Rockwood. Still the undisputed king.

stlcharcoal

flyerdoc said:

OK, new place to check for lump, Ace Hardware...I'll see if I can score some Rockwood as I've never had opportunity to use it. Its a bit like handloading powders for ammo. There is often intense debate over the best, cleanest, hottest, slowest, fastest etc And, of course, charcoal is an ingredient of gunpowder, sooooooo

And we have sold quite a bit to the US Army......they grind it up and use it in munitions.  They would not send me samples.  :(

Hans61

Since RO lowered the weight of their bags to 15lbs and continue charging 10$, my calculations say that RW is 30cents more per pound then RO, and I've used two bags of RW and know its very good. Got me thinking for the next time I need to stalk up.

Lit

Hans61 said:

Since RO lowered the weight of their bags to 15lbs and continue charging 10$, my calculations say that RW is 30cents more per pound then RO, and I've used two bags of RW and know its very good. Got me thinking for the next time I need to stalk up.

RO didn't lower the weight go to Walmart they are still 17.6lbs for $12 something.

tarheelmatt

Lit said:

Hans61 said:

Since RO lowered the weight of their bags to 15lbs and continue charging 10$, my calculations say that RW is 30cents more per pound then RO, and I've used two bags of RW and know its very good. Got me thinking for the next time I need to stalk up.

RO didn't lower the weight go to Walmart they are still 17.6lbs for $12 something.

Jimmy Damn Dean! 

SGH

tarheelmatt said:

Jimmy Damn Dean! 

One of my very favorite patty sausages

HeavyG

Lit said:

Hans61 said:

Since RO lowered the weight of their bags to 15lbs and continue charging 10$, my calculations say that RW is 30cents more per pound then RO, and I've used two bags of RW and know its very good. Got me thinking for the next time I need to stalk up.

RO didn't lower the weight go to Walmart they are still 17.6lbs for $12 something.

Or buy RO when Home Depot has the 15pounders on sale each Spring for $7.99ea.

StillH2OEgger

None of the bags of Rockwood I have gotten look like the one SGH posted, but that doesn't change my opinion of the product. I will continue to try others that seem to elicit positive reviews when available, but Rockwood remains the best I've tried and $1 per pound is fine with me.

SGH

StillH2OEgger said:

 $1 per pound is fine with me.

Somethings are worth the money. Rockwood is one of them.  

bgebrent

Scotty only uses brickets.  He only wishes he had Rons money so he could use Rockwood.  However his advice is true and his Seal of Approval remains coveted!  Hope you're well my friend.

victor1

Just going through my first bag of Rockwood.  While I believe Royal Oak is good,  RW is superior.  Less ash and a much cleaner burn.  Also the aroma and flavor IMHO, are much smoother.

SGH

victor1 said:
  Also the aroma and flavor IMHO, are much smoother.

Without question or doubt. It's not even close. Rockwood is as neutral as it gets.  

Jameson19

SGH said:

victor1 said:
  Also the aroma and flavor IMHO, are much smoother.

Without question or doubt. It's not even close. Rockwood is as neutral as it gets.  

Forgive me for asking a stupid (aka reassurance) question....

If Rockwood is as neutral as it gets, is that the goal of having a baseline foundation for charcoal cooking? Meaning.... it's able to gently flavor anything, from breads to briskets, and that same baseline allows the cook to control everything? And if I want that smoky flavor, just add wood chunks? 

My question stems from growing up with Kingsford and lately, the last several years, only using BGE lump because I now have an egg. 

SGH

Jameson19 said:

Forgive me for asking a stupid (aka reassurance) question....

If Rockwood is as neutral as it gets, is that the goal of having a baseline foundation for charcoal cooking? Meaning.... it's able to gently flavor anything, from breads to briskets, and that same baseline allows the cook to control everything? And if I want that smoky flavor, just add wood chunks? 

My question stems from growing up with Kingsford and lately, the last several years, only using BGE lump because I now have an egg. 

First, in no way is your question stupid my friend. Quite the contrary. It's actually a very good question. 
As far as Rockwood being neutral, in my opinion it's a very good thing. It gives you almost total control over the smokiness of the end product. There are many things that don't lend themselves well to a heavy smoke profile. It's here that Rockwood really shines as it imparts a very, very mild hint of smoke compared to most other brands. 
As you already stated above, simply add wood to impart a heavy smoke profile if desired. 

dldawes1

You knew I couldn't pass up this post !!  I love my Rockwood and agree 110% with @SGH !!

Sea2Ski

I agree with several posts in this thread.

• I love Rockwood for the neutral flavor
• Like @Eggcelsior I would not want large pieces like @Big_Green_Craig posted. I got a really big piece once in a RW bag, and it was not fully "carbonized". It needed more time in the kiln if that is what you call it. It smoked for a really long time in the egg. Now anything larger than 4"-5" or the size of a baseball gets broken up. I usually get at least 5-8 pieces per bag that needs to be broken up.
  
• I also get some smaller pieces fairly regularly that needed more time in the kiln, but that is okay - that is what gives it that "over the fire" flavor.
  
• I get a perfectly acceptable amount of dust and small pieces every time in each bag. I am lucky enough to be able to pick it up at customer pickup at FireCraft, so I think many who experience "a lot" of dust just gets bags which are transported over and over.
  

In short, excellent product that I will continue to purchase.
Keep up the great work @stlcharcoal

Lit

Sea2Ski said:

I agree with several posts in this thread.

• I love Rockwood for the neutral flavor
• Like @Eggcelsior I would not want large pieces like @Big_Green_Craig posted. I got a really big piece once in a RW bag, and it was not fully "carbonized". It needed more time in the kiln if that is what you call it. It smoked for a really long time in the egg. Now anything larger than 4"-5" or the size of a baseball gets broken up. I usually get at least 5-8 pieces per bag that needs to be broken up.
  
