Lump question

DesertSnow

iv gone through 2 bags of bge brand lump and had no problems with it...decided to try the cowboy brand cause I don't have to drive 45 minutes for it like the bge brand...only problem is Iv done 3 cooks with it and all I can taste and smell is campfire...I also can't get the fire going as quickly and have to leave the top off and bottom open all the way for about 25 minutes just to get above 200....Iv cleaned out my egg and even let it burn for about 45 minutes before putting my food on to see it the smell was gone but it still tastes like a campfire....am I missing something or is that how that brand burns?

saluki2007

Check this out: http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lump.htm

To answer your question, yes Cowboy is like cooking on a camp fire.

WeberWho

Cowboy is awful. It sparks and has heavy smoke. Just a heads up if you can find Royal Oak it's the same as BGE lump. You're just spending more for the bag to say Big Green Egg

DoubleEgger

All lump isn't created equal. Order some Rockwood from Firecraft and don't look back. 

KiterTodd

Much recent discussion on the topic here;

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1195850/lump-coal

Below is a picture of a happy Cowboy Lump customer...

lousubcap

Welcome aboard and enjoy the journey.  Lump discussions here are more highly charged than religion or politics.  That said, many here are not fans of Cowboy for all the issues you cite.  
If you want to get decent lump check out this site:
http://www.firecraft.com/category/hardwood-charcoal  I can speak for the excellent quality of Rockwood, Basques and Humphrey's.  Fire-craft offers free shipping for >$99.  They do a great job of shipping 3 bags of lump/heavy-duty box so 6 six pack (lump) is  my suggested order quantity.
Here's a link to a great ceramic cooker info site that also contains lump reviews:  http://www.nakedwhiz.com/ceramic.htm  Likely the answer to any question you may have will be there somewhere.  FWIW- 

TCT

I can get Royal Oak @ the local Home Depot. Been very happy! Easier to get and less expensive than Rockwood ( which I have been very happy with! ).

johnkitchens

+1 for Rockwood. You will no longer have to wait 45 minutes to put your food on. Light it, and when it gets to your desired temp put your food on. You will be happy with it! 

88vmx12

I have

88vmx12

Won't post my comment

TN_Sister_State

i have used Royal Oak, cowboy(shamefully), BGE Brand, some off brand from Publix, and Rockwood. Rockwood just became available in my area and after two cooks on it i'm not buying anything else ever again. By far the best ive used.

Darby_Crenshaw

They all work. I really find the brand fetish to be pretty laughable, since every one of these charcoals starts out as a pet-of-the-month for a while and then eventually gets steamrolled by the next great thing

they all work

you want light, fully carbonized lump, medium sized. 

I've had bad bags from every company i have ever tried. And paid enough attention around here to see the same for damn near every brand

this doesn't mean that the current fave is not good. It's more that the other brands aren't evil

you'll find rocks or debris in all of them eventually. It's a natural product handled by humans

i suppose if one needs a powered draft thing to run their egg, they probably can only cook with one brand of charcoal too. But a lot of us have no such hang ups. I find no 'shame' in being able to cook with a readily available cheap brand

But if your car's owner's manual requires high octane fuel, use it. 

Tony_T

DesertSnow said:

iv gone through 2 bags of bge brand lump and had no problems with it...decided to try the cowboy brand cause I don't have to drive 45 minutes for it like the bge brand…

AFAIK, BGE Lump is Royal Oak re-branded. Home Depot carries RO
For other brands, check the on-line options, such as amazon.com and firecraft.com

onedbguru

Royal Oak can be found at HomeDepot and Walmart and Wegman's brand is also RO.  You will want to stock up as too many buyers for charcoal at these big box stores think - as the Charlotte TV outlet "reported" - this weekend is the end of "grilling/Qing season".   I currently have eleven 15-17lb bags and that might last a few months. (maybe)

88vmx12

From the three that I have tried : BGE, RO, and Cowboy. Hands down the BGE was better imho because it had a better range of sizes of lump. The RO and Cowboy entire bags were full of golf ball size pcs or smaller. They were horrible, almost like buying a bag of potato chips that had been sat on. I do like their prices better than the BGE brand at $32 a bag.

Hans61

88vmx12 said:

From the three that I have tried : BGE, RO, and Cowboy. Hands down the BGE was better imho because it had a better range of sizes of lump. The RO and Cowboy entire bags were full of golf ball size pcs or smaller. They were horrible, almost like buying a bag of potato chips that had been sat on. I do like their prices better than the BGE brand at $32 a bag.

Jeez 32$? Get rockwood from firecraft.com cheaper and better.

shtgunal3

My lump can kick your lumps azz!!!!!

Try several different brands, then use whatever your wallet and your taste buds like the most.

FWIW... Kamado Joe lump is what I use.

88vmx12

Hans61 said:

show previous quotes

88vmx12 said:

From the three that I have tried : BGE, RO, and Cowboy. Hands down the BGE was better imho because it had a better range of sizes of lump. The RO and Cowboy entire bags were full of golf ball size pcs or smaller. They were horrible, almost like buying a bag of potato chips that had been sat on. I do like their prices better than the BGE brand at $32 a bag.

Jeez 32$? Get rockwood from firecraft.com cheaper and better.

Yes that is what they want here is $32 a bag for BGE brand lump. I am going to try another bag of RO, cowboy was a bit smokier

cheeaa

88vmx12 said:

show previous quotes

Hans61 said:

88vmx12 said:

From the three that I have tried : BGE, RO, and Cowboy. Hands down the BGE was better imho because it had a better range of sizes of lump. The RO and Cowboy entire bags were full of golf ball size pcs or smaller. They were horrible, almost like buying a bag of potato chips that had been sat on. I do like their prices better than the BGE brand at $32 a bag.

Jeez 32$? Get rockwood from firecraft.com cheaper and better.

Yes that is what they want here is $32 a bag for BGE brand lump. I am going to try another bag of RO, cowboy was a bit smokier

Yeah try it again. Feel the bags a little bit to. People forget these get shipped everywhere and some bags are gonna be crushed whIle others are fine.