Okay, so I’ve been wanting a proper outdoor cooking setup for ages. I’m talking about something more than just a basic grill. I wanted the whole shebang – grilling, smoking, the works. And I’ve always loved the look of those brick structures. So, I decided, “Why not? Let’s build a brick grill and smoker!”
The Planning Stage (More Like Winging It)
First things first, I needed a plan. Well, “plan” might be a strong word. I sketched out some rough ideas on a napkin, looked at a few pictures online, and basically just winged it. I knew I wanted a decent-sized grill area, and a separate smoker box connected to it. The chimney… well, that was going to be an adventure.
Gathering Supplies (The Fun Part… Kind Of)
Next up, materials. This involved many trips to the hardware store. Let me tell you, hauling bricks is no joke. My poor car! I got:
- A mountain of bricks (seriously, a LOT of bricks)
- Mortar mix (the stuff that holds the bricks together)
- Some firebricks for the inside of the smoker and grill (these can handle the heat)
- A metal grate for the grill
- A metal door for the smoker (found one at a salvage yard!)
- Various tools: trowel, level, shovel, buckets, etc.
Laying the Foundation (Literally)
I started by digging out a level area in my backyard. This was surprisingly hard work. Then, I poured a concrete slab for the base. I let that cure for a couple of days – gotta make sure it’s solid, you know?
Building the Walls (Brick by Brick, Baby!)
Now for the bricklaying! I’d never done this before, so it was a learning process. My first few rows were… wonky. But I got the hang of it eventually. I used the mortar mix to “glue” the bricks together, making sure to keep things (relatively) level and straight. It’s slower than you think, but seeing the walls go up was super satisfying.
Creating the Grill and Smoker Boxes
The grill area was pretty straightforward – just a rectangular box. The smoker box was a bit trickier. I built it to the side of the grill, with an opening connecting the two. This is where the smoke would travel from the smoker to the grill, giving that delicious smoky flavor.
I lined the insides of both boxes with firebricks. This is important because regular bricks can crack under high heat.
The Chimney (The Real Challenge)
The chimney was the hardest part, no doubt. I had to build it up gradually, making sure it was stable and wouldn’t collapse. I used a sort of tapering design, getting narrower as it went up. Honestly, I was holding my breath a few times, hoping it wouldn’t all come tumbling down.
Finishing Touches
Once the main structure was done, I added the metal grate to the grill area and attached the metal door to the smoker. I also cleaned up any excess mortar and made sure everything looked (somewhat) presentable.
The First Cookout!
Finally, it was time for the moment of truth: the first cookout! I built a fire in the smoker box, let it get going, and then put some ribs on the grill. The smoke flowed beautifully through the connecting opening and up the chimney. And let me tell you, those ribs were AMAZING. All that hard work was totally worth it.
So, there you have it – my brick grill and smoker adventure. It was a lot of work, and there were definitely some moments of frustration, but I’m incredibly proud of what I built. Now, it’s time to enjoy some delicious barbecue!
