Jakes blend

ChillyWillis

With the recent back order issues ordering Rockwood from firecraft, along with the less than optimal arrival condition of my last few orders I decided I would grab a few bags of Wicked Good Jakes Blend and give it a try.  I'm excited about this, because I'm a firm believer in farm to table and buying local products... So if I can find a premium charcoal from my area (I'm in MA and wicked good is from ME) that is on par with RW and OO it's a big win for me. 

Let me be clear I don't blame the fine folks at Rockwood or firecraft for the issues with my orders. After looking at the condition of the shipping boxes it is very obvious to me that the local UPS handler is sick of carrying 100# of charcoal to my door every few months and decided to take up kickball with my shipments. Rockwood is without a doubt some of the best lump I have ever used, and the convenience of firecraft can't be beat. 

I'm excited to try it, and after I burn through a few bags I'll post my thoughts on it here. My first cook on it tonight will be a simple flank steak and some brusslesprouts. 

For those that are wondering here are the lump brands I've tried so far listed on a 5 star scale. 

5 - Rockwood, Ozark Oak
4 - Wicked Good Weekend Warrior
3 - Fogo
2 - Royal Oak, BGE brand, Whole Foods
1 - Cowboy

SGH

Hope that it is great lump brother Chilly.

stompbox

I like Jakes, good stuff.

ChillyWillis

Well so far so good. Impressed with the lump size. Lots of larger pieces perfect for setting up a low and slow, very little chips/dust. There are no massive head sized chunks like you'd find in a 40# bag of Fogo. The lump has the look of a good bag of Ozark Oak. 
(For reference the picture below is looking down into my LGE with my spider added for perspective)

Carolina Q

Don't know where you are in Mass, but the WG distribution center is in Holyoke. You can pick it up directly from the loading dock there. Contact Lee Ann at WG if you're interested. About $13 per 22 lb bag as I recall, though you have to buy in some quantity. That's for WW, don't know about Jake's.

mahenryak

Carolina Q said:

Don't know where you are in Mass, but the WG distribution center is in Holyoke. You can pick it up directly from the loading dock there. Contact Lee Ann at WG if you're interested. About $13 per 22 lb bag as I recall, though you have to buy in some quantity. That's for WW, don't know about Jake's.

And just so you can feel even better, by the time it makes up to my neck of the woods (Alaska) WGWW is $27 per bag.

Skiddymarker

Where is it made? Had a white bag of WG from a dealer in WA last year that was made in Brazil (?), it was very good, but there was way too much chips and dust - could be how it was handled. What you have there is pretty good looking lump. 

ChillyWillis

@Carolina Q I was aware that you could pick up out there, however I didn't know it was that cheap. Good to know. I'm in the Bridgewater area so it's not too close to me but we head out that way several times a year to a friends summer house. It sounds like I may need to make a bit of a detour next time I'm out that way (assuming I like this stuff). 

Carolina Q

mahenryak said:

Carolina Q said:

Don't know where you are in Mass, but the WG distribution center is in Holyoke. You can pick it up directly from the loading dock there. Contact Lee Ann at WG if you're interested. About $13 per 22 lb bag as I recall, though you have to buy in some quantity. That's for WW, don't know about Jake's.

And just so you can feel even better, by the time it makes up to my neck of the woods (Alaska) WGWW is $27 per bag.

That's not bad. Before I went to the warehouse, I bought one bag at a grill store here in CT just to try it out. Paid $24 four years ago. The grill store is about 30 miles from the whse.

ChillyWillis

@Skiddymarker  I remember reading around here several years ago that WGWW was sourced out of Brazil, and also read in passing on here more recently that that is no longer the case. Obviously I can't speak to the reliability of that 2nd hand info, but I'm sure some of the more knowledgable lumpaholics around here know the back story there. I do know that The WGWW was sold in white bags very similar to the ones shown in the first post. 

Carolina Q

I don't know what their current prices are or what the minimum you can buy is. $13 was the last quote I got for WW. They didn't have Jake's then. They also have a $20 warehouse processing fee. WW is all I have used... excellent lump.

Skiddymarker

If it says product of USA on the bag - must be true!

mahenryak

Carolina Q said:

That's not bad. Before I went to the warehouse, I bought one bag at a grill store here in CT just to try it out. Paid $24 four years ago. The grill store is about 30 miles from the whse.

Wow.  Go figure.   

ChillyWillis

Well so much for locally sourced.....

RaleighGuy

I like the WG Jakes Blend. Always have a lot of charcoal left after cooks even in the 350-400 degree range. It does take a bit to get started. On week nights, I usually throw 2 fire starters in to get it going quicker. 

ChillyWillis

RaleighGuy said:

I like the WG Jakes Blend. Always have a lot of charcoal left after cooks even in the 350-400 degree range. It does take a bit to get started. On week nights, I usually throw 2 fire starters in to get it going quicker. 

