Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan - near Clare (dead center of lower peninsula).
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
You first! Here we'll post news, gear reviews, videos, and recipes that are freshly published on the public site before getting advertised there! To see all our NEW Recipes & Gear Reviews, visit the Sneak Preview channel here: https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/fo...ew-for members
Weber 22" Performer Smart Charcoal Grill, by Dave Joachim
Way back in 1952, Weber introduced its bowl-shaped charcoal grill, a steel marine buoy cut through the equator and retrofitted for cooking. In 1990, Weber introduced the Performer, its classic 22″ kettle grill built into a more convenient wheeled cart with an integrated work table.Now in 2026, The Weber 22" Performer Smart Charcoal Grill electrifies the company's iconic charcoal kettle grill with a spark of modern automation, combining the flavor advantages of charcoal grilling with the set-it-and-forget-it convenience of a pellet smoker.
Smokin-It 3D
Weber Kettle with an SNS
Masterbuilt kettle that I call the $30 wonder grill
Bullet by Bull Grills gasser
Anova WiFi sous vide machine
Thermoworks Thermapen and Chef Alarm
Seems as if the differences in cooking target temps and differences in the Weber ambient probe temp and an external ambient probe temp are what we have found using the Weber Smart Ring. But it has been nice to have the smart ring to cook with for the longer cooks I’ve done.
One question I have on this setup compared to the Weber Smart Ring setup - I’m guessing the cook grate sits at the same level as it would in a regular Performer, putting the meat closer to the fire for direct cooking compared to the addition of the Smart Ring? I can’t tell from the photos, but looking at the last photo above, I’d guess that is the case?
That may be one distinct advantage of going with this set up over the Weber Smart Ring being added to the kettle.
Correctamundo. I'm currently testing the Smart Ring on my (very old) Weber kettle. Without the Smart Ring installed, the cooking grate sits 5 3/4" above the coal grate. With the Smart Ring installed, the cooking grate sits 10" above the coal grate, so the Ring nearly doubles the distance from fire to food.
For reference, the Smart Performer cooking grate sits 5 inches above the coal grate, so the food is even closer to the fire than in the classic 22" Weber kettle.
Comment