Not your daddy's Cowboy lump!

Gore · 01-19-2013, 01:34 PM

I've made fun of Cowboy lump in the past. I've had my share of rocks, insulation, dead animals, and even a live (black) frog hopped out of a bag of Cowboy lump I opened a year ago. I saw him hopping around the patio for a few days until it rained and I couldn't track him anymore. I'm very familiar with the fireworks that often occur when I light the fire. I gave up on Cowboy over a year ago after a particularly awful bag. I took to using Royal Oak as I was commuting closer to some Walmarts and it was much better. Over the past year, I noticed the RO becoming more and more like Cowboy. The bags had more dust and I even found some rocks. I'd also read here a few people commenting on Cowboy lump improving(!) The last month I've been unable to locate any RO, or even any lump. I made a trip to Ace hardware last week and picked up a 20 pound bag of Cowboy (I was ecstatic they had anything, actually). Today, I cleaned out the Oval -- I had last tried a couple bags of "True 'Cue" I found at Home Depot that were the worst bags of lump I'd ever had. They were hard to light, and filled with dust and pebble-sized lump. I couldn't even get it all to burn out when I left the vents open! Worst of all was the smell! I filled up the Oval with the new bag of Cowboy:

Fark! look at that! Hardly any dust, and no small pieces! I've never seen anything like it from Cowboy. What is most remarkable is there is nothing in there that remotely resembles a 2x4 or trim. It all appears to be real, unprocessed wood. Heck, this is one of the best looking bags of lump I've ever had

. Here's a closer shot:

You can see some of the pieces aren't wholey carbonized. I lit it up: no sparks, no fireworks, and NO FUNKY ODORS.

Here it is after a full 10 minutes:

Yeah, 10 minutes, and I had the diffusers in place. I just removed the one to take the picture. The temperature was already above 200* after only 10 minutes and it was burning cleanly, no funky smells. I don't know if this was random chance, but if this really is the "new" Cowboy, I'm loving it. I will miss the free rocks and frogs though.

Ron_L · 01-19-2013, 01:39 PM

Interesting. Is there any marking on the bag that we could use to make sure we're getting the 'new' stuff?

Gore · 01-19-2013, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron_L

Interesting. Is there any marking on the bag that we could use to make sure we're getting the 'new' stuff?

I don't remember exactly what the old bags looked like, but it looks the same as I remember EXCEPT this is a 20lb bag that I picked up at Ace, rather than the smaller bags at Home Depot. On the front it does have the words, "Now, longer lasting," but I couldn't tell you if they were there before. Granted, I haven't actually cooked with this yet, but I've never had lump look so good and get up to temp so fast. I'm only doing some country ribs, so that's really not any test on how long it lasts. With my luck, it will all burn out in 15 minutes.

Moose · 01-19-2013, 01:47 PM

Well, Gore, sometimes things do improve for the better. Hopefully this continues.

My guess is someone in management re-allocated the budgets by diverting the funds previously used for the rocks and frogs into better product.

Gore · 01-19-2013, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moose

Well, Gore, sometimes things do improve for the better. Hopefully this continues.

My guess is someone in management re-allocated the budgets by diverting the funds previously used for the rocks and frogs into better product.

The really sad thing is that I didn't learn what that frog was for until after they stopped giving them away.

gtr · 01-19-2013, 01:57 PM

So where am I supposed to get my farking frogs now?

aawa · 01-19-2013, 02:01 PM

I had been using Royal Oak because it was cheap. People on here commented saying that Cowboy used scrap wood, rocks, and other foreign debris in the bag. The last 2 bags of Royal Oak that I have bought at Restaurant Depot at the same time (currently 1/2 way through the second bag) had pieces that looked like scrap wood (trim and 2x2 and 2x4) along with some insulation pieces, and a lot more dust than in previous bags I have used.

My next purchase I am debating if I want to try Cowboy or go spendy and get Wicked Good Weekend Warrior.

Moose · 01-19-2013, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtr

So where am I supposed to get my farking frogs now?

Cowboy Lump is selling the rocks and frogs to Royal Oak now, so everything's OK.

Foxfire · 01-19-2013, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aawa

I had been using Royal Oak because it was cheap. People on here commented saying that Cowboy used scrap wood, rocks, and other foreign debris in the bag. The last 2 bags of Royal Oak that I have bought at Restaurant Depot at the same time (currently 1/2 way through the second bag) had pieces that looked like scrap wood (trim and 2x2 and 2x4) along with some insulation pieces, and a lot more dust than in previous bags I have used.

My next purchase I am debating if I want to try Cowboy or go spendy and get Wicked Good Weekend Warrior.

I haven't been using lump that long. My last bag of RO had a sizable chunk of cement in it. Like, bigger than my fist. Which is a decent percentage of the total bag weight. Also tons of marble-sized pieces and dust. I just picked up three more bags of RO and if it seems to be the trend I think I'll try both Wicked Good and Cowboy, although I was bummed this morning I couldn't find Wicked Good on the Ace website any more. I hope it's just a seasonal lag because if the price is decent I'll ship-to-store a bunch of it.

