Weber Genesis II LX E-640 Natural Gas Grill Review
Weber started out into the world of grills with their classic charcoal kettle. This was how they made their name in the industry and established a decades-long reputation. As propane and natural gas became more available and popular, they eventually started designing their own gas grills.
The Weber Genesis II LX E-640 Natural gas grill is one of the largest gas grills in their line. It features six independently controlled elements in the primary grill space. It also has a side burner which is flush-mounted into one of the side tables.
Like most of Weber’s high-end gas grills, this one comes with their GS4 Grilling System. It includes a built-in infinity ignition system, as well as their patented Flavorizer bars. When drippings from the food hit the Flavorizer bars it vaporizes to mimic some of the natural smoky flavors that you get from a charcoal grill.
This grill also has a well-designed grease management system. Drippings that aren’t vaporized by the Flavorizer bars make it to the system, which carefully drains away. It is then deposited in a drippings pan for easy cleanup afterward.
This particular unit is set up for natural gas. If you don’t have a municipal source of natural gas on your deck or patio it can be converted back to liquid propane. Some online manufacturers even offer a discounted for even free expert assembly service. Just make sure to select the type of gas you prefer. You should never use an alternate form of gas for this grill, as it could void the warranty and damage it.
Construction & Ease of Assembly
Weber intended this to be one of their top of the line grills. This also means that they took the time to design it right and use high-quality materials. It includes stainless steel burner elements, thick gauge steel and other quality components.
One knock when it comes to quality is the grill grates and the warming rack. The primary grates are made from stainless steel, which is sort of a hallmark feature that you will find with pretty much every Weber grill. Still, for being a high-end unit, it would be nice if they would have taken a step outside of their comfort zone to offer porcelain coated cast iron grill grates.
The warming rack is also made from stainless steel, and it’s a little bit on the small side. To be honest I don’t think you even need the warming rack. This grill is massive, and you would be better off turning one of the side elements to it’s lowest setting to use as a warming zone. I suspect Weber felt this way too, so they made the warming rack easy to tuck away.
Some online retailers offer a free or discounted assembly service. I would give them preference first over assembling it yourself. If you do fancy yourself to be a bit of a do-it-yourselfer, then you should expect this monster grill to take you the better part of an afternoon to fully put together. Considering it weighs in excess of 200-pounds, you might want to recruit a friend to help you!
Grilling Performance
Size is one of the things the Weber 68014001 has going for it. This is the sort of grill that lets you cook for a staggering number of people. The six independently controlled stainless steel burner elements mean that you can create different heat zones. Creating two different heat zones with a grill this large is pretty easy. Once you get to know it, you might even be able to create three heat zones, or simply have a spectrum of heat from low on one end through a medium in the middle and high heat on the other end.
The side burner is nice for preparing side dishes. It’s flush mounted into the side table, which is nice for the times when you are not using it.
The Flavorizer bars work as advertised adding a little bit more of a smoky aroma to the cooking process. Though I don’t think they make a major impact on the flavor.
Something else to note is that this grill will accommodate the Weber 7653 Rotisserie accessory. You have to buy it separately, but it’s a nice little bonus and something you would expect in a well-designed, high-end grill.
One other little bonus worth mentioning is the lighting system built into the unit. It has light-up handles and an LED hood light that comes on when you open it. Then it shuts off when it’s closed. It’s a minor thing, but if you are grilling at night and your grill is in a dark spot, or your outdoor lights are behind you, it’s nice to have a little more light, without having to hold a penlight in your mouth.
Grilling Areas
If we ignore the tuck away warming rack this grill provides you with a staggering 770 square inches of grilling space. This is more than enough to cook brats and burgers for a block party!
If you wanted to try to improvise some barbecue, there is enough space to try it. Just set up an accessory smoker box on one side of the grill. Then place the meat on the other. It’s never going to produce competition barbecue, but it will make some nice smoky ribs or salmon!
Special Features
The GS4 grilling system that Weber offers with most of their large gas grills is where they try to stand apart. It includes the infinity ignition system, Flavorizer bars, stainless steel burners, and its convenient grease management system.
Ease to Clean
This grill is easy to clean. The stainless steel grates will need a basic scrape down. Then you have to empty the drippings tray. If there’s something stuck on the Flavorizer bars or a burner element, you can scrape it away with a less abrasive nylon grill brush.
Just keep in mind that if you do improvise it as a barbecue, you should cover the Flavorizer bars underneath with some heavy-duty aluminum foil. This will just protect the not lit burners from drippings gunk.
If you buy the accessory rotisserie, and you should, make sure to place some heavy duty tinfoil pans under them to help manage the excessive drippings. Tossing a few potatoes and carrots in the pans will also help soak up the flavor.
Warranty
This Weber gas grill comes with a whopping 10-year warranty. That’s something that stands head and shoulders above all the other competitors in this high-end class. It also makes a statement about how much Weber stands behind the quality of the product.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a large, high-quality gas grill, then the Weber Genesis II LX E-640 Natural Gas Grill needs to be on your list. It can do everything you expect a large grill to do and more. The top-notch warranty programs show just how much Weber stands behind their product.
