This Brinkman smoker?

[Frank-Likes-Beer]

I'm looking at getting this grill/smoker and wanted to see if anyone has experience with it.

http://www.brinkmann.net/products/o...okers_and_grills/details.aspx?item=852-7080-E

I can pick it up for free with my check card points.

 

[simmons]

I have the same smoker. It's good to start out with but. You have to modify the fire box so that the fire can breathe and so the ashes fall out the bottom and don't smother the coals. It's also great for Beer Can Chicken. But If you really get into smoking things you will want to upgrade.

 

[truckmann]

Like simmons said it will work pretty well with some minor modifications, but for about the same amount of money or less I think you would be better off building an Ugly Drum Smoker. I guess for free though it will do pretty well.

 

[jezter6]

I have the electric model (no worries about keeping an eye on the fire or temperature).

I like it. I only smoke up 3-4 times a year, usually a butt or some beer can chicken.

Good little starter, IMHO. if you get it free with points, then all the better.

 

[azscoob]

I had one of them for years , the bottom finally rusted out on it and I made the upgrade to a Brinkmann Smoke-n-Pit, I made several mods as described on another forum, even heat, better control, I absolutely love it!

 

[Frank-Likes-Beer]

Thanks for the info everyone. I think I'll be picking this up right after Xmas.

 

[therealrsr]

FYI, HIGH maintenance until modified, and even then it is not an indirect system. No doubt you can make good BBQ in them, but they are not really indirect (even with a liquid pan in there). To be fair I don't use an egg for the same reason but have tasted great, not good, BBQ from them.

 

[dataz722]

Before you get it, at least read about and consider making a UDS.

 

[Frank-Likes-Beer]

Would there be a better option for a starter smoker? I like the option of using this as a charcoal grill too.

Edit: I'll read up on the UDS as well, but living in a picky HOA townhouse community, I'm not sure how well a big ugly drum sitting on my deck will go over.

 

[dataz722]

Would there be a better option for a starter smoker? I like the option of using this as a charcoal grill too.

Edit: I'll read up on the UDS as well, but living in a picky HOA townhouse community, I'm not sure how well a big ugly drum sitting on my deck will go over.

A weber kettle cover fits over it perfectly. I have a real picky HOA and nobody has ever said anything to me about the 3 grills I have on my deck. They all have covers though.

 

[therealrsr]

A weber kettle cover fits over it perfectly. I have a real picky HOA and nobody has ever said anything to me about the 3 grills I have on my deck. They all have covers though.

+1, my HOA is a PITA but never complained about my covered grills. Also for the smoker, if it will sit on patio you use a lot then cover is practically a must. Flies LOVE smokers and a cover helps a lot in my experience.

 

[Garr-Ro]

I just spent 5 hours cleaning one of the electric versions last night to "re-gift" to my brother in law....I upgraded a couple of years ago to an offset Oklahoma Joes. My suggestion would be to inspect the smoker if possible before taking it home. I bought mine from Lowe's & took 3 back before I got one that wasn't damaged.....the metal is a bit thin. It will produce a great end product though. Best of luck!

 

[cheezydemon3]

My first smoker was 2 GIGANTIC terra cotta pots, one buried in the ground and the other for a lid. A couple of grates lying around to hold coals and the food and voila!

It looked pretty great too, but was immobile.

My point? Use your imagination. There is a reason you don't see anything that even resembles those brinkmans at a pro bbq circuit.

Not saying you need what the pros use, but if the brinkman design was great, you would see similar models, only bigger at the contest level.......

You don't.

 

[dataz722]

My first smoker was 2 GIGANTIC terra cotta pots, one buried in the ground and the other for a lid. A couple of grates lying around to hold coals and the food and voila!

It looked pretty great too, but was immobile.

My point? Use your imagination. There is a reason you don't see anything that even resembles those brinkmans at a pro bbq circuit.

Not saying you need what the pros use, but if the brinkman design was great, you would see similar models, only bigger at the contest level.......

You don't.

You do, just not the brinkman. WSMs are all over comps.

 

[cheezydemon3]

So, what is the main difference? Between Brinkman and WSM?

And most pros don't use the upright smoker. My problem with the BGE is that the heat, however far away, is right below the food.

Indirect is waaaaay better.

 

[dataz722]

So, what is the main difference? Between Brinkman and WSM?

And most pros don't use the upright smoker. My problem with the BGE is that the heat, however far away, is right below the food.

Indirect is waaaaay better.

That is nothing but your opinion. Some of what are considered to be the best most expensive "pro" smokers are uprights. It doesn't have to be an offset to make good Q.


The concept behind the brinkman and WSM and the same but the WSM is much much better constructed and desgined. It doesn't need any mods and will hold temp for hours without touching it.

 

[cheezydemon3]

That is nothing but your opinion. Some of what are considered to be the best most expensive "pro" smokers are uprights. It doesn't have to be an offset to make good Q.


The concept behind the brinkman and WSM and the same but the WSM is much much better constructed and desgined. It doesn't need any mods and will hold temp for hours without touching it.

Easy. Sorry for sharing my "opinion" on this entirely fact based thread!

