First Time With Rockwood

logchief · June 20

After 10 years of Royal Oak from Walmart, the new local ACE (was TrueValue) got Rockwood in. Trying it out on a couple of small butts, so far so good. Seemed to settle in a lot quicker.

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I use the probes from my Weber

logchief · June 20

Well, I think I'm sold on the Rockwood, especially since I can get it less than 2 miles down the road now. I think this was definately one of the easiest cooks I've done as far as getting it started and settled in.

Just pulled them after 5 hrs. at 260-280, internal at 195 and into the FTC. I like cutting them in half, more bark and less time.

JohnInCarolina · June 20

Glad you liked it. For many here, it’s the only lump we’ll use.

Foghorn · June 21

It definitely gets to a good "ready to cook" fire faster than anything else I have ever used.

DoubleEgger · June 21

The hype is real

lousubcap · June 21

There are many rabbit holes you can go down with the forum but lump charcoal is NOT one.
Rockwood for the win every time. You can spend $$ and experiment but I know you will always default to Rockwood.

logchief · June 21

I'm sold. Our Costco has Prime Briskets right now $4.99 lb. That'll be my next. I didn't think I'd find any argument here on Rockwood. Hopefully @stlcharcoal will see he has a new convert.

Elijah · June 21

You can spend less money and spend an hour longer getting it to have the off smelling burn off. I have stopped that even for a clean burn. It's worth it to support a quality product.

wps456 · June 21

Sign up for the Ace rewards program, they’ll send you lots of $5 off coupons. I use them all on Rockwood.

logchief · June 21

You're absolutely right @Elijah

logchief · June 21

wps456 said:

Sign up for the Ace rewards program, they’ll send you lots of $5 off coupons. I use them all on Rockwood.

Actully used a $10 coupon with a free bucket. I'm just stoked that I can get it locally now and won't go back

FrostyEgg · June 21

I'm a recent convert as well. I agree, burns clean way faster than anything else i've used. Brand new Ace just opened 5 minutes from me too!

flexfusion · June 21

Rockwood is definitely my choice when it comes to the BGE cooks. When I use lumps in my Weber for short cooksI usually use one with a lower price point..

wps456 · June 21

Looks like Academy is carrying it now too!!

zaphod · June 21

always in to try a new lump as I learn, is Rockwood available in Canada? their website says no, but sometime the hivemind of a forum knows better.

GrateEggspectations · June 21

Being in Canada, I have yet to try the Rockwood brand, which everyone raves about. I’ve said it before, but my go-tos are Basque’s and Maple Leaf. It’s hard to imagine that there is better lump out there, and yet every speaks so highly of Rockwood, so there must be something to it.

Was recently reading lump reviews and they had different categories of winners. Best lump for smoking: Cowboy. That was a surprise, as while I’ve never used it, it always seems to get panned to no end.

Here is the subject article: https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/kitchen/best-charcoal-for-grilling#toc-best-for-smoking-cowboy-all-natural-hardwood-lump-charcoal

DoubleEgger · June 21

GrateEggspectations said:

Being in Canada, I have yet to try the Rockwood brand, which everyone raves about. I’ve said it before, but my go-tos are Basque’s and Maple Leaf. It’s hard to imagine that there is better lump out there, and yet every speaks so highly of Rockwood, so there must be something to it.

Was recently reading lump reviews and they had different categories of winners. Best lump for smoking: Cowboy. That was a surprise, as while I’ve never used it, it always seems to get panned to no end.

Here is the subject article: https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/kitchen/best-charcoal-for-grilling#toc-best-for-smoking-cowboy-all-natural-hardwood-lump-charcoal

Best if you like bad smoke.

zaphod · June 21

GrateEggspectations said:

Being in Canada, I have yet to try the Rockwood brand, which everyone raves about. I’ve said it before, but my go-tos are Basque’s and Maple Leaf. It’s hard to imagine that there is better lump out there, and yet every speaks so highly of Rockwood, so there must be something to it.

Maple leaf is a go to for me. Can't get Basque out here in BC, emailed the company and didn't get a reply.

lkapigian · June 21

logchief said:

After 10 years of Royal Oak from Walmart, the new local ACE (was TrueValue) got Rockwood in. Trying it out on a couple of small butts, so far so good. Seemed to settle in a lot quicker.

I use the probes from my Weber

Ilogchief said:

Well, I think I'm sold on the Rockwood, especially since I can get it less than 2 miles down the road now. I think this was definately one of the easiest cooks I've done as far as getting it started and settled in.

Just pulled them after 5 hrs. at 260-280, internal at 195 and into the FTC. I like cutting them in half, more bark and less time.

Great to see you posting again

Gulfcoastguy · June 21

I can walk to Ace in 16 minutes so 3/4 miles? I have bought a lot of Rockwood with $5 off a bag. That’s a quarter mile closer than Royal Oak and burns cleaner to boot. Not to mention supporting one of our own.

lousubcap · June 22

Rockwood for the win but if you want to enjoy a great alternative give the Canadian maple Basques a run. I order around three bags a year thru a distributor south of the GWN and always a pleasure to use. The smoke profile is great.
Have not been able to find Maple Leaf in the lower 48.

