Fogo lump. Best I've used, Home Depot carries it in my area.

After 45 years of kingsford(growing up on it, then using it myself), I finally tried another brand... Cowboy briquettes.  I wanted lump but they only had the briquettes at the store I was at.

Ok.. yeah.. they impart a good flavor and last much longer and produce less ash!  Ive used em twice now for mainly indirect cooks.. tritip and smoked chicken.  Cant wait to make something with them again!

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Oh my goodness.  There is so much information in this thread.  I can't process all of it.

Delorean, just tell me, what should I be using?  You obviously know what you are talking about.

I was going to light the grill tonight, but now I've decided not to.  I am probably using the worst of the worst brand and type of charcoal.  I claim the 5th on disclosing it.

Edit:  Ok, I just ordered FOGO Premium.  Thanks everyone.

I'm going to try out the Cowboy next. Has anyone had luck finding/making a better charcoal grate?

I'm partial to US-made charcoal, specifically from Missouri oak, hickory, etc.  But as long as you can break it apart by hand, it's properly kilned to 80-85% so you're not going to get much smoke out of it.  It should sound like broken glass or metal when you pour it out of the bag.  It goes thud and doesn't break when you drop it, you paid for water in wood fiber, not charcoal (yet.)

Delorean, thanks for all of these posts and information.  I had no idea, none whatsoever.  This is the best thread I've read in a long, long time.

Great thread. Didn't want it to get archived.

I picked up several bags of those when Walmart had them on sale.  I'd have no problem using them as they worked fine.

Here's a review comparing them to Kingston briquettes.

Enjoy your posts delorean.

I started with Kingsford brickettes years ago because Lowes always had a 2 bag deal.  In the back of my mind Im like wth is actually in these.  I tried lump..Cowboy and some stuff made in Peru of all places.  

About 4 yrs ago we pulled out the city and live in the sticks.  I have a lot of oak..both live and red oak.  Prices were steadily going up on coals so looked into making my own. Hmm..this seenms pretty simple.
Started with a 5 gallon pale.  I threw it on whenever we had the pit going.  I had good success with that and quickly found that the pale wasnt enough and it didn't last long.
Moved on to a 55 gal drum.  I am on my 2nd drum now thats how much I am making.
I usually do a mix of live oak and red...heavy on the latter.  Live is good for heat but the red is sweet and holds the magic.  I save red sticks for that little extra smoke and throw on top.

Its not fun to make in the summer..but still worth it to me.
I know its not practical to do if you are in the city (a lot of smoke is generated when making it) so not everyone can do it.

There's a piece or two in here that isn't 100% however they will smoke more and I use those in the, well, smoker.