Seasonality for Wood Pellets?

[GreggBB]

Brand new pellet grill owner here (Pit Boss 820 Pro). Pit Boss pellets are readily available in the garden center of my local WalMart, but I'm wondering is there a seasonality to their availability? That is, will they have them year-round or should I stock up in August to have enough to get me until April? Thanks!

 

[mike243]

Welcome to the site, They have them year round, try some different brands if you get a chance ,

 

[GreggBB]

Welcome to the site, They have them year round, try some different brands if you get a chance ,

Thanks! I have some Bear Mountain BBQ on the way to me from their BOGO sale over the 4th. Can't wait to try the Alder on a salmon.

 

[sweetride95]

Since you are pretty new at pellet grilling, I would hold off on buying a whole bunch of one thing for now. I think most of us end up trying a little bit of everything starting out. I am mostly a hickory guy now, but still rarely buy more than three bags at a time. Sometimes pecan or cherry sounds fun.

 

[JWFokker]

Pit Boss pellets are the cheapest by far, but also bland. Many brands are bland, but charge more. At least with Pit Boss you're getting what you paid for. Bear Mountain is good, Kingsford makes decent 100% flavor wood pellets (not blended with filler wood), but if you can find em locally Lumberjack pellets are the best. Don't waste your money on Traeger, they got sued for using aromatic oils to cover up the fact that they are a cheap and bland blend.

 

[GreggBB]

Pit Boss pellets are the cheapest by far, but also bland. Many brands are bland, but charge more. At least with Pit Boss you're getting what you paid for. Bear Mountain is good, Kingsford makes decent 100% flavor wood pellets (not blended with filler wood), but if you can find em locally Lumberjack pellets are the best. Don't waste your money on Traeger, they got sued for using aromatic oils to cover up the fact that they are a cheap and bland blend.

Thanks! I just found a local place with Lumber Jack and I'm going to give them a try. I also got some Bear Mountain this week, the Alder was very nice on a salmon but I haven't opened the Bold BBQ yet. Unfortunately I just refilled with a couple bags of pit boss so I'll need to work through them. Not a problem, since 3 weeks in I'm using the grill every other day!

 

[bill1]

Not all Walmarts are the same in terms of what they stock nor what's considered seasonal. I believe that's true of Costco's as well as other chains. And stock can dwindle in any given store or location for any number of reasons. So if you like PitBoss pellets and if you have room in your shed/garage for a couple extra bags, I wouldn't hesitate to always keep some on hand. Fill your bucket (or whatever) from whichever is the oldest bag.

PitBoss also sells 100% hickory and 100% mesquite in 20# bags. I don't consider them bland. YMMV. (They sell "fruit" too in case you occasionally want bland. )

I consider the PB Competition to be a good all-round choice. And yes the price is right.

 

[mike243]

Pit Boss doesn't sell 100% any wood, they list it as hickory apple but has a base of either alder or oak depending where its made, they aren't bad but not as good as others, I plan to try the fruit blend, the blended pellets are also good with other brands

 

[Dave_XDM9]

Lumber Jack pellets are overrated to me as I bought some based on everyone's rave reviews and they were so so and bland. I picked up a bag of B&B Pellets blend so I am going to give it a try as I saw a bunch of guys using B&B at a competition in Alabama.

 

[SmokinAl]

Al

Lumber Jack pellets are overrated to me as I bought some based on everyone's rave reviews and they were so so and bland. I picked up a bag of B&B Pellets blend so I am going to give it a try as I saw a bunch of guys using B&B at a competition in Alabama.

That’s interesting, I didn’t think you could use a pellet grill in comps, only charcoal & wood!
Al

 

[Dave_XDM9]

Al

That’s interesting, I didn’t think you could use a pellet grill in comps, only charcoal & wood!
Al

There was both there ..I saw Pellet teams and Stick burner teams. Also I saw last summer at the Jack Daniels BBQ comp there were a few Pellet teams there with Yoders and FEC Pellet grills.

 

[SmokinAl]

There was both there ..I saw Pellet teams and Stick burner teams. Also I saw last summer at the Jack Daniels BBQ comp there were a few Pellet teams there with Yoders and FEC Pellet grills.

Wow, things sure have changed in the last few years!
Al

 

[JWFokker]

Lumber Jack pellets are overrated to me as I bought some based on everyone's rave reviews and they were so so and bland. I picked up a bag of B&B Pellets blend so I am going to give it a try as I saw a bunch of guys using B&B at a competition in Alabama.

Pellet smoke is inherently bland. That's why you don't use blends and most people stick with stronger woods like hickory and oak.