Oak Wood From Texas

Hoochie-Que · Posted: Jun 21 2007 Post subject: Oak Wood From Texas

I am wanting to learn/know what type of oak wood is generally used to Que down in the Hill Country of central Texas... It has a great aroma and produces wonderful heat... But I have yet to find something close to it with the white oaks we have here in the Western part of the US...

Can anyone - especially someone from central Texas - help me with a little info here?

Thanks!!
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adolpho · Posted: Jun 22 2007 Post subject:

Post Oak, and it is one of the best woods to smoke with. Great mild flavor and burns a little slower than other woods. Add some pecan wood with it and you have Texas Heaven going on.
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Hoochie-Que · Posted: Jun 22 2007 Post subject:

Adolpho, you are the man!!... Thanks a million... I figured you being down near Austin you would know what I was talking about / looking for... You smell that aroma once and you don't forget it... We can get some white oak out here, but it ain't the same as what I've seen used at places in the Hill Country... Good hot fire, with a great flavor... You are right, mix it with a little pecan and you would be in "Texas Heaven"...

Now - if I could just find a way to get some back up here to Utah without costing my right arm and leg... Sad

Have a feeling if I want it, I am going to have to make a road trip with a trailer...

Thanks a million... Cool

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zilla · Posted: Jun 22 2007 Post subject:

Yes, Adolpho has it right. Post Oak is the very best oak to use in my opinion. The aroma is unbeatable. Post Oak is Central Texas wood not Hill Country wood. Nothing but Live Oak in the Hill Country. I don't care for Live Oak. I have about a half cord and will probably give it away.
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DaHorns · Posted: Jun 22 2007 Post subject:

Give it away huh!?!?!? Wink

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Harry Nutczak · Posted: Jun 22 2007 Post subject:

Post oak?

do you think that is the same as "Pin oak" maybe? it is so named because it was so hard it was used as pins in barn construction before nails and screws were readily available. And also for "all wood" door hinges due to it's longevity.
I am guessing "Post oak" is/was used for fence posts in that part of the country for the same reason.

I like my red oak, it gives off an eye-burning smoke when in a regular fire, but it tastes so good and a very piquant smell when cooking with it?
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zilla · Posted: Jun 22 2007 Post subject:

It's all yours Chris. It should burn in the BAP.
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1MoreFord · Posted: Jun 22 2007 Post subject:

Post Oak and Pin Oak are Very different woods. Post Oak is a White Oak and Pin Oak is a Red Oak.

ETA: Z Please bring me some of that Nasty Live Oak when ya come to Arkieville. I'm running real low on real wood. Smile

Hoochie-Que · Posted: Jun 22 2007 Post subject:

adolpho · Posted: Jun 23 2007 Post subject:

San Marcos (between Austin and San Antonio) is where there's an obvious divide in the hill country. If you got to Wonderworld, they give you a tour and you go on a tower and see where the fault line is. It's amazing, one side of the tower is all hill country and the other side is flat and you can see miles away. Anyway, Austin is on the cusp of the Hill Country and all of it's west land is where you'll notice the start of all of the hills, therefore Austin is known as Hill Country. There are a lot of cyclists who train in Austin because of the hills. Central Texas includes Austin, but also the flat towns on it's east (Taylor, Giddings, Smithville, Lockhart, Elgin, etc.).

We have a lot of Live oak, but ask any true central Texas cook and he'll tell you to use Post oak. We have that too. Not as much as live oak, but still abundant.
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Hoochie-Que · Posted: Jun 23 2007 Post subject:

zilla · Posted: Jun 24 2007 Post subject:

Right you are Hoochie-Que. It's stuck in my head that the Hill Country is a separate region. I guess when I think BBQ regions my geography gets all turned upside down. Adolpho is surly correct in knowing what I was thinking. East of 35 the live oaks thin out and the post oak gets thick. Anyway good luck in your quest for some post oak. I've got my eye's peeled for a woodyard out that way too. If I find one I'll post it on the board.
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Hoochie-Que · Posted: Jun 25 2007 Post subject:

Thanks, Zilla!!

We have a tough time with getting good sticks to burn up here... Can get stuff shipped in, but it gets pretty pricey and/or you are buying "sight unseen"... Have gotten stuck a time or two now doing that (green or real old wood)... Actually spoke to a wood place in Lubbock on Friday that says they have post oak for smoking... Am going to be down there (Lubbock) in July, so will check 'em out and if it is good, I'll haul a U-Haul back! If not, I may have to travel down to Austin and east of there while down that way...

Thanks again for the help!! If you hear/know of something else that is closer/better, please let me know Cool

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adolpho · Posted: Jun 26 2007 Post subject:

Lytton Springs, which is between Lockhart and Bastrop (southeast of Austin) is where different ranchers will sell post oak as they chop it down. I've gotten my last few loads from three different guys out there. Usually it's just advertised as oak on craigslist. I go check it out and find out its post, so lucky me.
Hey Zilla, I used to use live oak till a friend turned me on to post oak. Live oak works alright with me, but I do add pecan or mesquite with it.

Hoochie, enjoy the score in Lubbock!
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Hoochie-Que · Posted: Jun 26 2007 Post subject:

Adolpho / Zilla -

Any "easy" way to identify post oak versus live oak without having leaves attached to a branch? (I would know the difference if I saw the leaves... But anything else that might identify the two based on bark, etc?)

Thanks... Cool

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Dr. Mike
Hoochie-Que BBQ Team / KCBS CBJ

"Jesus Loved Barbeque, Too" - Kinky Friedman

DaHorns · Posted: Jun 27 2007 Post subject:

adolpho · Posted: Jun 27 2007 Post subject:

Dawgfatha · Posted: Jul 16 2007 Post subject: Lytton Springs???

adolpho · Posted: Jul 17 2007 Post subject:

Dawgfatha,
I frequently check http://austin.craigslist.org/ for deals on wood or anything else. My luck has been that most of the ranchers selling wood in Lytton Springs, Mustang Ridge or Cedar Creek will have Post oak. These are the towns located on Hwy 21 between US 183 and US 71.

I usually type in "bbq," "wood," "firewood," or "bbq wood" in the search function of for sale. It's a short drive for me and I check out the wood. If it's Post, I'm sold with some negotiations. If it's live oak, I'll negotiate a deal or ignore depending on how much wood I got. I'm down to about a truckload of post, so I'm currently on the lookout.

Hope this helps.
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Dawgfatha · Posted: Jul 17 2007 Post subject:

Man thanks for the information. I kind of lucked up because one of my co-workers lives out that way. He is actually gracious enough to load up the back of his truck and bring some in for me. Gotta love that!!!
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