Stuff You Should Own: The Weber Smokey Mountain
Over the years, I’ve owned or used just about every type of smoker out there. Off-sets, bullet style, electric, stickburners, ceramics, pellet fed, gravity fed… from $10,000+ “rigs” to Home-Cheapo pieces of shit, I’ve cooked on ‘em all. It amazes me how many times I’ve been disappointed in some of the higher end models and surprised with the performance of some of the cheaper ones. In the end, I can tell you a higher price tag does not guarantee higher quality… do some research and you’ll be able to find a smoker that not only fits your budget but cooks like a dream.
That said, if you want to cut right to the chase and get one of the best smokers out there, one that offers the quality all Q’ers should be looking for at a amazingly reasonable price, look no further than the Weber Smokey Mountain(WSM). No other smoker on the market will give you a better bang for your buck. First introduced in 1981, this smoker epitomizes the principals of the Weber brand:
“There’s an old Smokey Mountain tradition: when you build something, you build it to last. Now there’s a smoke cooker worthy of that timeless tradition. You’ll love what it does to fish, meat and game…season after season, year after year.”
- Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker Owner’s Manual, 1981.
I’ve had mine for over 5 years now and it still cooks like a dream… just as it did the day I took it out of the box. Using the Minion Method, I can easily pin my WSM at 225 degrees for 12 hours on less than a bag of charcoal and without refilling my fuel or touching my vents! Easy enough for a rookie, it’s also quality enough for the seasoned veteran…. of the 5 smokers in my garage right now, the WSM is still my “go to” smoker. The 18 inch model retails for $299 though you can often find it on sale. It has 2 cooking grates with the capacity to hold 2 turkeys, 4 pork butts (though I’ve already fit 6), 2 whole briskets or 4-6 racks of ribs. It cooks like a dream and has a world of modifications that may interest the tinkerers out there looking for the perfect weekend Mantivity.
So if you’re looking to dabble in the world of true BBQ, add to your current collection of smokers or just ruffle the hen’s feathers with yet another toy, get yourself a Weber Smokey Mountain and you won’t regret it.
Be A Man.
-The Founding Father
Filed under: BBQ, Stuff You Should Own
