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how good does the star spangled banner weber grill cook vs orignal kettle

The Star-Spangled Kettle cooks basically like an Original Kettle. The big difference is mostly cosmetic and a few feature tweaks, not a whole new cooking performance class.

What changes

  • The Star-Spangled version uses the same 22-inch Weber kettle format and is sold as a limited-edition Original Kettle variant.
  • It keeps the same core charcoal-grill behavior you’d expect from an Original Kettle: direct grilling, indirect cooking, and low-and-slow capability.
  • Some forum and video chatter notes it has the classic-style bowl vent setup and a retro look, which is part of why people compare it to the old-school kettle rather than a different cooker.

Cooking performance

  • For burgers, chicken, ribs, and normal backyard grilling, it should cook just as well as an Original Kettle of the same size.
  • If you’re asking about heat control, fuel efficiency, and charcoal versatility, the Original Kettle platform already does the real work; the Star-Spangled edition doesn’t appear to change that in a major way.
  • The main reason to buy it is the style and limited-edition appeal, not better cooking output.

Which one to pick

  • Choose the Star-Spangled Kettle if you want the patriotic finish and don’t mind paying for the special look.
  • Choose the Original Kettle if you want the same cooking function with fewer style premiums and more straightforward availability.
  • If you like modding or customizing, the Star-Spangled version has already drawn that crowd, which suggests it behaves like a familiar kettle base rather than a different beast.

In plain English: it should cook the same food just as well , but the Star-Spangled version is the flashier one.

TL;DR: cooking-wise, about equal ; value-wise, the Original Kettle usually wins unless you really want the Star-Spangled look.