Weber Original Kettle Premium 26 Inch Charcoal Grill, Black

Full disclosure: I already own several other Kettles--from a Jumbo Joe, to a few 22s--from Original, to Master Touch. Yes, I'm a fan of Weber products.The Pros: This 26" Premium, is great for cooking for larger groups, or for cooking larger food items, like briskets, beef ribs, a turkey, or pizzas.With the charcoal baskets, or something like a Vortex, it's great for the indirect cooking of chicken wings, or drumsticks, and the like.It's easy to maintain, and with a tiny bit of care, the kettle should last forever.The cooking grate is stainless, so it should last a lot longer than the plated steel grates on the other, smaller, kettles.Replacement parts are available from several sources, for most, if not all, the typical wear items, like the grates, or the ash cleaning system.The few "Cons": It is heavier than the 22" Kettles, so the legs can be a little more wobbly than usual, but that can be fixed with a few pieces of 3/4" EMT conduit, inserted in the legs. You can find videos of how to do this, online.The lid is also heavier, and it sits a little higher than the 22" kettles, but it can slide onto the lid holder, this shouldn't be a problem.It'll use more charcoal, since it's a bigger grill. It's to be expected, though.All in all, it's a great grill, and if you like to cook for larger groups, this will certainly do the trick.

Assembly was a bit annoying since the leg locking pins have to start from within the mount instead of sticking a pin through the cylinders that are supposed to be locked together. Seems sturdy. Wheels have a bit of give so rolling across a bumpy surface isn't going to put undue stress on the plastic wheels.Cleaning is straight forward because it's a bowl with ceramic enamel. You just take a wet sponge to the bowl and scrub off anything you think would cause a flare up and burn your food. The ash disposal system isn't the best on its own. I recommend taking a small soft brush and brushing it down into the ash bucket. Easy enough. Moving the lever back and forth to get the ash out creates an awful screeching sound of metal on ceramic. No real way around this because it doubles as a control for airflow. It has to be a decent seal to put the coals out.Both grates are pretty solid and Weber offers replacements if you somehow manage to destroy them.The grill is big enough to do 2 zone grilling for a family of 4. Smoking meats is fine once you get used to the grill. Water baths will help you control the temp, but keep an eye on it with a digital thermometer as always. No one wants to open the lid and find out that their brisket went up in flames.Overall its a good grill. Good capacity. Good versatility.

Nothing compares. I patch-cocked and bbq’d a 24Lb. Turkey for the first time on this grill . . . great and much faster than traditional methods. Love my Weber!

As a Weber 22" owner for 14 years I can attest to how good of a job they do. After back and forth debate with myself over getting another 22" or not, I ordered the 26.75 as a replacement for my 22" which still has some life left in it even though it has sat outside in the weather the entire time year round. The legs have gotten somewhat wobbly and the grill surface doesn't sit level and it was just generally tired and beaten looking. I had been looking at the 26.75 for some time and decided to just do it.On the 22" there never seemed to be quite enough room. More than two racks of ribs placed flat was impossible, more than one cut up chicken was not doable, a big pork butt or kabob baskets etc is tight. I did a 14 lb. turkey at Thanksgiving on my 22" and though it was good, it was marginal in space. I have read where the 26.75 will accommodate a full 17 lb. brisket easily. Another person can do 3 pork butts. With a 14 lb turkey on the 26.75 there will be room for side dishes. So I am looking forward to the extra room and better heat control on the 26.75. And if I want to do both a butt and some chickens I can. I can have extra to take to work or if I want I cook enough for the guys in the shop. Compared to the 22", too many people on numerous sites have said that once you get the 26.75 there is no going back. So I don't question the purchase at all. As an experienced Weber owner I have no hesitation to give a Weber five stars based on the quality of the food you can produce using it and how well the grill itself is made and holds up over time.I have read where a number of people complain that the one weakness is the thin metal, hollow legs. Here is a suggestion that I am going to try with the legs when I get my new Weber . I am going to spray foam fill in the legs (essentially make them solid) which should possibly offer more rigidity, stability and support. I have done it with PVC pipe and a hollow fiberglass rake handle in the past to strengthen it. Just keep the foam a couple inches short of where the leg end meets the kettle due to heat and I think it should help with it.