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charcoal

henapplehenapple Posts: 15,983
edited October 2012 in EggHead Forum
I started with BGE, tried wgww but didn't like it. It had a weird taste. Tried cowboy but after reading naked whiz's review I guess I won't use it anymore. Bought some royal oak today so I'll see tomorrow. It's hard to find different types locally. I see guys buying truckloads....
Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 

Comments

  • EggerinLAEggerinLA Posts: 186
    Nothing wrong with looking at Naked Whiz and his views, but I disagreed with him on a few of his points. I look at what people who use something every week say before him. Use your own judgment and don't be a sheep. Oh. Cowboy has changed recently for the better. It is a really good lump now.
  • smaschsmasch Posts: 115
    I have been using B and B recently, then Academy Sports ran out and it is hit and miss at best.  My local Ace is stocking Wicked Good WW and this is my go to for low and slows.  40 lbs in the rack now!  Last week I popped into Walmart and there was a pallet of Royal Oak.  8 bags later I was headed home with cheaper charcoal for the higher heat cooks.  
    It is all a matter of preference I suppose.  
    Owner of LBGE, Antique Komodo Green in Color. Proud Career Firefighter. Johns Creek / South Forsyth GA
  • EggerinLAEggerinLA Posts: 186
    Oh. I dislike Wicked Good also. Very overrated on this forum IMO.
  • nolaeggheadnolaegghead Posts: 26,333
    I have cowboy in my egg right now and it's fine.

    More important than the type of lump is to make sure your fire is established (doesn't have to be roaring, it can be just the top of the pyramid if you're doing a low n slow).  If it isn't, you can get a terrible taste on your food. 

    Smell the smoke right after you start it.  Take a whiff now and then.  You'll notice when it clears up visibly, it'll smell different.  When the smoke smells good, the food will taste good.  If the smoke smells bad, the food will taste bad.
    ______________________________________________
    This is my signature line just so you're not confused.  Love me or hate me, I am forum Marmite.
    Large and Medium BGE, Kamado Joe Jr, Akorn Jr, smoker with a 5k btu AC, gas grill, fire pit, pack of angry cats, two turntables and a microphone, my friend.  Registered republican.
    New Orleans, LA - we know how to eat 
  • scottc454scottc454 Posts: 87
    Cowboy rules. I've never found anything bad in it - not that I even care. I have mixed feelings on the whole concept of charcoal reviews. I respect the effort, but this is charcoal we're talking about. It's not like buying a car. Buy a bag and burn it.

    I see only 2 real differences between lumps - density and chunk size. Other than that it's carbon plus a little residual smoke flavor.

  • scottc454scottc454 Posts: 87
    henapple said:
    I started with BGE, tried wgww but didn't like it. It had a weird taste. Tried cowboy but after reading naked whiz's review I guess I won't use it anymore. Bought some royal oak today so I'll see tomorrow. It's hard to find different types locally. I see guys buying truckloads....
    WGWW had a weird taste?  Try burning it instead of eating it. 


  • henapplehenapple Posts: 15,983
    Understood. I'm just trying to find a "go to". Clean, available and good price. I had no problem with the cowboy but the review of its contents was discouraging.
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
  • nolaeggheadnolaegghead Posts: 26,333
    Stike uses the cowboy....I think it's mostly an issue of availability and price for most people.  If you're in a big metropolitan area, probably have many more options.  Nothing wrong with finding something you're comfortable with.  Sometimes quality control is bad in some brands - I've had bags of 25% dust.
    ______________________________________________
    This is my signature line just so you're not confused.  Love me or hate me, I am forum Marmite.
    Large and Medium BGE, Kamado Joe Jr, Akorn Jr, smoker with a 5k btu AC, gas grill, fire pit, pack of angry cats, two turntables and a microphone, my friend.  Registered republican.
    New Orleans, LA - we know how to eat 
  • EggerinLAEggerinLA Posts: 186
    edited October 2012
    Henapple since you read the guys review of Cowboy and take it as gospel, I'm sure you noticed the date of the review also. I mean that is kind of important. I found Wicked Good to be average at best after 4 bags. Publix brand is much better. I do my own reviews by testing them myself. Trust, but verify. Oh, naked whiz gave Cowboy an above average rating 5 years ago. Cowboy is much better today. Many of the guys ratings are old and dated.
  • henapplehenapple Posts: 15,983
    Yeah, I liked cowboy way better than wicked...I'll give royal a try....we'll see
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
  • HashmakerHashmaker Posts: 149
    I have been using B&B and the Publix lump. I've been satisfied with both but was surprised by how many large pieces there were in the Publix lump. I think it's just a personal preference so, experiment til you find one you like.
  • EggerinLAEggerinLA Posts: 186
    B&B is another really good lump that I disagree with Naked about.
  • bertscampersbertscampers Posts: 136
    I've use wgww, dragon's breath and bge.  I think I am way too new because I can not taste a difference in the taste.  Yes, I know I should try eating the charcoal!!!!