WoodworkerBED · June 22

I also switched to Rockwood about 1.5 years ago. It is very consistent, starts well, and burns well. Local ACE always has it in stock.

LBGE, Ancient Weber, Fire Pit

lkapigian · June 22

@stlcharcoal is a stand up guy and owner founder of Rockwood

Burntend · June 22

Was @JohnInCarolina mom there?

CTMike · June 22

There are only 3 brands of lump that I buy:

- Rockwood
- Basque’s
- Maple Leaf

The latter two I bring home when we go up to Ottawa to visit my kid and his family.

All 3 are outstanding.

GrateEggspectations · June 22

CTMike said:

There are only 3 brands of lump that I buy:

- Rockwood
- Basque’s
- Maple Leaf

The latter two I bring home when we go up to Ottawa to visit my kid and his family.

All 3 are outstanding.

+1 for shoutout to Ottawa. 😉

Personally, I find the Basque’s and Maple Leaf exceedingly similar. One difference is that I sometimes find the Basque’s contains a little more non-carbonized pieces. But for the uninitiated, can you let me know how you find Rockwood compares to them?

stlcharcoal · June 22

GrateEggspectations said:

Being in Canada, I have yet to try the Rockwood brand, which everyone raves about. I’ve said it before, but my go-tos are Basque’s and Maple Leaf. It’s hard to imagine that there is better lump out there, and yet every speaks so highly of Rockwood, so there must be something to it.

Was recently reading lump reviews and they had different categories of winners. Best lump for smoking: Cowboy. That was a surprise, as while I’ve never used it, it always seems to get panned to no end.

Here is the subject article: https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/kitchen/best-charcoal-for-grilling#toc-best-for-smoking-cowboy-all-natural-hardwood-lump-charcoal

Don't put too much weight in many of those "reviews". You'll notice every one of them has Amazon affiliate links and the highest rated ones are usually the top sellers on Amazon (or whichever sellers offer the highest affiliate commissions.) The so called "reviews" are usually a compilation of the comments on Amazon. Many are written by AI now, and are much better than the bots that wrote them before (there was one that confused charcoal and luggage......said RW was very durable, good zippers, etc.) Anything with Amazon links is there to sell you something vs actually educate you. You'll find none of these ever give any real negatives--they will find some insignificant point to nitpick so it looks more genuine. All they're trying to get you to do is click something on that page and get you to buy it so they get the 3-4% standard commission, or a much higher amount that certain companies with offer their affiliates. Not saying this one inparticular is doing this, but I don't trust anything with Amazon links in it.

Teefus · June 22

Rockwood guy here. I started out with Royal Oak lump but got a couple bags that were pretty nasty. They smelled like burned tires. I found Rockwood locally and have used it exclusively for a number of years. The only complaint I've had was one bag that was full of small pieces. I suspect it had been handled roughly.

DoubleEgger · June 22

Teefus said:

Rockwood guy here. I started out with Royal Oak lump but got a couple bags that were pretty nasty. They smelled like burned tires. I found Rockwood locally and have used it exclusively for a number of years. The only complaint I've had was one bag that was full of small pieces. I suspect it had been handled roughly.

Pick up a bag of lump and turn it upside down. If it sounds like one of those indian rain sticks, put it back.

GrateEggspectations · June 22

stlcharcoal said:

GrateEggspectations said:

Being in Canada, I have yet to try the Rockwood brand, which everyone raves about. I’ve said it before, but my go-tos are Basque’s and Maple Leaf. It’s hard to imagine that there is better lump out there, and yet every speaks so highly of Rockwood, so there must be something to it.

Was recently reading lump reviews and they had different categories of winners. Best lump for smoking: Cowboy. That was a surprise, as while I’ve never used it, it always seems to get panned to no end.

Here is the subject article: https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/kitchen/best-charcoal-for-grilling#toc-best-for-smoking-cowboy-all-natural-hardwood-lump-charcoal

Don't put too much weight in many of those "reviews". You'll notice every one of them has Amazon affiliate links and the highest rated ones are usually the top sellers on Amazon (or whichever sellers offer the highest affiliate commissions.) The so called "reviews" are usually a compilation of the comments on Amazon. Many are written by AI now, and are much better than the bots that wrote them before (there was one that confused charcoal and luggage......said RW was very durable, good zippers, etc.) Anything with Amazon links is there to sell you something vs actually educate you. You'll find none of these ever give any real negatives--they will find some insignificant point to nitpick so it looks more genuine. All they're trying to get you to do is click something on that page and get you to buy it so they get the 3-4% standard commission, or a much higher amount that certain companies with offer their affiliates. Not saying this one inparticular is doing this, but I don't trust anything with Amazon links in it.

I don’t. I found the article laughable, which is why I shared it.

The only lump reviews I trust are from the Naked Whiz, or from fellow members.

MotownVol · June 22

I have been a rockwood only guy for the past 12 years. Great product.

First Time With Rockwood

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