Are you interested in the process or the end result?

by ReginaldVelJohnson , Sunday, March 29, 2026, 07:58 (3 days ago) @ NDinVA

A stick-burning offset is certainly the traditional way. But you also have to be into the process of getting it there. There are other method (including pellet smokers) that will get you near-similar results but be a lot less effort.

Personally, I'd buy the thing that will get the most routine use. I'd love an offset stick burner, but it's not worth it for the few times a year I'd have the time/energy to fire it up. So I have a vertical smoker with a automatic billows. Pretty much the same "set and forget" as a pellet smoker but I think it turns out a slightly better product. And when Indiana brisket, I'll often do an oven finish which speeds things up.

If you want to get wild, Chris Young had a video that supposedly will get you respectable results in 6 hours. (Sidenote: His content is great in general. I use his chicken stock recipe regularly. And the "cryosear" method for steaks is a winner too.)