The Eternal Lump Debate

Doc_Eggerton · March 2012

I use BGE brand, which I really like but which seems so pricey.

I have few options where I live. I tried Cowboy, and did not like it.

I finally dragged myself to Wally World and bought some Royal Oak. I snagged a manager and asked if there was a volume discount, and he said the price is the same by the bag or by the pallet.

So I took it home, cleaned the XL out and did a cook exclusively with Royal Oak. It was just fine and seemed as good as BGE (cue the person to tell me it is the same in a different bag.)

The bags are different sizes and prices. I am not much of a math-in-the-head guy, so I waited until I got home to price them.

Well........ the Royal Oak is $0.70 a pound and the BGE is $1.25 a pound. My BGE dealer gives you a 10th bag free after the first 9, but that still makes 10 bags it $112.50 opposed to $77.27.

Guess I'll have to trek to one of my least favorite places to shop when I need lump.

PS here is the test cook.........

PPS set of the _)(**%# fire alarm. Ah, the trouble with beautiful weather, open sliders, and Big Green Eggs.

smokesniffer · March 2012

Up our way, (British Columbia, Canada eh) I can only source Royal Oak from two different outlet stores, Wally World and Canadian Tire. They are within a penny a pound difference, $1.18 and $1.19 per pound. RO seems to burn ok, but how would I know any different. :-? And I have to stock up, because lump isn't as popular here. Come winter they don't even carry it. I will hoard some bags for winter.

Hey Doc love your set up, looks nice and relaxing.

cortguitarman · March 2012

I really like the Royal Oak as well. My local Wal-Mart has been out for a month and the manager doesn't know when it will be restocked. I have had to go to the dealer for BGE charcoal while I wait. $30 per bag after tax! That really hurts. I have 2 other Wal-Mart stores within 20 miles, but when I need lump in a hurry and gas is almost $4 per gallon, who wants to male a 40 mile round trip? Dealer is 2 miles away.

Bakeman · March 2012

30.00 per bag wow!!!

Village Idiot · March 2012

Doc,

Didn't I see your picture on an email that's going around, buying a bag of RO at Walmart?

:))

dlk7 · March 2012

Dragon Breath delivered to my house near Nashville is $33 per 20# bag (Charcoal is $16 and shipping is $17). After reading the review I thought I would give it a try and see if it lived up to the hype - bought 3 bags. If it does, I'll start looking into sharing a pallet if I can get enough local interest.

burr_baby33 · March 2012

My personal favorite is Ozark Oak. Delivered to the door. I just got 10 bags, I think delivery is free with orders of + $100.

dlk7 · March 2012

My personal favorite is Ozark Oak. Delivered to the door. I just got 10 bags, I think delivery is free with orders of + $100.

Have you found Ozark Oak in 20 pound bags? If so, from whom? GrillStuff is charging $10.95 per 10 pound bag and we can get BGE for that price locally.

EggRacer · March 2012

What external lump debate? :-) I use Ozark Oak exclusively. My dealer always has it in stock and I pay about 7.95 per 10 lb. bag.

waegger · March 2012

Iam still getting 10 lb bags of ro at wall mart for 6.49 .

gte1 · March 2012

I'm in the process of trying out new ones and am just getting through my first and maybe last bag of Wicked Good. It is excellent, but double the price of RO. It does burn longer, but not close to twice as long. I also bought a bag of Cowboy and just opened it. I have read here that it is made up of scrap wood, but mine has wood that is obviously round branch type wood not hardwood scrap, maybe havent gotten down that far in the bag yet. The jury is still out on the Cowboy. I'm not sure why I am shopping around because the RO is working great.

George

burr_baby33 · March 2012

I like the sixe of the lump pieces in Ozark Oak compared to BGE. Almost none of the really small. Yes, it it a buck a pound but I like it delivered, 10 or 12 bags at a time.

EGGARIFIC · March 2012

Call your local ace hardware and ask them to order you some Wicked Good. Couldnt find any withing 100 miles and called ACE right down the street and 3 days later had 10 bags of Wicked good.

mikey5874 · March 2012

You might try GFS foods. I am not at the house to check, but I think the bag I bought is 20 lbs at $13.00. The MSDS sheet shows this to be Royal Oak. I have only cooked once with it, but seemed pretty good and cheaper.