Hey, George. Royal Oak Ridge and the Ridge knockoff stuff is EXACTLY all the same. I've used my Winco Store brand (it is Ridge) and Embers. They are all formed on the same Royal Oak Ridge line (size, shape, weight) and just bagged differently. Expert Grill from Walmart is another Ridge knockoff. I haven't used it, but it has the Ridge trademark on the bag.
Lump will always outperform a briquette in the ash department. Some briquettes that are 95% char and 5% binder perform equally to lump, but are just as expensive.
Why I like Ridge is I have no problem dialing in temps between 150-350+, the temp stays solid for hours, and it's cheap. Basically, you're buying heat when you buy charcoal. If there's a flavor, that could be a negative issue. There was a flavor with KBB, but not with Ridge. Lump can impart no flavor, to a slight one, but it is a desired, woody tone that adds to the meat.
I want cheap heat, no recognizable flavors, and steady temps. I used KBB for decades, and my taste buds got used to the flavor. When they changed their formula repeatedly, steady temps went out the window and the flavor became an issue with me.
Ridge is my charcoal of choice now. If RO screws with the formula, I'll move on and buy 500 lbs yearly of something else that meets my needs. And I'll tell everyone I know what I'm using and why.
