Sure is Windy Out.

Getting ready to smoke two chickens and it's really windy out there. I have my offset under the front porch overhang in case it rains but this wind is going to make it a challenge. I haven't smoked on a windy day before but I'm ready to accept the challenge. This smoke is based on the brining chapter of Gary W. Low and Slow book. The chicken is brined and in the fridge drying per the instructions. I'll be using Lazzari lump mesquite and some mesquite chunks for fuel. Don't worry, I don't plan on lighting the chimney on the cooking grate.

Well, I think I'm done smoking till spring. This just isn't working out. I can't get the smoker cook chamber over 150 degrees. I have a whole 7lb bag of lump and four chunks of mesquite and it doesn't matter how I set the dampers. Guess we're having oven roasted chicken for dinner. Arrrggg!

Guess this chicken is going into the pellet pooper.

Thanks BBQ Bandit. Interestingly the wind died down but I discovered the wind was less of the problem than I thought. It's just that this is the first time I've used an offset in cooler weather. I finally pulled the charcoal basket out and threw a bunch of cherry wood on the coal bed. I just needed a way bigger fire than what worked in the summer. I'm a little slow when it comes to learning from my mistakes. Next time I'll build a raging fire and wait till it settles to a nice coal bed before I throw the meat on.

Here's a pic. This smoke was not fun. I am a little too easily thrown out of sorts because I'm an obsessive type guy. However I did learn a lot.