• I also get some smaller pieces fairly regularly that needed more time in the kiln, but that is okay - that is what gives it that "over the fire" flavor.
  
• I get a perfectly acceptable amount of dust and small pieces every time in each bag. I am lucky enough to be able to pick it up at customer pickup at FireCraft, so I think many who experience "a lot" of dust just gets bags which are transported over and over.
  

In short, excellent product that I will continue to purchase.
Keep up the great work @stlcharcoal

I have never seen an uncarbonized piece in fogo before even with the huge chunks. It's also really dense and burns slower. I cooked pork shoulders and then ribs back to back in my XL once with 3 huge pieces of fogo.

Big_Green_Craig

Sea2Ski said:

I agree with several posts in this thread.

• I love Rockwood for the neutral flavor
• Like @Eggcelsior I would not want large pieces like @Big_Green_Craig posted. I got a really big piece once in a RW bag, and it was not fully "carbonized". It needed more time in the kiln if that is what you call it. It smoked for a really long time in the egg. Now anything larger than 4"-5" or the size of a baseball gets broken up. I usually get at least 5-8 pieces per bag that needs to be broken up.
  
• I also get some smaller pieces fairly regularly that needed more time in the kiln, but that is okay - that is what gives it that "over the fire" flavor.
  
• I get a perfectly acceptable amount of dust and small pieces every time in each bag. I am lucky enough to be able to pick it up at customer pickup at FireCraft, so I think many who experience "a lot" of dust just gets bags which are transported over and over.
  

In short, excellent product that I will continue to purchase.
Keep up the great work @stlcharcoal

Never saw that issue with Fogo. The pieces aren't all that size, but the larger ones fit great in my XL. 

saluki2007

tarheelmatt

I've gotten some large pieces in Fogo before too.  I don't mind them at all.  I'll just lay it cross way and continue filling.  I just burn it.  

Fogo is great too, @SGH.  Fogo and Rockwood are two of the best lumps out there in my opinion.  

GATraveller

Last trip into my local ACE Hardware and ALL their lump was crushed.  Every bag of every brand looked/felt like it had been backed over by the delivery truck.  

TN_Sister_State

Finally have a place that offers it locally where I'm at. I may have to try out a bag and see if its as great as everyone says it is. 

lkapigian

SGH said:

For the past several months I have seen some negative comments about Rockwood. Everything from its size, quality and price. I waited until today to respond for the simple reason being that the bag I opened today will officially put me over 3,000 pounds of Rockwood that I have burned to date. 
With that said, I have yet to encounter any of the problems mentioned by others. Every bag has been as clean as a whistle. All the pieces in the medium to large size. Most being large. Almost zero shake or dust. 
For the record, I have no affiliation with Rockwood other than being a user of their product. Maybe I have just found favor among the Lump Gods. Who knows. 
Here are some pics of the bag I opened today. These are not hand picked for the pics. This is how all 3,000 pounds of Rockwood that I have used to date has looked. I used both the mini and my very large hands as a back drop for a true size comparison. 

I have yet to encounter an off taste or putrid smell with Rockwood. This is something that I can not say about any other brand. The single exception being Ozark Oak which has sadly gone the way of the buffalo. 
For the record, I'm not trying to convert anyone to Rockwood. Just stating what I have experienced through 3,000 pounds of their product. 

A note on the above text:
I have used Rockwood in BGE's, Kamado Joe's, reverse flow offsets, reverse flow cabinets, single stage offsets, direct fired units, back fired pits and open top steel pits. The results have been impressive no matter the type of unit used. Just thought I would share my thoughts and findings my friends. I'm looking forward to the next 3,000 pounds. 

Looks like my Royal Oak

nolaegghead

I hear propane is, like, pretty neutral.

HeavyG

nolaegghead said:

I hear propane is, like, pretty neutral.

Really?? I always hear how it leaves that gas grill taste.

SGH

tarheelmatt said:

Fogo is great too, @SGH.  Fogo and Rockwood are two of the best lumps out there in my opinion.  

I have heard great things about Fogo. Sister @PNWFoodie use to speak very highly of it. However I have never seen it in my area. If I ever encounter it I will certainly give it a try. 

bhedges1987

i spoke with the ace hardware in blue springs, mo and they told me they have no way to order rock wood. @stlcharcoal

SGH

HeavyG said:

nolaegghead said:

I hear propane is, like, pretty neutral.

Really?? I always hear how it leaves that gas grill taste.

Untreated propane is darn near neutral. It has no smell and a near zero taste. However you can no longer get untreated propane at the consumer level. All propane sold to the general public is treated with ethyl mercaptans or its equivalent. It's the mercaptans more so than the propane that imparts the slight "gasy" taste.  

Hans61

Lit said:

Hans61 said:

Since RO lowered the weight of their bags to 15lbs and continue charging 10$, my calculations say that RW is 30cents more per pound then RO, and I've used two bags of RW and know its very good. Got me thinking for the next time I need to stalk up.

RO didn't lower the weight go to Walmart they are still 17.6lbs for $12 something.

The old and the new but still same price. You'll have to zoom

g37

I agree rockwood is great stuff. I was very fortunate  to try 2 bags but to due  where i live i can no longer get it. My go to charcoal (jakes blend) is no longer available. So for now its royal oak. 

nolaegghead

The mercaptans burn with the propane.  You shouldn't be able to smell it unless your propane is burning rich (not enough air) and there will be black smoke rolling off it.


Rich to lean, left to right.