New Weber Kettle

[au4stree]

Darn you MCS!

https://youtu.be/nSpFPc-aNDI

[grantgallagher]

I like it. I do wonder if you can just buy the head deflector and charcoal ring for your existing kettle though.

[FireMan]

I’m torn. I am not an engineer or a computer geek, not that there is anything wrong with either, some are my best friends (boy isn’t that a statement for further discussion), but I have some questions with this New Weber vs vs SnS.
One: the diffuser plate looks great & probably really does the job for smoking, but what about searing. You have the old situation where the coals are far away from you r cook & are they hot enough.
Two: you can’t do two zone cooking or you can by the old way of shoving coals over to the side. You can’t do the "cold" spin cook that you can with the SnS. The cast iron grates don’t impress me.
Three: the hinge is nice but, I have the 2011 Weber where the lid only goes of in a resting position as if it had a hinge, which mean the vent is in the center of the lid, hmmm. Smoke can only go thru the top, which is ok only if you use the diffuser plate. Now, maybe the smoke traveling a little to the side might only mean a bit of a difference but it seems to me that it makes some difference.
Four: a little tiny shelf for a little tiny thermometer, well, who gives a rip!
I think it’s nice. Am I running out and getting one? Probably never.
Oh, & remind me that the next time I have crocodile cheeks that I cook them like chicken, hot & fast! They probably taste like chicken too.

[HouseHomey]

A little to the left. So smart, I didn’t think of that.

[FireMan]

After further review, it seems Adrenaline Barbecue’ s motto that David Parrish came up with, "We didn’t invent the kettle we perfected it" has come home to roost so to speak. Weber is trying its best to perfect its product when someone else has already done it. Try as they may, they just can’t quite get it.

[Red Man]

I agree the SnS gives the kettle a lot more versatility than the charcoal ring with deflector plate, however the deflector plate allows you to have a lot more area available for smoking.

[xaugievike]

I agree on this point.

[FireMan]

Get a 26, problem solved.

[Attjack]

I already have a 26. No reason you can't have multiple accessories. Sometimes I use a SnS sometimes I use a Poortex sometimes I use bricks.

[jgreen]

Dang. Thought I had enough cookers but that is cool. Like the hinge, though I don’t think it would work with a rotisserie adapter.

[Attjack]

Just for fun I'll probably set up a heat delector using a pizza pan and figure something out for the charcoal basket on my existing 26 and or my Jumbo Joe. Hell, you could probably set the pizza pan on top of your SnS or Weber baskets.

[Red Man]

You could set the pizza pan on a couple of bricks.

[Troutman]

If you have a WSM, there's a charcoal ring you can use. I actually attached mine to my charcoal grate with stainless clamps. I could easily throw it into my kettle and use the pizza pan idea. I do agree that having more room is the biggest setback with the SNS.

[Red Man]

You could put a water pan on the deflector plate for more even temps and to take away the radiant heat off the deflector plate.

[LA Pork Butt]

I could’t find it on Weber’s site. I wonder when it will be released and at whT price.

[DavidNorcross]

Agree. Nothing on the site. I am also on their email list and they have mad mention that I recall.

[Attjack]

It's a European product.

[Buck Flicks]

Some questions and thoughts:
1) love the hinged lid.
2) Like the idea of the smoke ring and heat deflector plate... more room for meatz on the the grill.
3) What kind of briqs are those?? They wouldn't work in my SnS, but they look interesting.
4) Seems like the smoke ring would be of better use lining up KBBs along the outside of it, rather than in the middle.
5)I enjoyed that video... I'll have to subscribe to his channel and watch more, especially since he seems to be a Kettle fan.

[Polarbear777]

Does this have a fan port built in like the summit?

Otherwise the hinge is nice but while there may be more room using the deflector plate I’d have to do some calibration tests to see if it really heats evenly and can hold stable temps. I’ve spent enough time with the SNS to know what it can do and seems like it would be hard to beat.

[Rod]

It's weird that Weber spent all this time adding these new features that don't really seem to me like much of an improvement (as compared to the SnS etc). Not a fan of the hinged lid as you are locked in to one position for the top vent. The single biggest and simplest improvements they could do is probe/fan ports! It's not like they are unaware of this as they are on the WSM and Summit.

[Troutman]

Yea I agree on the probe and fan ports. I had to modify all my Webers to include one or both. It's not that big a deal to do but you would think that their product development folks would pick up on those simple little conveniences.

[FireMan]

Rod & Troutman , seems to me that Weber has gotten into an archaic business mode of if "we don’t come up with the idea than it’s not needed." I understand the SnS patent thing, but you would think they could work with ABC or (shhh, buy em out) & develop improvements thusly. Problem with the port situation is it’s your idea maybe.

[Rod]

Yet they have a probe port for the WSM and a fan port for the WSCGC.

[Spinaker]

At least they are innovating. Something that other manufactures have not done, and are now-laying catch up.

[FireMan]

Like the Tonka thing. 🕶

[RustyHaines]

I still think they are missing the boat by not making a 26 inch Performer. I believe it would sell so long as the price tag was reasonable. IMHO they are not going to stop the SnS wave because it has too much momentum, is a quality product, and they have great service. I agree with the others that they should provide ports for probes and blowers on all kettles . . . . .including the new 26 inch Performer whenever they agree with me and make one !

If I had the know-how I would make a table/cart/stand for a 26 inch kettle to make it like a Performer. But I bet if I did and tried to sell it Weber would sue me for patent infringement.

OK, rant over and I am off of my soap box now.

[FireMan]

Could you please give us the dimensions of your soap box & material said box is made of so’s we could start plans on modifying it. 🕶

[Polarbear777]

A 26” propane ignited performer would be a hit with me anyway. (Of course is have to mod the igniter to light the SNS)

[Razor]

A 26" Performer would be awesome. The 22" serves my family of four well, however there are times where I'd like a little extra room. I use the two included charcoal baskets for my 2-zone cooking and they take up a lot of available space.