First I have to start with my current smoker, I hope the picture takes.


If this works, I will finish my story.

OK it took. I have been through all the bullet smokers, kettles, made by various companies. I have been looking for something better, easier. The smoker you are looking at is the New Braunfels smoker, I thought it was the last I would buy, I was wrong. The bricks you see are to hold the lid down, the hinge is broken. Down here is SE Texas the humidity is so high that cast iron doesnt last too long.
So Ive been looking for something better, Im tired of lump charcoal, wood chips, chunks, etc. and standing over the damned thing with tears in my eyes, adding water to the pan.
So I ordered my Amerique yesterday, and will wait the 2 or 3 weeks for delivery. And this iron thing will be a thing of my past. Dont get me wrong, it has been great, but at 50 I dont have time or energy to nurture this beast anymore.
I cant wait until delivery so I can pull my first pulled pork roast off that isnt burned or over smoked. I was sold on these units from this forum, and a friend that knew about the Cook Shack. Now to go and collect more recipes.

Congrats on your wise decision!

Are you getting the stainless?

Welcome to the forum.

Yes, stainless. I have a stainless grill I bought at Sams, happy with that in this climate. All else seems to just rust rust rust. It was 95 today down in Houston, it is hot hot hot.

HOOOWEEE!!! Yep, that is hot. It topped out about 80 here, cloudy but no rain. It has been hot here also though in April and May. I have some winemaking friends in Houston and also some cousins. 1 is an electrician contractor and the other works at a paper mill.

Kudos on the great decision to buy the SS Amerique. I am very envious!

What kind of wine do you guys make ? Just curious.

Dang smokitall, that picture sends chills down my spine. I cooked on one o them suckers at one time. I know what ya mean, It's a bear to control. The busted hinge is not a texas thing BTW. Mine did the same thing here in MO.

quote:

Originally posted by SmokeItAll:
What kind of wine do you guys make ? Just curious.

Red and white muscadine, blackberry, plum, peach, all kinds of grape, you name it! Been involved in the hobby for going on about 10 years now. A nicely aged off-dry blackberry goes very well with brisket.

Yipee! After ordering June 6, got this today;
Important Delivery Information Scheduled Delivery: 10-July-2006

My Amerique is coming Monday. Hope it has the modified smoke box, hope it is here on Monday. I sent my old stick burner off to the pit in the sky place 2 weeks ago so I have nothing to smoke with. I can't wait. Pictures are coming. Monday night 4 oz of hickory to season it. If Im still awake a 5lb pork butt goes in with 2oz of hickory. Its gonna be a long weekend.

smoke it all - congrats on the new purchase. Please let us know if yours has the new smokebox - I ordered mine a week ago and they said 2-3 weeks also, so I am curious if ours has the new smokebox. Also, at one time I too used the bandera that you had! With a few mods (baffle, door gasket, etc) it actually cooked some real good que! It just liked to suck the fuel like nobody's business!

I was told 2-3 weeks on June 6 when I ordered, but in the last few weeks when I called they said things were much delayed. So my advice is be patient, the web site says for new orders expect something like 4-6 weeks before delivery, I dont know how long that has been in effect.

My order left Oklahoma yesterday July 6th, it arrived at some UPS location in Houston today July 7th at 130 pm. I tried to go pick it up, but they said its not at the hub yet. I think the hub is about 20 miles from here. Once at the hub I can go pick it up. If not, in any event, it will be delivered Monday. But I hope to have it in my truck tomorrow.

Hope you get it so you can use it this weekend, it will be well worth the wait.

Anyone thinking of ordering should do so, it is the best size (no folding those briskets or halving slabs) and with the probe and hold feature makes it even better.
The 055 is great too, but the AQ is a wonderful choice or upgrade.
Rob

Hard to believe its been over 2 years with the Amerique. Found this post when I was waiting for it. Made some fantastic butts, shoulders, brisket, ribs in it and love the leisure time it gives me. No stick feeding, worrying about dampers, etc. Customer service has been fantastic. First they shipped the new smoke box, and I got to keep the old one (been practicing some mods with it). Then my probe started to have weird readings, they sent a new one. Now my panel was getting dim and they shipped new electronic panel, and paid for the shipment back of the old one. American made, and the product and service is top notch.

I moved this to the "which cookshack to buy" thought some might get some good feedback on someone who's owned an AQ for so long coming from a New Braunfels.

quote:

Originally posted by SmokeItAll:
It was 95 today down in Houston, it is hot hot hot.

But at least you don't have any humidity to deal with. Wink, nod