ACE Hardware Lump Charcoal...good or bad?

dsmith

I've already went through two bags of the BGE brand of coal in my one month of BGE ownership

I have an xtra large EGG and have been cooking a lot (BTW, how addictive is this stuff anyhow?)!

I'm paying almost $30 for the BGE coal but ACE Hardware by my house has a 20lb bag for $12. Does anyone have any experience with that brand?

Thanks!

No Trash

Our local Ace sells Cowboy brand and I have used it and I have not had any problems with it. I also use Royal Oak from Walmart without problems at $6.37 per 10lb bag. The only thing that I have noticed is that sometimes you may get a few rocks in the bag. I just clean them out of the fire box and have started a rock garden next to the egg...

Carolina Q

I don't, and I don't see it in TNW's reviews either...

http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lumpindexpage.htm?bag

Royal Oak (made in US, not the South American stuff) seems to be popular among forum members and is available at Walmart for under $7 per 10 lb bag. Whether you can find it there this time of year probably depends on where you live. Grills and accessories aren't real big sellers here in New England in the winter! It's 9° outside right now!! :laugh:

Try a bag of the Ace stuff and see how you like it.

dsmith

Great to know! That is a much better price point. I hope the ACE stuff/Cowboy brand works good 'cause I get post-traumatic stress disorder after entering Wal-Mart.

Carolina Q

dsmith wrote:

I get post-traumatic stress disorder after entering Wal-Mart.

You are not alone! :laugh:

thegrillster

Cowboy is decent lump, especially for the price. I use it when my walmart is out of royal oak.

It seems to burn faster but I still consider it very usable and a great deal for the price.

dsmith

I'm doing my first overnight butt smoke tonight. I'm following Nakedwhiz's Carolina BBQ recipe. The longest I've smoked something now was like 8 hours (bone-in chops if i remember correctly). I hope this turns out! I'm guessing it is hard to screw up as long as I go lo-n-slo.

Wish me luck...

thegrillster

Make sure you fill your egg totally full. The cowboy does not seem to last as long but it should be fine. Just fill it up totally.

SmokeyPitt

Our local Ace sold Frontier brand in 20 lb bags and cowboy in 10 lb. I haven't tried them, but I think either are fine.

If you have Kroger in your area I have had pretty good luck with their lump. Rumor has it that is also Royal Oak. 5.99 for a 8.8# bag. Wally-world is a better deal but mine only carries lump in the summer.

boston_stoker

Royal Oak at Walmart really is a good option, and there can be some very interesting people there!

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com

For low and slow cooks, I like Wicked Good Charcoal. It isn't available everywhere though.

XLegglover

now that humor!! unfortunately for me hre in Cedar Falls Ia, Wicked Lump isnt available, but heard its good stuff :S

The Naked Whiz

Depends on which brand it is. My ACE sells Frontier, Cowboy and BGE.

Jer_inva

You might want to give this database a scan. It has both users ratings and comparison testing ratings on almost all brands of lump charcoal:

http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lump.htm

Jer

Griffin

Man, no fair, I have an Ace Hardware in walking distance and they don't sell lump, or charcoal, or any grilling accessories for that matter.

stevesails

i have bought Cowboy at Home depot and Lowes.. It is ok.
I tried the Lump at GFS, it seems a little smokie, i dont think it is totally carbonized. it is supposed to be royal Oak, but I am not sure.

I am now using the Royal Oak From Walmart, they have it all year even in Michigan. i usually buy 5 or 6 bags at a time. and I am sticking with it.

RRP

if you have limited source for lump where you live just talk to your ACE store manager and they can place a special order from their distribution center. Just because yours doesn't stock it doesn't mean they can get it for you. Years ago I used to do that and get 3 bags at a time. Now I have many sources. BTW ACE SKU# is 8102642, Do-It-Best is 800279, True Value is 145607, Service Star is 66990. HTH

GeeCee

You should be able to buy it online and have it shipped to your local Ace store for no shipping charge. I have done it here in Griffin, GA several times. Our store has also started carrying the full line of BGE's.

Cpt'n Cook

I just ordered 10 20# bags of Cowboy from Ace. I have never had a problem with it. The store didn't order any for the winter, don't know why. 12 degrees is perfect BBQing weather, bunch of whimps around here.

MemphisQue

I use Nature-Glo and its excellent. I pay about $15-$16 for a 20lb bag. 2 of our BGE dealers locally have switched to selling the Nature-Glo.

Margie

If you are talking about Cowboy lump I like it better then others I have tried.

transversalInactive

I just got my Egg last week, but I've been using the Ace brand lump charcoal for some time. The Ace Hardware right down the street from my house is a local grilling mecca. They sell 3 or 4 brands, including something called "Cowboy." I asked the owner, whom I know for many years to be a good honest soul, which of the brands was best............he indicated that he thought they were all about the same. I've used them all and cannot tell the difference. Maybe I'm just not that sophisticated a griller, but I have not been able to justify an $8 per bag premium(65%). Just my opinion.