All these posts on expensive charcoal

milesvdustin

Looks like a good friday thread. Will this one be as epic as last week?

Yno

Well, like most things, there are advantages and disadvantages to living here. I grew up in the deep south, and I sure don't miss hurricanes. Born in Key West, and that got pretty whomped. We do have a few earthquakes, and may become the new Atlantis some day. But there are some gorgeous places within a couple hours of my home, so I put up with a few inconveniences. And we have pretty good Egging weather year round!

GrillSgt

DoubleEgger said:

I'm so glad I don't live in California 

I'm guessing that's mutual.

DoubleEgger

GrillSgt said:

DoubleEgger said:

I'm so glad I don't live in California 

I'm guessing that's mutual.

You are always a bundle of joy GrillPrivate 

fishlessman

if california seceded would anyone care

1voyager

Yno said:

Well, like most things, there are advantages and disadvantages to living here. I grew up in the deep south, and I sure don't miss hurricanes. Born in Key West, and that got pretty whomped. We do have a few earthquakes, and may become the new Atlantis some day. But there are some gorgeous places within a couple hours of my home, so I put up with a few inconveniences. And we have pretty good Egging weather year round!

I know. I was born in the Bay Area and worked in Silicon Valley for almost 30 years. A few inconveniences? A few? How about a few taxes (sorry, I meant to say a few "contributions") to pay for a high speed train to nowhere?

The Cen-Tex Smoker

Aaron franklin uses Royal Oak. Case Mother-Effing Closed

To start his post oak wood fires anyway

And this is Unit #1 from his line of consumer smokers. He pulled it aside to cook a kosher brisket for a guy with a Kosher BBQ joint in NYC (Izzy's Smokehouse in Brooklyn). The guy had never tasted tx BBQ before because nobody does kosher here. Apparently you cannot cook kosher food on a smoker that has cooked non-kosher food unless it has been "purged by fire" (plenty on that in the article).  AY-Ayron told him to come on down, bring some Kosher briskets, and he would hook him up. Good read and few nuggets of wisdom in there too (the long rest jumped out at me again and "crank the temp to 300 after it's wrapped" caught my eye too).

https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/treif-no-franklin-barbecue/


And I'm 100% Rockwood in my BGE's FWIW. Like my good friend @lakewade said: "I did not get in to this to save money"

The Cen-Tex Smoker

fishlessman said:

if california seceded would anyone care

I know you say that somewhat in jest so I throw this out in modest defense of our brothers and sisters to the west (as if they need it):

they are by far the largest economy in the US (14% of the whole thing) and 6th largest economy in the world (bigger than France and Brazil). Plus it's such a badass place. The politics would drive me nuts but they drive me nuts here too. I'm way in the middle of both. That said, I've had to learn to not let politics get in the way of a good thing. Love living here, and I would live in Cali (the right part for me) in a second. That's the cool thing about Cali and TX. Both big places but once you get past the overriding stereotypes, there is an ass for every seat. 

fishlessman

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

fishlessman said:

if california seceded would anyone care

I know you say that somewhat in jest so I throw this out in modest defense of our brothers and sisters to the west (as if they need it):

they are by far the largest economy in the US (14% of the whole thing) and 6th largest economy in the world (bigger than France and Brazil). Plus it's such a badass place. The politics would drive me nuts but they drive me nuts here too. I'm way in the middle of both. That said, I've had to learn to not let politics get in the way of a good thing. Love living here, and I would live in Cali (the right part for me) in a second. That's the cool thing about Cali and TX. Both big places but once you get past the overriding stereotypes, there is an ass for every seat. 

oh just dont get me going on texas now

The Cen-Tex Smoker

fishlessman said:

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

fishlessman said:

if california seceded would anyone care

I know you say that somewhat in jest so I throw this out in modest defense of our brothers and sisters to the west (as if they need it):

they are by far the largest economy in the US (14% of the whole thing) and 6th largest economy in the world (bigger than France and Brazil). Plus it's such a badass place. The politics would drive me nuts but they drive me nuts here too. I'm way in the middle of both. That said, I've had to learn to not let politics get in the way of a good thing. Love living here, and I would live in Cali (the right part for me) in a second. That's the cool thing about Cali and TX. Both big places but once you get past the overriding stereotypes, there is an ass for every seat. 

oh just dont get me going on texas now

Ha! you won't get a lot of pushback from me! Believe me, I get it.

HeavyG

fishlessman said:

if california seceded would anyone care

Since California alone has the fifth largest economy in the world I think most Americans might be impacted and might come to care.

Maine on the other hand? I doubt most Americans could even point out Maine on a map.

GrillSgt

I love Cali. Well everything except LA, damn that place is just too busy. Great music, wine, beer, food, scenery. The people are definitely laid back. That includes from all sides of the political spectrum. 

The Cen-Tex Smoker

GrillSgt said:

I love Cali. Well everything except LA, damn that place is just too busy. Great music, wine, beer, food, scenery. The people are definitely laid back. That includes from all sides of the political spectrum. 

I'm with you. I love it out there. 

fishlessman

HeavyG said:

fishlessman said:

if california seceded would anyone care

Since California alone has the fifth largest economy in the world I think most Americans might be impacted and might come to care.

Maine on the other hand? I doubt most Americans could even point out Maine on a map.

really wish they coulnt find it, my friday commute just dropped from 4 hours to 1.75 hours now that all the florida, carolina, tennessee, rhode island, conneticut, colorado plates went home. GATES CLOSED TIL NEXT SUMMER

GrillSgt

The wife's from PEI, I spent a lot of time driving on Airliner Rd. 30 years ago it was quite something. (Bangor to Calais) Beautiful state and great folks. 

