Newbie

[Bvonvett]

Hello everyone,
I'm pretty new to smoking, have had a webber smokey mountain 21? for years and works great, there are a few chalanges at Colorado altitude to keep temps up but manageable. I just bought a MES for simplicity when I dont want to babysit all day.
First impression are it's okay but I'm going to need a smoker box, filling that little tube every 30 minutes to an hour I might as well be using my WSM. The temp is pretty constant with a can on the chimney to block the wind. Without i was hitting 325 plus on the pre season with open vent.
I did some baby back ribs yesterday following the 2 2 2 method at 225 and they weren't fall of the bone so I'll up the temp to 250 next time.
I currently have a brisket resting after it's cook and can't wait to cut into it. Its a 10lb I cooked at 275 and monitored temps with my ink bird 4 and was at 255 to 265 for 9ish hours. Final temp of 201, it sat there for an hour and didn't rise so I'm hoping it didn't dry out.
There is tons of info here and I'll be reading and posting a lot I hope.

Bill

 

[Bvonvett]

I just finished our meal and it was very tender, not dry but lacked smoke flavor. Had good bark, maybe I kept too much fat on but for my first attempt on a new smoker I'll call it a win.

 

[Kevin DeShazo]

Welcome aboard, get an AMNPS tray, a lot of the MES guys use that in their smoker, then you dont have to worry about filling the tube

 

[rmmurray]

get an AMNPS tray

I need this in my life!

 

[rmmurray]

Welcome!

 

[Bvonvett]

Welcome aboard, get an AMNPS tray, a lot of the MES guys use that in their smoker, then you dont have to worry about filling the tube

Thanks Kevin,
I was reading about those but a review said they didn't work well at altitude. I'm about 6000' is the tube type better for altitute or are they the same.

 

[kruizer]

Welcome to SMF from Minnesota.

 

[Smkryng]

Seems like some people have problems keeping the tray lit at high altitudes. The same company make a tube also that may work better.

AmazeN Tube smoker vs. AmazeN tray smoker for higher altitudes.

I purchased 2 of the tray smokers, and in spite of following all the tips, and building a mailbox mod, They would not stay lit. My elevation is above 5000 feet. Even when sitting on the ground, or in a grill with massive air leaks, it would not stay lit (let alone in my MES 40 with a mailbox...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

Also, welcome to SMF!

 

[Blues1]

Welcome from South Carolina

 

[Kevin DeShazo]

Thanks Kevin,
I was reading about those but a review said they didn't work well at altitude. I'm about 6000' is the tube type better for altitute or are they the same.

Yep seems the tube is better fit for you

 

[Bvonvett]

I bought a tube, might be a few weeks before I try it as I still have ribs and brisket in the fridge.

 

[JC in GB]

Welcome from Wisconsin.

JC

 

[Inkbirdbbq]

Welcome!

 

[JLeonard]

I bought a tube, might be a few weeks before I try it as I still have ribs and brisket in the fridge.

Sounds like you need to send some leftovers this way. Welcome!

 

[Bvonvett]

I tried the smoke tube today as a dry run, no heat or meat. It worked great for about an hour and a half and then me being me had to pick it up to look at how it was burning and it quickly lost that TBS and quit, up until then it worked very well. Hopefully by this weekend I'll find some turkey legs as I'm dying to smoke some but they can't be found anywhere lately.