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Heavy-handed lump charcoal taste

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Unknown
Unknown
edited November -1 in EggHead Forum
I am fairly new to the BGE - been chillin' and grillin' for years. I used lump charcoal for my first few outings with BGE and found the smell and taste overwhelming - too acrid - almost bitter. I was using oak charcoal provided by my BGE distributor.[p]Since then I switched to charcoal briquettes but would like advise on a less potent lump charcoal. I have not used the BGE charcoal yet.[p]Thanks[p]Bill V.

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Comments

  • Sundown
    Sundown Posts: 2,980
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    bill v.,
    I agree to some extent on the strong "flavor/taste" of the oak lump. My Egg dealer got in some Sugar Maple lump from Canada and I have to say there is a difference. Sugar Maple is much milder. Even mixed the oak and maple with pretty good results.
    Carey
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  • Spin
    Spin Posts: 1,375
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    bill v.,[p]Oak lump is usually very mild. Your bag of lump may contain some pieces that have not totally converted to charcoal. These will definitely impart a strong flavor. The good pieces should weight very little with the bad ones being noticably heavier. It is also possible that you obtained a bad bag of charcoal. It has happened to others.[p]Spin

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  • Nature Boy
    Nature Boy Posts: 8,687
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    bill v.,
    I have not gotten that flavor with the lumps I have tried. The only bitter smoke I have gotten was from cooking fatty foods direct...from the burning grease. Also, I find that giving the fire more time to get stabilized helps you avoid the extra smoke the lump creates when it is just getting going.[p]Try some other lumps before you use them briquettes!! Those guys are a last resort IMO.[p]Cheers
    NB
    DizzyPigBBQ.com
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  • JimW
    JimW Posts: 450
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    bill v.,
    http://peopleswoods.com has a variety of charcoal types to choose from. Slightly more expensive than local sources but that's the shipping.
    JimW
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  • Kona Tim
    Kona Tim Posts: 35
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    bill v., I ran into the same problem over here----then tried the BGE charcoal and have had great results ever since---[p]Kona Tim

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  • Sundown
    Sundown Posts: 2,980
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    JimW,
    These people are Egg dealers too! Haven't been in to visit yet and they are only minutes away!

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  • Char-Woody
    Char-Woody Posts: 2,642
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    JimW, you got that right, and if we think its expensive now, wait till the trucklines adjust freight prices to the fuel costs today..I shudder at our food expenses for the next year or so...I will appreciate my Egg even more.
    Cheers..C~W[p]
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  • Tim M
    Tim M Posts: 2,410
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    bill v.,
    Was it mesquite lump? If so - that is pretty normal and if you add any hickory - it can often combine to form that acrid taste. I avoid all mesquite and hichory combos.[p]Tim
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