New Weber Original Kettle Premium 26.75" (2015)

[fuzzydaddy]

This week I received my new Weber Original Kettle Premium 26.75" (2015) from FireCraft. Here's the Schematics. I'll be cooking on it very soon! I also have a large Big Green Egg. This is my first Weber...exciting!

Side view



Top view



Cooking grate is stainless steel with handles. Yeah, that lid is a bit heavy.



Approximately 25" diameter cooking grate.



...and it's hinged on both sides. Yep, that's a new Smokenator.



Hinged opening is about 3-3/4"



Smokenator opening is about 5-1/2". I tested and it will hold 150 Kingsford blue, using the opening to put them in.



My markings for the vent openings:
<---| is closed. Next vertical is 1/4 open, then 1/2 open, then 3/4 open. |---> is open.


Let me know if you have any questions or comments. First thing for me to do is to learn how to hit 225 and 325. Enjoy your day!

David

[Mosca]

Interesting. I've been considering this same combination, but have demurred, because i don't see the need for both units. What do you intend to do with the Weber that you wouldn't do on the BGE instead?

[fuzzydaddy]

Good morning. #1 New toy! #2 2-Zone cooking--My BGE cooks are indirect and that plate-setter gets way too hot to remove after an indirect cook, plus the charcoal is a bit far away from the cooking surface for a good sear. Also, I tend to do large cooks and the cooking surface is much larger and will add to how much I can cook. The BGE is a great smoker for me, but crisping skin or searing is not it's strong suit.

[HC in SC]

I got my used Performer from a guy who got a BGE XL for a Xmas gift.

He regretted selling it after we loaded it up in my truck.

Better to have it and not need it than vice-versa.

[Mosca]

Thanks. I have other workarounds, but those would be the reasons I would do it, too. I use a WOO Ring to insert and remove the platesetter and lower the cooking grate. I really just want one of EVERYTHING. but there isn't room on the deck for that!

[Jerod Broussard]

Awesome!!!!

I always liked the look of that ring for the lid on the 26+.

[Jon Solberg]

NICE!!!!

[David Parrish]

Great post, but everything is way too shiny and clean. Time to cook!

[fuzzydaddy]

I hear you! When the rain stops I'm gonna learn how to hit and maintain 225 and 325, then the cooking will commence. First up will be some chickens with MMR. Will post some dirty pictures later. Ha!

[Deuce]

Very nice, love the added cooking room compared to my 22 1/2

[Huskee]

Great job fuzzy! Why oh why didn't you join the copper bandwagon? Lol.

[fuzzydaddy]

I did not see copper as an option for the 26"; only the black!! I believe some of the kettles also have a green option.

[Huskee]

@fuzzydaddy, yeah they used to also have a blue option, and floating around on Amazon are a couple 'red brick' ones, but people say in reviews that color doesn't look very good in person...appears to be a discontinued color. I liked the blue & copper myself. But you can't go wrong with black, the food doesn't know.

[pitboy]

She's a beaut fuzzy! Are you planning on installing a temperature control system, such as the Guru or Stoker? Doing long cooks I think it's essential to have one, especially on a kettle. I have the same setup as yourself with a Guru and I couldn't imagine life without it . Fill the smokenator with charcoal briquettes, leave a little room in the middle for wood and the lit charcoal, dump that in, close the bottom vent completely, set the top to about 1/3 open, 225 all day long

[fuzzydaddy]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll have a look at the Guru. May have to wait a bit for cash though...that's always the only issue with getting new items. Is there a particular model you would suggest?

[pitboy]

Yes. The DigiQ DX2 https://bbqguru.com/StoreNav?CategoryId=1&ProductId=22
Works like a charm.

[BluesDaddy]

Got one of these after Christmas - on clearance at the local HD. I've only had three cooks on it because the weather has been so rainy since, but I really love it. Did the "snake" method for ribs I did last Saturday. I underestimated the amount of coals needed to due to the colder temps, but otherwise the cook went really well and the ribs turned out awesome. I really like the size of this thing and having true two or three zone capability.

[fuzzydaddy]

My other grill is a Large Big Green Egg (18" cooking grate), so this ~25" grate is awesome!

[LowandSlow]

After reading this I looked up some Webers. First, it is pretty crazy that the 22" is $150 and the 26+" is $350. Second, this does look like the best well rounded BBQ for 2-zone, smoking, searing, etc. for under $500. If I could choose, I would go Primo XL, but I don't have $1500. Please let us know how often you need to reload charcoal for 8+ hour cooks. Thanks!

[fuzzydaddy]

I purchased my 26" at Firecraft.com for $299.95 and free shipping...my first time to order from them. That made the difference a little better, but I wanted the larger size and was happy for $50 off. At that time Amazon.com was $349.99. I just checked and Firecraft is still at the same price. @LowandSlow, I have not done a long cook yet.

[pitboy]

fully packed smokenator with temp control system on 26er = 10 hours at 225 +/- depending on weather.

[fuzzydaddy]

@pitboy, thanks! Hoping to cook some Boston Butts soon. Good info.

[smarkley]

Hey fuzzy... now you need one of these for your kettle!
Smoke E Z - 26.75in --

http://www.firecraft.com/product/smo...tional-smokers

[LowandSlow]

That looks pretty cool! When its all said and done, you are spending $700-$800 the Kettle, Smoke E-Z, Smokenator and other accessories.

[smarkley]

heh heh... but what a pimped out kettle it would BE!

[fuzzydaddy]

@smarkley, with the Smoke E Z it would be huge! I could tell my neighbors all kinds of stories about what it is. Might have to beef-up the Weber legs. ha!

[Guy]

Smarkley. just put that E-Z on my list. For my 22.5 Weber Kettle. First time I have seen that.

Thanks,

Guy