Weber Ceramic? Guesses?

kl8ton

Grill of a lifetime. . . smoke brisket for 10 hours holding constant tempurature?  Is Weber looking for a piece of ceramic cooker pie?  I can't find anything beyond these two videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc72H4H-U80

https://www.facebook.com/FireCraft-261548394156/?utm_source=FireCraft+Customer+Newsletter&utm_campaign=d8536f5eca-Weber_Teaser_3_25_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7f23282b10-d8536f5eca-110033369

Ozzie_Isaac

My guess is double walled tin can, with gas burners on the side.  Like a performer with a double walled WSM attached.

Ozzie_Isaac

Btw, I love Webers.  They are by far the best grill in their price category,  and outstanding customer service.

Although, the rumoured $1500 price tag moves them solidly past BGE prices.

lousubcap

Whatever it is, hopefully it doesn't trigger a flame-war like the Yeti/Rtic postings although these threads contained a good bit of humor.

Botch

If it triggers a price war, bring it on!  

SmokeyPitt

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Btw, I love Webers.  They are by far the best grill in their price category,  and outstanding customer service.

Although, the rumoured $1500 price tag moves them solidly past BGE prices.

Yeah, time will tell but hopefully they don't make it that expensive for no good reason. I feel like many manufacturers put a "kamado tax" on anything that is shaped like an egg.  

RRP

Botch said:

If it triggers a price war, bring it on!  

But which way? BGE moving up toward that $1,500? LOL

HeavyG

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Btw, I love Webers.  They are by far the best grill in their price category,  and outstanding customer service.

Although, the rumoured $1500 price tag moves them solidly past BGE prices.

There are a few higher end steel shell kamado makers/models out there.

If this Weber is something like those at $1500 I'd give it a serious look. Especially if the outer shell is stainless rather than just their porcelain coated steel.

Will be interesting to see what sort of gasket/seal arrangement they use. Hope it is a rubber type seal rather than the usual "felt/rope" stuff found on many kamados.

Ozzie_Isaac

Might have a good shot at Stainless .... supposedly it is called the "Summitt Charcoal " ... their Summitt line is all SS 

HeavyG

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Might have a good shot at Stainless .... supposedly it is called the "Summitt Charcoal " ... their Summitt line is all SS 

Makes sense.

Kamado Joe makes a stainless steel shell model - the KJ Pro - but it sells for $6-$7K.

I'm sure the Weber will be just as nice at a fraction of that price.

SmokeyPitt

Found some more speculation here:
http://tvwbb.com/showthread.php?61593-2016-New-Weber-Products/page8

Some pics:





It looks like a thick steel kamado but there is an igniter so maybe it has a gas to light it (similar to the performer). 

It also looks like the outside might be the same porcelain coated enamel but a double wall like @Ozzie_Isaac speculated. 

on Page 9:

Someone named Paul Rutz on the Weber Kettle Fans Facebook group posted:

So I got the lowdown on the Big Announcement from Weber today. It is going to be their version of the Big Green Egg. From what I understand this unit will be metal instead of ceramic and their spin is, it will have many of the BGE's advantages, but it will be easier to control Temp. The issue with the BGE being built of Ceramic material, is if it gets too hot, you cant really cool it down because the unit retains so much heat. I am pretty excited, this could be really cool and a lot less expensive than the BGE.

kl8ton

They may try to cut out the aftermarket segment like auto manufacturers usually do.  Watch where the trends are going and make it all available right from the factory.  Hithces, backup cameras, Remote car starting, premuim wheels, navigation, wifi, tinted windows, led lighting, integraged brake controllers, internet radio the list goes on. . . and on. . .windshield wipers. . . 

I am curious on the shape about what grid size it will have or if it will come standard with a multi-level cooking system. Maybe charcoal fueled with propane ignition and wifi temp controller?

Thatgrimguy

That sure looks like a pellet box on the side. I'm thinking metal, pellet driven (or maybe pellet supported with the ability to still use charcoal somehow) kamado.

HeavyG

Thatgrimguy said:

That sure looks like a pellet box on the side. I'm thinking metal, pellet driven (or maybe pellet supported with the ability to still use charcoal somehow) kamado.

I read a week ago on a different forum from a BBQ dealer that it is definitely NOT a pellet grill. We'll see soon.

DoubleEgger

SmokeyPitt said:

 The issue with the BGE being built of Ceramic material, is if it gets too hot, you cant really cool it down because the unit retains so much heat. 

I take this to mean that the Weber will burn more lump. 

Dobie

Ceramic is where the egg gets the stability and efficiency from, no going back for me.

