and assorted store brands. I much prefer this one over the RO. Rockwood will always be my go to lump as long as it's available. But sometimes I'm out and have to improvise. Not often, but it does happen.  

Out of Rockwood? That's blasphemy my  friend!