Rockwood - I gotta say...

MaskedMarvel

Greetings friends, I have to say the Rockwood lump is achieving game changer status in my cooks. Low ash. High temps. Lights fast. Burns slow. I haven't STIRRED my lump since my initial cook; just added more lump poured right out of the bag. I did build the initial fire and have been doing various two hourish cooks with wood added. I've been really impressed so far. I'm ten pounds into my 50 I've bought. If there's a pallet buy in your area, I can't recommend it enough. It's changed how I rate other lumps. Sorry for the single paragraph formatting (iPad). 8-Damien

Hokie_Smoker

I agree, I've used just a little more than one bag from our group buy and wished I had bought more. It burns very clean and I believe I've used less lump on my cooks. I'll be ordering again.

Austin Egghead

I have bought Rockwood from two different buys, North Dallas and Central Tex. 

The lump for the Dallas buy is light in weight, sparks a lot when first lit.  Lights quickly, burns hotter and quicker and had to be replenished during the thanksgiving cooks.

The bag from the Central Texas buy is heavier, takes longer to light, but burns slower, still sparks but not as much.  We will definitely get 2 cooks and probably enough left to start a third cook.  

The buy from Dallas has a very neutral smell, but the central Texas buy has a very pronounced oak smell...could really taste the oak in the second day slice of buttermilk pie.  

I still prefer Ozark Oak the best, but I will buy and use Rockwood lump also.  

I have used two full bags form the Dallas buy and almost one bag from the Central Texas buy.

warwoman

Austin Egghead said:

I have bought Rockwood from two different buys, North Dallas and Central Tex. 

The lump for the Dallas buy is light in weight, sparks a lot when first lit.  Lights quickly, burns hotter and quicker and had to be replenished during the thanksgiving cooks.

The bag from the Central Texas buy is heavier, takes longer to light, but burns slower, still sparks but not as much.  We will definitely get 2 cooks and probably enough left to start a third cook.  

The buy from Dallas has a very neutral smell, but the central Texas buy has a very pronounced oak smell...could really taste the oak in the second day slice of buttermilk pie.  

I still prefer Ozark Oak the best, but I will buy and use Rockwood lump also.  

I have used two full bags form the Dallas buy and almost one bag from the Central Texas buy.

 

Isn't Rockwood produced in the St. Louis area? Wonder why the difference in burn/ ash/ taste? Just curious.

stlcharcoal

@MaskedMarvel Thanks for the kind words, I'm glad it's working out for you!

 

@AustinEgghead & @warwoman No matter where Rockwood is sold in the US, it was produced in the same kilns in southern MO and shipped out of our Fenton, MO warehouse.  The Dallas group buy shipped in mid-Sept; the Austin one in mid-November......so they were definitely out of different loads.

There are hundreds of different factors (mostly environmental) that can change the lump size, smell, burn, etc.  In any case, the wood species would have been about the same as the slabs came from the same area & mills.  The sparking is usually a result of humidity and/or moisture content in the charcoal.

Lump charcoal is about as natural/organic as you can get.  No matter how much we try to get the same every time, it's never going to happen.  The briquette will ALWAYS beat us when it comes to that.  I think it's about as consistent as you can get seeing that we do not have an ingredient list nor controlled environment for production.  In any case, we will always strive for better.  Let me know if the remaining bags are that much different.  Thanks!

4Runner

Just wear goggles.

Austin Egghead

@stlcharcoal  I appreciate your reply and fully understand that no tree or piece of wood within that tree when converted to lump will yield the same burn time, taste or temperature.   What I wrote was not a criticism of the lump,  just just an observation of the bags I have used.  I like the lump enough to hit Cen-Tex up for a few more bags for #1 son's stocking.  It is nice to have a choice of good lump and not rely on just one brand.  

@4Runner  If controlling sparks was only a matter of wearing goggles then I would breath easier when I used the large egg.  Unfortunately, even though we have had more rain than this year than last, we are still in a severe drought.  It only takes one spark to do a lot of damage...just ask Cen-Tex.  

This is why we are very careful when using the large:

The large is less that six feet from the fence.

lakewade

I've been happy with the Rockwood I got from the central Texas buy. I just finished my second bag.  The biggest difference I have seen is the lower ash versus other lump, and frankly it seems to last a little longer.  I've also seen some sparking, but nothing too crazy.  I'm glad I loaded up on this lump and would buy again.