SmokeyPitt

DoubleEgger said:

SmokeyPitt said:

 The issue with the BGE being built of Ceramic material, is if it gets too hot, you cant really cool it down because the unit retains so much heat. 

I take this to mean that the Weber will burn more lump. 

Yeah I'm not sure what they mean by that.  If it allows more heat to escape then I agree it would burn more lump.  If they mean that it is better insulated and the outside doesn't get hot, then it would burn less. 

FWIW the big steel/bubba/broil king kegs are better insulated than eggs and burn less lump.  Not trying to fan any flames just stating the "facts" as I have read them on the interweb.   At the time I bought my eggs I didn't think that was worth more than a lifetime warranty and having a dealer a mile from my house.  Just saying that there are better insulating materials than ceramic so it is not unlikely that it will be more efficient since it has already been done.  

cookingdude555

Dobie said:

Ceramic is where the egg gets the stability and efficiency from, no going back for me.

This is true, my bubba keg is more efficient.  When I have had the large egg and the bubba keg roaring at 700 to do multiple pizzas, I can put my hand on the outside of bubba keg.  I cannot do that on the egg at that temperature.    While lump consumption is lower than the egg, there are drawbacks. Since the bubba keg is ridiculously efficient (I sealed up all of the weaknesses), it is a little more challenging to control the temp once it gets out of hand.

I am excited for the weber kamado.  Should be cool to see a major player like Weber making one of these.

bhedges1987

interested to see what this turns out to be.

1move

My guess is that it will be a SS tin can with some sort of offset smoker option

HeavyG

1move said:

My guess is that it will be a SS tin can with some sort of offset smoker option

That's a pretty pricey tin can there.

HeavyG

Read this on a different forum today from someone that has actually seen one of these new mysterious Weber things:

"The new product is a 24", dual shell, air insulated, kettle that comes complete with a heat deflector. The price point is $1499. There will be two models … a stand alone kettle and a Performer type of kettle/table combo. Both units are equipped with a gas ignition system like the top tier Performer series. The deflector plate is hinged to allow for the addition of charcoal for cooks longer than 10-12 hours.  

The vent system is substantially improved from that found on the standard kettle. The top vent reminds you of the standard kettle top vent until you notices it flips up to allow for improved air flow producing higher combustion hence higher heat than can be achieved on the standard kettle."

DoubleEgger

Focker

Love my kettles, jumbo joes, and WSM.....but no thanks on the overpriced Bubba keg with gas assist.

lousubcap

I have a soft-spot for the Weber kettles as I used them for many years and always had great success.  I will refrain from any speculation.  In a few days all the gossip and rumors will be history.  

Jeremiah

lousubcap said:

I have a soft-spot for the Weber kettles as I used them for many years and always had great success.  I will refrain from any speculation.  In a few days all the gossip and rumors will be history.  

True, but while we're at it, I whole heartedly agree and hope what ever it is, it stays true to weber's roots and has no propane, just an upgraded charcoal grill. 

Thatgrimguy

Jeremiah said:

lousubcap said:

I have a soft-spot for the Weber kettles as I used them for many years and always had great success.  I will refrain from any speculation.  In a few days all the gossip and rumors will be history.  

True, but while we're at it, I whole heartedly agree and hope what ever it is, it stays true to weber's roots and has no propane, just an upgraded charcoal grill. 

For $1500 it darn well better have propane or something to justify the money!

SmokingPiney

It will be a super ceramic...........light as thin steel, with super insulating properties. There will be no gasket issues, and this grill will be capable of 1000 degrees + on first burn and hold it for 12 + hours.

This cooker will set an entire new benchmark..........

RRP

SmokingPiney said:

It will be a super ceramic...........light as thin steel, with super insulating properties. There will be no gasket issues, and this grill will be capable of 1000 degrees + on first burn and hold it for 12 + hours.

This cooker will set an entire new benchmark..........

Mind if I have a drag off your roach? 

pgprescott

RRP said:

SmokingPiney said:

It will be a super ceramic...........light as thin steel, with super insulating properties. There will be no gasket issues, and this grill will be capable of 1000 degrees + on first burn and hold it for 12 + hours.

This cooker will set an entire new benchmark..........

Mind if I have a drag off your roach? 

How do you know what a roach is Ron? I'm impressed. Kinda. 

Jeremiah

pgprescott said:

RRP said:

SmokingPiney said:

It will be a super ceramic...........light as thin steel, with super insulating properties. There will be no gasket issues, and this grill will be capable of 1000 degrees + on first burn and hold it for 12 + hours.

This cooker will set an entire new benchmark..........

Mind if I have a drag off your roach? 

How do you know what a roach is Ron? I'm impressed. Kinda. 

I get the impression that Ron had forgotten more
than most of us will ever know about most things.