When I started at Yale in 1986, there wasn't much choice for BBQ grills. You bought a $300 grill to replace after a few years.
Then the professional grill with companies like Viking, Lynx and Wolf were marketed with solid stainless construction and high BTU output. So 10 years ago, you had your $300 grill or a better grill at about $4,000 (give or take).
Then Weber popularized a quality, well constructed grill between $420 to $2,500 and really dominated the whole category. It was cheaper to buy a Weber once rather than a cheaper grill every few years. At the same time, it is a good, less expensive substitute to the expensive pro options.
Weber for the last few years has had very little competition. Until Now.
Napoleon is a large Canadian version of Weber with really interesting features at a decent price. Let's see how they compare.
The Wolf Steel Ltd. Company was started by Wolfgang Schroeter in 1976 in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. They started manufacturing wood stoves which were made of solid cast iron and two glass doors.
In 1981 the company developed a line called Napoleon which included gourmet gas grills. The grills offered infrared grilling, which was at the time the most advanced technology in North America.
The company has grown to the largest manufacturer of gas grills, gas fireplaces and stoves. They now distribute in all of North America and Canada.
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Weber Brothers Metal Works in Palatine, Illinois made buoys for the Coast Guard. In 1952, one of their employees, George Stephen, was looking for a way to grill food. He took one of the buoys and cut it in half to make one part a grill and the top part a lid. George then added a handle and legs and then poked some holes in the lid.
The Weber Kettle grill was born.
George Stephens, in the late 1950’s, bought the Weber Brothers Metal Works and devoted his time to manufacturing the Weber Kettle grill. Over the next 30 years, the company was selling grills throughout the country. In 1985, Weber developed a gas line of grills known as the Genesis. That was a turning point in outdoor grilling because it gives you a precise heat without flare–ups. Weber now sells grills and accessories in 30 countries around the world.
Over the last 10 years, Weber has upgraded its product quality. It is actually number one in terms of percentage of products repaired with an unbelievable 1% service rate (the average is 25%).
First, this is a great choice between two very good companies. The Napoleon has greater BTU and more room on the grill in terms of square footage as well as a rotisserie with infra-red burner. Weber has the side burner and is less expensive.
However, having cooked on both, Weber seems more even between the burners and the repair rate of 1% is amazing. Truly remarkable for any cooking appliance (Napoleon is still very good at 10.3%).
For this reason, Weber may be a better choice.
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Editor's note: This article was originally published on April 17, 2012 and has been updated for accuracy, freshness, and comprehensiveness.