DubfromGA · 01-19-2013, 02:15 PM

I've swapped over to Wicked Good Weekend Warrior blend.

I love it. Really nice sized chunks

No great pics, but here is a load with dry hickory and apple chunks over for last weekend's rib cook.

Old lump, snuffed out last week. I just fired it up again for today's wangs & ABT's.

Midnight Smoke · 01-19-2013, 02:35 PM

Thanks Gore, I will be trying some Cowboy's now.

chriscw81 · 01-19-2013, 02:36 PM

Congrats on the nice bag of cowboy! I've picked up 2 bags of cowboys since folks have reported it improving. Both bags were really bad, almost half the bag was dust. One of the bags I only got because I had a 50% off coupon for Ace hardware. Wicked good is my go-to lump now. It's pricey but worth it IMO.

Sent from my Nexus using Tapatalk 2

RW · 01-19-2013, 02:45 PM

With Lowe's as my only source of Cowboy lump, does anyone think it would be the improved stuff that y'all are finding at Ace?

Gore · 01-19-2013, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RW

With Lowe's as my only source of Cowboy lump, does anyone think it would be the improved stuff that y'all are finding at Ace?

Chriscw81 above picked up cr@ppy stuff at Ace, so I have absolutely no idea. Still seems a bit of random chance.

Smoothsmoke · 01-19-2013, 03:08 PM

I might have to pick up a Cowboy to see for myself. I wasn't impressed with it before. However that was a few years back. If they have changed for the better, I'm all for it! Plus, it's readily available in my area.

Thanks for the review!!

01-19-2013, 01:34 PM	#1
Gore somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-05-08 Location: Hiding out from blood suck ghost snake gods ... and Nazis Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Not your daddy's Cowboy lump! I've made fun of Cowboy lump in the past. I've had my share of rocks, insulation, dead animals, and even a live (black) frog hopped out of a bag of Cowboy lump I opened a year ago. I saw him hopping around the patio for a few days until it rained and I couldn't track him anymore. I'm very familiar with the fireworks that often occur when I light the fire. I gave up on Cowboy over a year ago after a particularly awful bag. I took to using Royal Oak as I was commuting closer to some Walmarts and it was much better. Over the past year, I noticed the RO becoming more and more like Cowboy. The bags had more dust and I even found some rocks. I'd also read here a few people commenting on Cowboy lump improving(!) The last month I've been unable to locate any RO, or even any lump. I made a trip to Ace hardware last week and picked up a 20 pound bag of Cowboy (I was ecstatic they had anything, actually). Today, I cleaned out the Oval -- I had last tried a couple bags of "True 'Cue" I found at Home Depot that were the worst bags of lump I'd ever had. They were hard to light, and filled with dust and pebble-sized lump. I couldn't even get it all to burn out when I left the vents open! Worst of all was the smell! I filled up the Oval with the new bag of Cowboy: Fark! look at that! Hardly any dust, and no small pieces! I've never seen anything like it from Cowboy. What is most remarkable is there is nothing in there that remotely resembles a 2x4 or trim. It all appears to be real, unprocessed wood. Heck, this is one of the best looking bags of lump I've ever had . Here's a closer shot: You can see some of the pieces aren't wholey carbonized. I lit it up: no sparks, no fireworks, and NO FUNKY ODORS. Here it is after a full 10 minutes: Yeah, 10 minutes, and I had the diffusers in place. I just removed the one to take the picture. The temperature was already above 200* after only 10 minutes and it was burning cleanly, no funky smells. I don't know if this was random chance, but if this really is the "new" Cowboy, I'm loving it. I will miss the free rocks and frogs though. __________________ Assistant to a Mad BBQ Scientist (and a squirrel): Primo Oval XL, Small Offset, Gasser, Optigrill, UBS "I love everything about the pig, even the way she walks." -- Spanish proverb (\__/) (='.'=) This is the rabbit baby. Invests him in yours signature, (")_(") and the help rabbit baby takes over control of the world! Hmmmm, I wonder, WWGALD? Avatar courtesy of Grillman and NorthwestBBQ Promoted by Bigabyte to "Idiot #1"

01-19-2013, 01:39 PM	#2
Ron_L Moderator Join Date: 12-09-04 Location: Chicago 'Burbs Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Interesting. Is there any marking on the bag that we could use to make sure we're getting the 'new' stuff? __________________ "Ron Rico, Boss. You can call me Captain Ron..." Save The Fatty! FEC-100/BWS Party/Memphis Pro SS/PBC/LBGE X 2/SBGE/Mini BGE/Nomad Pellet-matic/Good-One Model 42/WSM X 2/Cookshack Smokette 008/Weber Performer/Weber Gasser/Weber Kettle X 2/Weber Smokey Joe/WGA/UDS/Coffee Roasting Gasser and a pickle Remembering a friend

