National Homebrew Club Ireland

Anyone know where I could pick some up.  would places like woodies sell it or is it off the shelf this time of year completely? Got a smokey mountain over Christmas and I'm dying to break it in.

Yes, Woodies stock charcoal, both the lumpwood and the compressed briquette type. Homebase stock it too, I think.

Though I'm not sure if the briquette would be suitable for smoking..

I'm in the same position in Cork, ive tried woodies down here and none of them have it or B&q, I have to try the Polish shops or the coop next, ive a smoker that I've been dying to try out since October.

B&Q do a firesale of charcoal at the end of Summer every year so they won't have any. Keep an eye out when the rain hits next September, that's when you buy a years supply.

These lads seem to have some http://www.outdoor.ie/30-bbq-accessories

If you have a Netpol (Polish shop) locally, they might stock it, that's where I get mine in Netpol Tyrrelstown, I asked recently and they stock it year around.

I found that the hardware places are not stocking it out of season.

Or try any other Polish shop in your neighbourhood.

Quote from: Pheeel on January 07, 2016, 07:06:43 PM
These lads seem to have some http://www.outdoor.ie/30-bbq-accessories

was on to them yesterday and they have non in stock till feb, thanks tho.

Quote from: Eoin on January 08, 2016, 08:27:52 AM
If you have a Netpol (Polish shop) locally, they might stock it, that's where I get mine in Netpol Tyrrelstown, I asked recently and they stock it year around.

I found that the hardware places are not stocking it out of season.

gonna give one of them a go fingers crossed thanks

Quote from: baphomite51 on January 07, 2016, 12:15:36 PM
Anyone know where I could pick some up.  would places like woodies sell it or is it off the shelf this time of year completely? Got a smokey mountain over Christmas and I'm dying to break it in.

I'm very interested to hear how you get on with this, as I've had my eye on the Smokey Mountain for a long time.

What wood are you going to use for smoking? I've noticed that it's really only wood "chips" that are available in Ireland, whereas in the States, I've noticed on YouTube that they use massive chunks. Surely the chunks would burn slower, and release the smoke over a much longer period?

What are you planning on smoking? Ribs? Pork shoulder?

Quote from: Bubbles on January 08, 2016, 10:59:24 AM

Quote from: baphomite51 on January 07, 2016, 12:15:36 PM
Anyone know where I could pick some up.  would places like woodies sell it or is it off the shelf this time of year completely? Got a smokey mountain over Christmas and I'm dying to break it in.

I'm very interested to hear how you get on with this, as I've had my eye on the Smokey Mountain for a long time.

What wood are you going to use for smoking? I've noticed that it's really only wood "chips" that are available in Ireland, whereas in the States, I've noticed on YouTube that they use massive chunks. Surely the chunks would burn slower, and release the smoke over a much longer period?

What are you planning on smoking? Ribs? Pork shoulder?

ill be sure to let you know.

i found the wood chunks at outdoor scene but to be honest i'm not sure how big of a difference you'd get between the chunks and chips in the grand scheme of things.

ye basically maybe try some chicken too and brisket and maybe some different cuts like beef cheek and shank

In season, I was able to get Weber chips in Woodies, but not at the moment.

I'd like to get the larger chunks myself...but the chips seem to do the job too.

Quote from: baphomite51 on January 08, 2016, 11:33:03 AMbut to be honest i'm not sure how big of a difference you'd get between the chunks and chips in the grand scheme of things.

I'm not so sure, but maybe an experienced smoked would chime in. I'd imagine the chips will combust a lot quicker, release a lot of smoke early in the process, and then fizzle out hours before the cooking is finished. But I'm just guessing..  :-\

Quote from: baphomite51 on January 08, 2016, 11:33:03 AM
ye basically maybe try some chicken too and brisket

I've smoked chicken wings on the Smokey Joe (just using a combination of direct and indirect heat) and I found that the skin can go very rubbery. The bit of research I've done has shown that this is a common problem with chicken. I remedied it by doing some intense direct heat to crisp the skin and render a lot of the fat out, then add the hickory chips and leave to smoke for 20 mins or so. I'm not sure how people work around this when smoking whole chickens, though I'm sure there's a way.

I remember Hop Bomb saying on this forum that brisket can be a tough joint to smoke well.

I hope you've a smoked porter on the go, to accompany all this BBQ?! :)

Quote from: Eoin on January 08, 2016, 11:42:18 AM
I'd like to get the larger chunks myself

Group buy? ;)

In my experience Chunks are better. With chips you have to keep checking them and adding more on

Wasnt me talking about brisket. Lord Eoin I think.

I bought a loada bags of lumpwood charcoal in B&Q at the end of the summer. Was using it for a few months before that & said Id stock up for winter. Easily the best stuff around & well priced per kg. Was using the small bags from polonez before that. That stuff was pretty good too but the b&q lumpwood is larger & easier to work with as it doesnt fall through the gaps in the fire basket.

Smoked whole chicken I find is too tender & skin is fatty & rubbery as you said. I smoke to recommended internal temp so its cooked through perfectly, Im just not a fan of it like that (prefer a roast chicken). Its too mild a meat I think to take oak smoke well. For me I it tastes best when the meat is pulled off the carcass after smoking, chopped & sauced then fried on a skillet til its crispy.

Quote from: Hop Bomb on January 08, 2016, 06:32:39 PM
Wasnt me talking about brisket. Lord Eoin I think.

Oops, soz!

Saw charcoal there in a Brazilian shop in the Moore St Mall there, so might be something that they have year round. Check if there's one local to you.

I just noticed that nisbits are going to be selling lumpwood charcoal from next week, http://www.nisbets.ie/Big-K-Lumpwood-Charcoal-10kg/CM826/ProductDetail.raction (http://www.nisbets.ie/Big-K-Lumpwood-Charcoal-10kg/CM826/ProductDetail.raction)

I use oak logs. to smoke meat and fish.
charcoal for chicken portions and burgers and chops.

have a look at this also.
http://bbqpitboys.com/

Quote from: Eoin on January 08, 2016, 11:42:18 AM
In season, I was able to get Weber chips in Woodies, but not at the moment.

I'd like to get the larger chunks myself...but the chips seem to do the job too.

A couple of the fancy Garden centres had wood specific webber charcoal chunks, pricey but the mesquite smelled amazing

Quote from: oblivious on January 10, 2017, 10:34:38 AM

Quote from: Eoin on January 08, 2016, 11:42:18 AM
In season, I was able to get Weber chips in Woodies, but not at the moment.

I'd like to get the larger chunks myself...but the chips seem to do the job too.

A couple of the fancy Garden centres had wood specific webber charcoal chunks, pricey but the mesquite smelled amazing

Were they chunks, as opposed to chips? I've never seen chunks available here unfortunately.

The Weber chips are good - I got the Hickory and they add a great flavour to beef or chicken. Would like to try the mesquite though.

I've gotten weber apple/cherry chunks from Newlands garden centre , definitely prefer them to chips. They're a bit expensive.

wood logs chunks and chips I get of ebay.cheaper than garden centers.

DoneDeal https://www.donedeal.ie/view/10623608

Got some NamChar Namibian charcoal from woodfuel.ie (https://woodfuel.ie)

I would recommend the medium size as the small domestic fell through a Weber rack without a smaller wire mesh to hold them. Good prices. He was delivering to restaurants in Dublin so I meet him & collected a few bags from him.

There used to be a guy back of the iBIS hotel at red cow selling that stuff, it's like an iron bar and calorific value is nuts

Try Polish shops, I got the tip from a Polish lady a while before Xmas and was able to find it no bother in a Polonia I think.