Focker

Real eggheads, who buy by the skid, roll "oak". 
If I rolled a Camry, and a 4 bag max in my garage, then Rockwood. 

Biggreenpharmacist

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

Aaron franklin uses Royal Oak. Case Mother-Effing Closed

To start his post oak wood fires anyway

And this is Unit #1 from his line of consumer smokers. He pulled it aside to cook a kosher brisket for a guy with a Kosher BBQ joint in NYC (Izzy's Smokehouse in Brooklyn). The guy had never tasted tx BBQ before because nobody does kosher here. Apparently you cannot cook kosher food on a smoker that has cooked non-kosher food unless it has been "purged by fire" (plenty on that in the article).  AY-Ayron told him to come on down, bring some Kosher briskets, and he would hook him up. Good read and few nuggets of wisdom in there too (the long rest jumped out at me again and "crank the temp to 300 after it's wrapped" caught my eye too).

https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/treif-no-franklin-barbecue/


And I'm 100% Rockwood in my BGE's FWIW. Like my good friend @lakewade said: "I did not get in to this to save money"

Probably all them damn royal oak sparks that burnt that place up. 

SmartyPantz

So JonnyP gifts me a bag of his Rockwood after I've already lit a load of Royal Oak.  Is he my friend or my friend like the corner crack dealer? "Here, try some for free" he said.  At least I'll have a nice AB test for myself soon.

DoubleEgger

I guess you could use the money you're saving by using "oak"' to buy some more stickers to cover up the dents in the pickup truck

Acn

GrillSgt said:

The wife's from PEI, I spent a lot of time driving on Airliner Rd. 30 years ago it was quite something. (Bangor to Calais) Beautiful state and great folks. 

I used to work for an inventory company with folks from Southern ME and NH, when we went to Calais for a job we always told them to get off the highway in Brewer, follow Rt 9, and take a right at the first stop sign.  Always freaked them out that the first stop sign was 2 hours down the road.

Hans61

Mattman3969 said:

Keep eating campfire food if you like.  I guess I'm one of the many that doesn't know how to burn a fire clean.   I'm a Rockwood guy in n out.    

RO burns clean just takes longer, and each bag is different most are okay, some are better and some worse. 

I've been on a rw run myself as of late but I wouldn't rule out ever going back to RO 

GoooDawgs

@The Cen-Tex Smoker thanks for posting that article.  Just wrapped the brisket and bumped up to 300.  Any idea on the logic here? 

The Cen-Tex Smoker

GoooDawgs said:

@The Cen-Tex Smoker thanks for posting that article.  Just wrapped the brisket and bumped up to 300.  Any idea on the logic here? 

My guess is that it won't hurt it once it's wrapped so go ahead and power it through the finish so it can rest

henapple

I've never understood why people have a $1000 kamado and whine about lump prices. Also... I'd RW burns twice as long... Is Royal Choke really a deal? 

HeavyG

henapple said:

I've never understood why people have a $1000 kamado and whine about lump prices. Also... I'd RW burns twice as long... Is Royal Choke really a deal? 

Does RW really burn twice as long as RO?

That's not been my experience but then I haven't really measured it scientifically.

Hans61

henapple said:

I've never understood why people have a $1000 kamado and whine about lump prices. Also... I'd RW burns twice as long... Is Royal Choke really a deal? 

RW is better, just not 15$ per bag better. Not everyone with a kamado has Ron's money :-) but I do understand your point 

blasting

Just picked up my last 6 bags from firecraft that just arrived.  Maybe as ace starts carrying it I won't get all uncomfortable when I get down to a bag or two.

stlcharcoal

blasting said:

Just picked up my last 6 bags from firecraft that just arrived.  Maybe as ace starts carrying it I won't get all uncomfortable when I get down to a bag or two.

Coming to Ace in AZ, CA, HI, and NV next month.....stay tuned.  In the meantime, the three BBQ Island stores in PHX have it in stock.  Plus we have a few other new online sellers, and will be offering it on our site as well.   

DoubleEgger

Hans61 said:

henapple said:

I've never understood why people have a $1000 kamado and whine about lump prices. Also... I'd RW burns twice as long... Is Royal Choke really a deal? 

RW is better, just not 15$ per bag better. Not everyone with a kamado has Ron's money :-) but I do understand your point 

With ACE coupons, that difference is more $7-8 here. A few times a year, they have 50% coupons as well. I can't remember the last time I paid full price for a bag of Rockwood 

stlcharcoal

HeavyG said:

henapple said:

I've never understood why people have a $1000 kamado and whine about lump prices. Also... I'd RW burns twice as long... Is Royal Choke really a deal? 

Does RW really burn twice as long as RO?

That's not been my experience but then I haven't really measured it scientifically.

I don't know about them, but our BTU/# is about 11,700.  In a Large BGE at 70F ambient, you can go almost 30 hrs if you fill all the way to the top of the fire ring (7-8#).

The South American stuff is going to have more BTU's per volume, because of the tighter grain (walnut is heavier than oak).  The opposite is true of the Canadian or Russian stuff (oak is heavier than birch or maple.)  Volume doesn't really matter though, and it really depends on the size/shape too.

It comes down to the carbonization.  Doesn't matter what wood or where it came from, the calorific of carbon is constant.  So if we're at 80-85% on average, it's going to have a higher BTU/# than the other guys that only kiln to 70-80%.  Carbon is about 14000, we're at 11700 on average, which is 83%........jives with the test we get back showing 80-85%.

How to tell the higher the carbonization............the easier it is break it apart by hand, you can hear that metallic "tink" sound, less ash, and the less it smokes.  The closer you get to carbon, the more brittle it is and the less volatiles it has in it.