Char-Griller Deluxe
Retailer and owner feedback is positive, but no major testing outlet put it through a current test cycle, so it lands at the bottom of the picks.
Consolidated from 4 independent outlets
Where the cited sources landed, as we read them
- 1 unconvinced source
6 of 11 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.
The barrel line coasts on decades-old reputation: its strongest current support is a brand-page anecdote about an owner who has babied the same barrel for 25 years, not any current expert test result, and current expert charcoal roundups pass over the barrels entirely.
Flagged 10 September 2026
Pros & cons
- ✓ Versatile, sturdily built charcoal grill suited to both grilling and smoking
- ✓ Separate side fire box enables smoking
- ✓ Large cooking area
- ✓ Owners praise durability and fast heat-up across the brand's classic barrels
- ✓ Higher-end construction
- ✗ No current expert test support; the strongest backing is a brand-page anecdote about a 25-year-old barrel
- ✗ Current expert charcoal roundups pass over the barrel line entirely
- ✗ Inferior build quality
- ✗ Early failures
- ✗ Price close to Big Green Egg Classic but fewer features
The sources behind this ranking
We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found. 2 outlets wouldn't let us check their links. We quote no words from these sources, so each row shows only where we placed it.
Evidence 3 articles and 1 community source
1 unconvinced source
3 stance not read sources
Frequently asked questions
It ranks #14 of 14 on our charcoal grills tier list, in F tier. That placement draws on 4 independent outlets.
No current expert test support; the strongest backing is a brand-page anecdote about a 25-year-old barrel. Current expert charcoal roundups pass over the barrel line entirely. Inferior build quality. Early failures. Price close to Big Green Egg Classic but fewer features.
Ranked nearby in Charcoal Grills
S tier #1 Weber Original Kettle Premium 22" Charcoal Grill
S tier #2 Kamado Joe Classic III
A tier #3 6 of 21 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Big Green Egg Classic
B tier #4 2 of 11 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Weber Master-Touch Charcoal Kettle Grill
B tier #5 1 of 12 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill
F tier #9 4 of 5 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Nexgrill Cart-Style Charcoal Grill
F tier #10 4 of 10 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Weber Original Kettle Premium 20" Charcoal Grill
F tier #11 8 of 9 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Cuisinart CGS-4
F tier #12 10 of 19 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Char-Griller Classic Kettle
F tier #13 11 of 12 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.