Does the brand of charcoal really matter

[Jason Noble]

I use KBB when I can stock up during sales. If no sale is going on I've started using Backyard Grill from Walmart and have been pleased so far.

 

[Fred M]

Went to a barbecue competition cooking class several years ago. A rep from one of the biggest charcoal manufactors gave us a lesson. Here is the biggest thing when it came to buying charcoal. 90% of all charcoal sold in the US was manufactured by his company. Big name or house brand is basically the same because his company made it. There are a very small percentage of charcoal made overseas; and it burns a lot faster because more binding agent is used to make their bricks.