I mention the BGE (big green egg) which I believe is still considered pretty top end. I know it's prioce tag, I still wouldn't buy one, because I want the flames and most of the heat offset.

Yes, that is definitely my opinion.

 

[yummybeer]

I'm looking at getting this grill/smoker and wanted to see if anyone has experience with it.

http://www.brinkmann.net/products/o...okers_and_grills/details.aspx?item=852-7080-E

I can pick it up for free with my check card points.

i just got the electric version of this smoker as a christmas gift this morning. hmm...what to smoke first?!?!

 

[Sawdustguy]

You do, just not the brinkman. WSMs are all over comps.

+1 IMHO The Weber Smokey Mountain is the best inexpensive smoker there is. There are tons of them used by competition teams and they win with them. We use a Spicewine Insulated Smoker at competitions but we also bring a WSM (lovingly known as R2D2).

 

[dataz722]

How do you like the Spicewine? I have been eyeing them up and would love one.

 

[Sawdustguy]

How do you like the Spicewine? I have been eyeing them up and would love one.

I love the way it cooks. With a BBQ Guru and a charcoal basket we can get it to hold temperature for 24 hours on a bag of charcoal. It helps us get a full night sleep at a competition when other teams are up all night feeding their stick burners. We do not use the water pan as I do not believe in steaming the Que. My only gripe is that it weighs 700 lbs. On the plus side it weighs 700 lbs because it is built like a brick chithouse. It may be the last smoker you ever buy.

 

[dataz722]

I love the way it cooks. With a BBQ Guru and a charcoal basket we can get it to hold temperature for 24 hours on a bag of charcoal. It helps us get a full night sleep at a competition when other teams are up all night feeding their stick burners. We do not use the water pan as I do not believe in steaming the Que. My only gripe is that it weighs 700 lbs. On the plus side it weighs 700 lbs because it is built like a brick chithouse. It may be the last smoker you ever buy.

Yeah, I have heard nothing but great things about them. As it is right now I am going to just have an arsenal of UDSs but if I get them money will go with the Spicewine.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

Smoking a butt this weekend and found that my old kettle was so rusted out it was falling apart so I need a smoker for this weekend. I only smoke occasionally but also grill a bit.

Is this Brinkman Smoke N' Pit Charcoal Grill & Smoker (offset) decent for $190? They also have the upright charcoal and upright electric Brinkmans for $40 and $70 respectively. They claim the upright charcoal can be used as a grill but I don't think I like the idea of using the water bowl to hold the charcoal (seems like poor air flow).

 

[dataz722]

Build a UDS. It will be exponentially better. You could build a UDS and still have enough money leftover to brew 15-20 gallons of beer for the same money as that one.

 

[Frank-Likes-Beer]

In fairness, not all of us want to build an UDS.

I was looking at a grill similar to the one CPA just linked at Wally World wondering if it would be any good. Any opinions.

 

[dataz722]

In fairness, not all of us want to build an UDS.

I was looking at a grill similar to the one CPA just linked at Wally World wondering if it would be any good. Any opinions.

I understand that but it really is the best solution for the price range. A WSM is a great product as well but will run 200-300 depending on the size. I have yet to see or hear of anything worth buying for less than that.

Can you produce ok Q from something like what was posted? Yeah, but it will be a ton of work to pull it off. A couple years ago I was dead set on getting an offset chargriller and people on bbq forums tried to convince me to not do it and build a UDS. I ignored them because I was set in my ways and didn't think it would be as good. Finally, I ended up going the UDS route (because lowes stopped carrying the Chargriller) and am extremely thankful that I did.

Are they the absolute best smoker available? Hell no! But there is nothing that can even come close to comparing to them in the $50-175 range.

 

[rodneypierce]

honestly, When I do smoke something, I just use my weber 22.5" kettle grill. Put the coals/wood on one side, and the ribs or whatever I happen to be smoking on the other side of the grill. I put the vent directly across from the coals/wood so the smoke has to move across the food before it exits. Works great. Now on the flip side, you can do a beer can chicken in a weber kettle, just not big enough. But, since im allergic to chicken, I usually only smoke ribs.

 

[dataz722]

I forgot about using a weber kettle. It is very doable but it has a very limited capacity and does require a ton of babysitting. Still though ,it is probably a better option than a cheap offset.

 

[rodneypierce]

I forgot about using a weber kettle. It is very doable but it has a very limited capacity and does require a ton of babysitting. Still though ,it is probably a better option than a cheap offset.

I agree. If you dont smoke very often, its a very good option. (with the limited space kept in mind) Plus, when not in use, you have one of the best charcoal grills known to man

 

[dataz722]

I agree. If you dont smoke very often, its a very good option. (with the limited space kept in mind) Plus, when not in use, you have one of the best charcoal grills known to man

Yup. Main reason I would reccomend the weber over a cheap offset is that once you finally decide to upgrade (which you will) you are still left with an awesome grill instead of just a place to store your bbq tools.

I love my 22.5 OTS. Hell, I want a 2nd one. The damn things will last forever too. The one I have I bought used off CL. The guy said he has had it for probably close to 20 years and it spent the majority of that time sitting outside. The cooking grate was shot and needed to be replaced but other than that it was in almost perfect shape.