    They are all about the same to me.  Some big pieces and some small.  I am worried more about the price at the moment and taste can be added with chunks or chips.

    Just my two cents.

    Cheers
  • ShedFarmShedFarm Posts: 499
    henapple,

    The Big Green Egg lump you started with, is actually made by Royal Oak, so you should find it burns and its smoke flavor is the same as BGE. Royal Oak also produces the Kroger-brand lump charcoal, as well as other store brands.
    BJ (Powhatan, VA)
  • Fred19FlintstoneFred19Flintstone Posts: 7,399
    ShedFarm said:
    henapple,

    The Big Green Egg lump you started with, is actually made by Royal Oak, so you should find it burns and its smoke flavor is the same as BGE. Royal Oak also produces the Kroger-brand lump charcoal, as well as other store brands.
    +1. They also make GFS (Gordon Food Service) brand.
    Flint, Michigan
  • 4Runner4Runner Posts: 2,948
    WG is great. Large chunks and very little dust. Burns long and hot. A bit hard to start but after trying BGE, Publix, Cowboy, and one other brand at Publix was easily the highest quality. Also, since i purchase WG by the pallet, hard to beat $16 per bag.
    Joe - I'm a reformed gasser-holic aka 4Runner Columbia, SC Wonderful BGE Resource Site: http://www.nakedwhiz.com/ceramicfaq.htm and http://www.nibblemethis.com/  and http://playingwithfireandsmoke.blogspot.com/2006/02/recipes.html
    What am I drinking now?   Woodford....neat
  • EggerinLAEggerinLA Posts: 186
    OP: Like you and a few others said, WG isn't all that good. Overrated. Experiment with others and form you own opinion.
  • jeroldharterjeroldharter Posts: 548
    Not sure of the point of this thread. So far, I have tried Wicked Good and BGE lump and prefer the former. Both burn and work fine. Wicked has larger pieces and less dust, costs me about $8 less per bag delivered to my house. The charcoal imparts no taste on the food. I baked some apple dumplings for 40 minutes on Wicked and it tasted as if it came from the oven.
  • SkiddymarkerSkiddymarker Posts: 8,299
    edited October 2012
    RO user mostly because it is the most available for me, sold at Canadian Tire, Lowe's and Wally World. 
    I have noticed a difference in the small bags (4KG) vs the larger bags (8KG) The larger bags seem to have more fist size and less dust. 
    Has anyone else noticed this? 
    Delta B.C. - Move over coffee, this is job for alcohol!
  • ccpoulin1ccpoulin1 Posts: 390
    Skiddymarker said:
    RO user mostly because it is the most available for me, sold at Canadian Tire, Lowe's and Wally World. 
    I have noticed a difference in the small bags (4KG) vs the larger bags (8KG) The larger bags seem to have more fist size and less dust. 
    Has anyone else noticed this? 
    +1  absolutely.  The bigger bags i buy at restaurant depot have all had significantly bigger pieces than what i purchased at WM.  The other upside (at least for me) is that the bigger bags are about 30% cheaper by weight.  win/win for me!

    "You are who you are when nobody is looking"

  • FiremanyzFiremanyz Posts: 901
    I have only tried BGE and WGWW I did notice the size difference in the WGWW. I am on vacation right now and found lump at the local Harris Teeter. Was wondering if anyone has used it. It is a good deal in my eyes, it is 5.99 for a 9 lbs bag. I read the reviews in the database but want some real world input. Thanks
  • SWVABeanCounterSWVABeanCounter Posts: 859
    I've only tried BGE and Cowboy (my egg was one month old yesterday).  Couldn't notice a taste difference, but did notice the Cowboy took longer to get to the temps I was looking for.  Piece size was about the same.  Is it a density thing?  I would think that would make it better for the low and slow.  I'll be trying Royal Oak next.

    Damascus, VA.  Friendliest town on the Appalachian Trail.

    LBGE Aug 2012, SBGE Feb 2014

  • fairchasefairchase Posts: 292
    henapple said:
    Understood. I'm just trying to find a "go to". Clean, available and good price. I had no problem with the cowboy but the review of its contents was discouraging.


     If it works for you and you like the results who cares what someone else thinks.....

     This is not just true of charcoal.

  • henapplehenapple Posts: 15,983
    I have only been egging a short time and on this forum even shorter. I didn't realize charcoal was such a "hot" topic. I travel for business and always look for micro brews that I haven't tried. I guess I'll start doing the same for charcoal. Scottc454.. The wicked good taste better wrapped in bacon...
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
  • GLWGLW Posts: 178
    +1 micro breweries.
    When in doubt add more pepper.
  • henapplehenapple Posts: 15,983
    We have one here in mid TN called Calfkiller....only on draft now but really good. Love to taste brews from small batches.
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
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