01-19-2013, 01:47 PM	#4
Moose Babbling Farker Join Date: 10-12-08 Location: Los Angeles, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Well, Gore, sometimes things do improve for the better. Hopefully this continues. My guess is someone in management re-allocated the budgets by diverting the funds previously used for the rocks and frogs into better product. __________________ Moose The Fun Never Stops at the BBQ Brethren Throwdowns Custom Avatars by N8 & Grillman www.mooseonfire.com FoodBBQDelicious

01-19-2013, 01:57 PM	#6
gtr Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-16-10 Location: Culver City, CA Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	So where am I supposed to get my farking frogs now? __________________ 50" Klose BYC, Backwoods Chubby, UDS, 26" & 22.5" Weber Kettles, Jumbo Joe, WGA, WSJ/MUDS, Jumbo Old Smokey, Pig Hibachi, a piece of expanded metal I throw over the fire pit sometimes, Stealthy Black & Vol Orange Thermapens Displaced East Tennesseean Proud recipient of a Tick Former outlaw MOINK baller, now IMBAS Certified, but still lookin' over my shoulder. Golden Goose Egg - Got 2 in the nest baby! SPFP Mayzie's keeping an eye out for you! WTFWGALD?

01-19-2013, 02:01 PM	#7
aawa is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-03-12 Location: Virginia Beach Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I had been using Royal Oak because it was cheap. People on here commented saying that Cowboy used scrap wood, rocks, and other foreign debris in the bag. The last 2 bags of Royal Oak that I have bought at Restaurant Depot at the same time (currently 1/2 way through the second bag) had pieces that looked like scrap wood (trim and 2x2 and 2x4) along with some insulation pieces, and a lot more dust than in previous bags I have used. My next purchase I am debating if I want to try Cowboy or go spendy and get Wicked Good Weekend Warrior. __________________ Weber Mini WSM x2 Weber 22.5in OTG x2 Weber Touch and Go Performer *Sublime Smoke UDS* Maverick ET-732 World's Fastest Blue Thermapen *

01-19-2013, 02:15 PM	#10
DubfromGA is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-08-13 Location: Georgia Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I've swapped over to Wicked Good Weekend Warrior blend. I love it. Really nice sized chunks No great pics, but here is a load with dry hickory and apple chunks over for last weekend's rib cook. Old lump, snuffed out last week. I just fired it up again for today's wangs & ABT's. __________________ Trusty-rusty Char-Griller offset, Char-Griller Akorn, Charbroil The Big Easy, Maverick ET-732

01-19-2013, 02:35 PM	#11
Midnight Smoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-24-08 Location: Southern Arizona Desert Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks Gore, I will be trying some Cowboy's now. __________________ ************************ * Terry ~ aka Pork Smoker * XL-BGE Hatched 06/20/2008 09:42 pm ** * Couple Weber Kettles, CharGriller, UDS * * Ultra Fast Red Thermapen * Projects Kamado Restoration Bandera Restoration

01-19-2013, 02:36 PM	#12
chriscw81 is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-01-12 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Congrats on the nice bag of cowboy! I've picked up 2 bags of cowboys since folks have reported it improving. Both bags were really bad, almost half the bag was dust. One of the bags I only got because I had a 50% off coupon for Ace hardware. Wicked good is my go-to lump now. It's pricey but worth it IMO. Sent from my Nexus using Tapatalk 2 __________________ *A Texan transplant* UDS \| Blue Weber Performer Platinum \| Chargriller Akorn \| 22.5 Weber OTG \| WSJ Gold \| Mini WSM \| Maverick ET-73 \| Blue Thermapen \| Maverick PT-100 \| Master Forge gasser(charcoal chimney starter)

01-19-2013, 02:45 PM	#13
RW On the road to being a farker Join Date: 02-13-12 Location: Texas Hill Country Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	With Lowe's as my only source of Cowboy lump, does anyone think it would be the improved stuff that y'all are finding at Ace? __________________ Weber Performer / 18.5 WSM / mini WSM / Char-Griller Akorn / #14 Old Smokey / Weber Jumbo Joe

01-19-2013, 03:08 PM	#15
Smoothsmoke Babbling Farker Join Date: 01-20-10 Location: Monterey, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I might have to pick up a Cowboy to see for myself. I wasn't impressed with it before. However that was a few years back. If they have changed for the better, I'm all for it! Plus, it's readily available in my area. Thanks for the review!! __________________ Kamado Big Joe Kamado Classic Joe Weber Simpsons OTG "H" Redhead Weber OTS Simpsons Smokey Joe Silver Sam Adams Smokey Joe Silver Gray Smokey Joe Gold (future mini-WSM) Smooth Smoke BBQ Last edited by Smoothsmoke; 01-19-2013 at 04:20 PM..