Wow, you weren't kidding. It did take a long time to get fired up with my looftlighter.  One positive however, was that it sparked significantly less than other lumps I've lit with a looftlighter. I've heard that the sparking with a heat gun is due to moisture, so I'll keep an eye on the sparkage while lighting and see if it stays the same now that the bag is lying open. 

stlcharcoal

Skiddymarker said:

If it says product of USA on the bag - must be true!

Years ago that all got changed.  Basically the whole "Made in the USA" thing is pretty much on the honor system now.  The handtool manufacturers were the focus of the article I read.  I'm trying to remember the process, but it had to do with the packaging being made in the US, sent overseas, packaged, etc.  I seem to remember a point system, but I may be confusing it with the 18 USC 922 regs on importing firearms.  

mgd_egg

I like the Jakes Blend but it is stubborn to start.

ChillyWillis

Well without a doubt the most impressive thing I noticed was how quickly this lump reacted to me ramping up the temp. With the egg at around 250 I removed the daisy wheel and opened up the bottom vent and went inside to prep sides while the egg got up to searing temps. After only a few minutes I came back out expecting the egg to be around 400-450 but the egg had already shot to well over 650. It got so hot I decided to remove the dome temp gauge so I didn't damage it. Now this incredibly impressive reaction time does come with an asterisk because I had just done a clean burn and complete vacuum clean out yesterday, so it was as perfect as conditions could be. I'll keep an eye on this as I go through more cooks to see if it holds up. 

Also the steak tasted amazing..... So there is that.  

NCEggSmoker

I just tried my first bag of Jakes Blend last month and I was very happy with it. Very dense and large chunks with little dust. Burned clean pretty quickly too. 

Medium-Rare

I haven't tried Jakes Blend but it is getting some good reviews. I don't know if you can pick up individual bags at the distribution center in western Mass. Pretty sure you need to order a minimum of 30 bags on a pallet. The website with information is closed right now but will be back up in mid June. Sometimes people go in on a group buy. Please let me know if you find out different.

Carolina Q

Medium-Rare said:

I haven't tried Jakes Blend but it is getting some good reviews. I don't know if you can pick up individual bags at the distribution center in western Mass. Pretty sure you need to order a minimum of 30 bags on a pallet. The website with information is closed right now but will be back up in mid June. Sometimes people go in on a group buy. Please let me know if you find out different.

Unless they have changed their policy, you cannot buy individual bags in Holyoke.
.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

Paraguay is ground zero for some of the worst deforestation practices in the world. I'm out on anyone who profits off of that.

Carolina Q

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

Paraguay is ground zero for some of the worst deforestation practices in the world. I'm out on anyone who profits off of that.

Is that where WG comes from? Are you sure? I was not aware of that.

WW too or just Jake's?

The Cen-Tex Smoker

Carolina Q said:

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

Paraguay is ground zero for some of the worst deforestation practices in the world. I'm out on anyone who profits off of that.

Is that where WG comes from? Are you sure? I was not aware of that.

WW too or just Jake's?

not sure on all their stuff. I just saw that Jakes bag and it made me a little sad. Sorry

The Cen-Tex Smoker

This is from a review of WGWW from Grillin' and Smokin" on his blog/website (he's on here as well)

WOOD SPECIES: The charcoal is made from a blend of South American hardwoods. Information on the bag implies that the company is going for a certification showing that the trees are grown and forested it in a green manner. Trees are planted to replace the ones taken to make the charcoal. This is not another case of yet another South American rainforest being stripped bare. It has a different smell than other hardwood charcoal I have used, but yet it has some similarities. Similar but different. Definitely not unpleasant. 

Carolina Q

LOL, I didn't even notice the bag pictured here! That was posted back in April and I either missed it then or just forgot. In any case, I didn't know about Paraguay's track record. Hope Grillin' & Smokin' is right.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

Carolina Q said:

LOL, I didn't even notice the bag pictured here! That was posted back in April and I either missed it then or just forgot. In any case, I didn't know about Paraguay's track record. Hope Grillin' & Smokin' is right.

me too

tisoypops

I've had the same experience of slow lighting but lasting s long time on the Jakes blend. It's expensive though. Thanks for that info about the source @The Cen-Tex Smoker . 

ChillyWillis

I forgot to update this thread, but I LOVE Jakes blend. It's my go to charcoal now. It is difficult to light, but burns hot hot hot and lasts forever. The only baking I've done with it so far is pizza, so I may keep a few bags of Rockwood on hand for that sort of cook, but this'll be my day to day lump from here on out (especially if I can get it cheap out of Holyoke)

Edit: Hmmmm just read Cen-Tex comments about Paraguay. I'm going to have to look into that because I would hate to support mass deforestation. 

The Cen-Tex Smoker

http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/green-going-gone-the-tragic-deforestation-of-the-chaco-20140728