Charcoal briquette recommendations

[ColonialDawg]

I need some recommendations on charcoal briquettes. I’ve been a Weber briquette fan for a long time but both Lowes and Home Depot have stopped carrying it in my area. Ace Hardware has it but for some reason Ace feels the need to charge $7-10 more than the competition. I’m not paying $20 for a bag of charcoal I used to pay $12 for. I hope someone from Ace Hardweare is reading this.

Yes, I have tried KBB and I personally don’t like it because it produces way too much ash for my liking. I just hate the stuff. My apologies to those who like KBB and respect that it is your charcoal of preference. I have a bag now to buy me time because it’s all I have access to right now.

I just ordered a couple of bags of FOGO off some positive reviews on these forums. Even with shipping, I get more charcoal for less money than I can get Weber charcoal from Ace.

Has anyone tried the B&B Char Logs or Briquettes? I almost bought a bag of each online but decided to try FOGO first.

Any other suggestions is greatly appreciated!

[Spinaker]

I love using FOGO and B&B. I Only use their lump though. Never used their briquettes.

[JeffJ]

Royal Oak hardwood briquettes are pretty nice. Stubbs isn't bad either.

[FireMan]

Hate KBB, those are pretty harsh words to be used at little square things. Maybe we need some intervention or counseling here. I wonder how "they" feel about this matter.

The same may be said of Spinaker. LOVE FOGO? I’m sure they appreciate the affection.

[Steve R.]

I also hate KBB, so I just set it on fire every chance I get.

[Troutman]

But don't they also set FOGO on fire? could this be a love/hate relationship brewing in our midst ???

[Steve R.]

Maybe it's tough love, Troutman.

[HawkerXP]

B&B can be found at Walmart's I believe.

[Troutman]

I tired B&B briquettes at their somewhat exorbitant pricing and didn't see that big a difference. They are a much bigger size then say KBB but I didn't get the sense that they burned as hot. I usually use Kingsfood Professional because I can get the huge double bags of it on sale at Costco for like $12. I go for the cheapest thing out there. If that's the super sale on KBB then I deal with the ash. Sorry, I'm just a cheap bastard.

You might try Royal Oak but it's way more expensive than KBB and again I don't think there's any bang for the buck there.

[Spinaker]

....and then you have to support RO. :/

[au4stree]

When my stash of Weber briqs runs out, I'm going back to my B&B briqs(i get them at Academy) and RO Briqs. I've always been a RO guy, don't know why, just what I got use to I guess....

I do keep a bag of B&B oak lump around for some variety....and when I want it roaring hot in the PBC.

[FishTalesNC]

I'm in exactly the same boat. If last year's pattern holds true tho, Ace will drop the price during this "grilling season" thing that exists in some people's minds...

[Spinaker]

If I have to use briquettes, like when I am using the PBC, I go with KBB. Never had a problem with it. And since the only rig I use it in, was designed to use it, I figure that is what I should use. It seems to work fine. It is the only thing I have ever run in my PBC.

[FireMan]

Just sorta like em eh, not hate or love.

[Spinaker]

They work and they are consistent. Good enough for me! FireMan

[Thunder77]

When I am not using lump, I use Kingsford Professional. I like the hotter burn. Royal Oak is okay in my book.

[JGo37]

I can't really help without giving an out of the box suggestion. In St. Louis, one of the bigger grocery chains - Schnuck's - buys local MO made briquettes. I love them, and they're cheap. The LOU ain't real picky, but we do know charcoal.

Have a look at local sustainable buys and try them. You might be surprised.

[Huskee]

I'm a KBB guy. I've tried the more expensive ones and I just don't see an improvement that fully justifies the extra cost...for me & my needs that is. A little ash or a little more ash, who cares, not this guy. Ash is easy to sweep out.

[jfmorris]

Here Royal Oak briquettes are almost always $5.99 for a 15 pound bag at Lowe's, and are often on sale for $3.99. I like the aroma better than KBB. That said, in my kettle with the SNS, it produces as much ash as KBB, and I get about 6 hours with Royal Oak, 7-8 with KBB, and 12+ with Weber, loading the SNS the same way.

I've heard good things about B&B Briquettes, and Academy here in town sells it, so plan to pick up a 20 pound bag once I burn through the stash of charcoal I have that dates back to last summer. I must still have 18-20 bags, and am going on a no-more-charcoal kick until I use it up.

[JeffJ]

Same here. I just picked up 15.5 bags of RO hardwood briquettes for $5.99 per bag. It has the same, pleasant woodsy smell that Weber briquettes give off when they are heating up.

[Mr. Bones]

I've used th regular RO many times, over many years, when I jus grabbed a bag at th grocery, esp when they clearance I got nuthin bad to say about em.

I frequently buy their Hickory, an Mesquite hardwood briqs, as well. Great stuff, makes tasty food!

[Mosca]

I have no problem with KBB, but I prefer Stubb's.

[Polarbear777]

Ash matters in some rigs (mine) because the ash kills the airflow before the fuel is even used up. When you compare price vs heat output you are basically paying the same in most cases, since fillers produce extra ash and no extra heat.

When grilling i just use use the cheapest but for low and slow I use an all hardwood to cut down on ash.