Rockinar
is Blowin Smoke!
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2013
- Location
- Houston, TX
Sold my Evie Maes trailer at the end of last year. Recently bought a 55 gallon Gateway drum to see what the hoopla was about and if they are really as good people rave. I have not done a brisket yet, but plenty of ribs, chicken, steaks and burgers.
Conclusion.....so far, this thing kicks ass and probably one of the most under rated cookers there is. In hindsight, I wonder why on earth anyone would buy a kamado or a pellet grill over a drum is beyond me. It will do anything a kamado can do, it's lighter, it grills better, wont shatter or break, it's mobile, it has more rack space and it can hold a temp well enough to at least close your eyes for awhile or mow the lawn, etc.....for hundreds of dollars less. I think it grills better than a Kettle. It's for sure a reverse sear steak and burger champion in my book. All my steaks and burger have had a pretty consistent level of pink throughout. Kettle was always hit and miss.
It will flat out whip any pellet grill hands down, and with a weed burner I can have it up to 275/300 and ready to go in 10 minutes flat. The "I don't have time to fire up a charcoal grill or offset so I bought a pellet grill" excuse is totally out the window. You have to be lazy as hell to pick a pellet grill over a drum. Your results wont be anywhere near as good, and your pellet grill still not as versatile.
Cons: Limited rack space if you want to do large cooks, and smoke profile a tad on the heavy side on poultry. I have not noticed it on ribs.
For backyard family cooker, I don't think a drum can be beat. Id be really hesitant to even buy another backyard offset over a drum. I still have not done brisket so it only gets 3 stars right now. It will get another star if brisket results are good or at least good enough. I image it will be tricky to keep the bottom from drying out, but we'll see. Some of my best ribs and steaks have been coming off the Gateway I think. No need to remove the membrane on ribs, the bottom heat will cook it off and you wont even notice it.
I only did one SCA event, but If I did more, Id for sure buy a 30 gallon drum for it.
Conclusion.....so far, this thing kicks ass and probably one of the most under rated cookers there is. In hindsight, I wonder why on earth anyone would buy a kamado or a pellet grill over a drum is beyond me. It will do anything a kamado can do, it's lighter, it grills better, wont shatter or break, it's mobile, it has more rack space and it can hold a temp well enough to at least close your eyes for awhile or mow the lawn, etc.....for hundreds of dollars less. I think it grills better than a Kettle. It's for sure a reverse sear steak and burger champion in my book. All my steaks and burger have had a pretty consistent level of pink throughout. Kettle was always hit and miss.
It will flat out whip any pellet grill hands down, and with a weed burner I can have it up to 275/300 and ready to go in 10 minutes flat. The "I don't have time to fire up a charcoal grill or offset so I bought a pellet grill" excuse is totally out the window. You have to be lazy as hell to pick a pellet grill over a drum. Your results wont be anywhere near as good, and your pellet grill still not as versatile.
Cons: Limited rack space if you want to do large cooks, and smoke profile a tad on the heavy side on poultry. I have not noticed it on ribs.
For backyard family cooker, I don't think a drum can be beat. Id be really hesitant to even buy another backyard offset over a drum. I still have not done brisket so it only gets 3 stars right now. It will get another star if brisket results are good or at least good enough. I image it will be tricky to keep the bottom from drying out, but we'll see. Some of my best ribs and steaks have been coming off the Gateway I think. No need to remove the membrane on ribs, the bottom heat will cook it off and you wont even notice it.
I only did one SCA event, but If I did more, Id for sure buy a 30 gallon drum for it.
Last edited:
️. Hands down puts out better food than the drum did. I work 50 hours a week and have a 4 year old so the convenience can't be matched. Glad you like your drum, but don't assume people get pellets because they don't have time to start charcoal. I do 90% of my grilling on a Weber 26. 
