The Woolly Bully is like a warm hat for your Weber Kettle charcoal grill
Developed over several years, the Woolly Bully Insulated Grill Cover is designed to insulate the lid of the classic Weber Kettle. It is currently available for the 22” Weber kettle with 18″ and 26” versions in the works. The cover drapes over and below the Weber Kettle lid by approximately half an inch to maximize heat retention. It adds about 3.5 pounds of weight to the lid. I did not find this extra weight to be any issue at all.
Materials and heat tolerance
According to the development team, the Woolly Bully has been tested to 650°F. I never took it that high in any of my cooks, but it’s good to know that you could. According to Woolly Bully, the fabrics that touch the lid are rated well above that. The team did mention that the exterior fabric is rated to just over 470°F. However that material is separated from the lid by a half inch of insulation. They claim the exterior fabric will stay several hundred degrees cooler than the interior parts of the Woolly Bully. I never had any issues at all with the cover melting or seriously degrading in any capacity. It has held up for months under fairly frequent use, in both cold and hot weather.
Woolly Bully provided the following information regarding the materials used in the construction of both the interior and exterior of the cover:
“Half an inch of aerospace-grade mineral wool, made to the highest standards of heat resistance and safety. Sandwiched between a solution-dyed polymer with industry-leading UV, weather, and abrasion resistance, and tried-and-true welders’ blanket. Bound with the same Kevlar/nomex blend used in flight suits. All sewn together and stabilized by Nomex thread.”
Functionality
The Woolly Bully features convenient access to the grill’s top damper through a simple flap. Weber’s built-in lid thermometer can also be easily threaded through a dedicated opening in the cover and secured with the original wing nut. This thoughtful design ensures the Woolly Bully remains highly functional.
Compatibility
Weber updated the orientation of their Kettle lid handles in 2015. While the Woolly Bully can be used on older models, the handle may not align perfectly with the cover, potentially covering the top damper. I have an older Weber Kettle and the Woolly Bully still fit; not as precise a fit, but I was still able to position it to leave the damper uncovered. That being said, the overall insulation provided by the cover is expected to minimize any significant heat loss in these cases.
Performance testing
During testing in -5°F Minnesota winter conditions, the Woolly Bully performed exceptionally well. I was able to maintain a consistent 275°F temperature throughout the cooking process. Remarkably, the exterior of the cover remained cool to the touch. This insulation allowed for the successful cooking of pork belly, even in harsh winter conditions. The Woolly Bully team provided a thermal image demonstrating the cover’s effective insulation capabilities.
Compared to previous cooks without the Woolly Bully, the insulated cover seemed to reflect more radiant heat back onto my pork belly throughout the cook, browning the top nicely. This is similar to what you would expect from a well-insulated kamado like a Big Green Egg or Kamado Joe. I was able to achieve some beautiful color all over my pork belly. The improved heat retention also allowed me to burn less charcoal during the cook.
Minor drawback
The only minor inconvenience noted during testing was a slightly snug fit when placing the lid back into the Weber Kettle’s cradle while the Woolly Bully was attached. However, this issue was easily overcome with a small amount of maneuvering.
Conclusion
The Woolly Bully grill cover is a user-friendly and highly effective accessory. Its excellent construction and precise fit, combined with its attractive appearance on the Kettle, make it a highly recommended product for anyone seeking to insulate their Weber Kettle. It proves particularly beneficial for individuals living in colder climates. Furthermore, the Woolly Bully was observed to improve charcoal efficiency. Based on its effectiveness, ease of use, and build quality, the Woolly Bully earns our AmazingRibs.com Best Value Gold Medal.
We thank Wooly Bully for providing a cover for our review.
