Almost any decent charcoal grill can be used to smoke old-school barbecued meats, but learning to provide stable indirect heat can take some time. A better tool for the job is an offset smoker, which moves the bed of coals to a separate enclosure and then vents smoke into the cooking chamber. The best smokers use a reverse flow system, which guides the hot air and smoke to the far end of the cooking chamber before letting it return to the chimney. This provides more even heat, and better cooking.

Prepare and season your meats ahead of time. Trim excess fat and connective tissue from brisket or pork shoulder, and remove the tough membrane from the back of your racks of ribs. Rub the meats with your favorite spice paste or dry rub, and refrigerate them overnight if you wish.

Light charcoal in your smoker's firebox, using a medium- to large-sized chimney starter. Purists prefer lump charcoal, though briquettes also work well and can provide both longer and more predictable heat. Add a few small pieces of hardwood if you want a more intense smoke flavor.

Position a digital thermometer at each end of the cooking chamber, with the probes inside the chamber and the displays visible on the side work areas. Offset smokers can vary in temperature from one end of the chamber to the other, even reverse flow models, so it's important to know where your cooker is hotter than you'd like.

Adjust the cooker's sliding vents until you can maintain a stable temperature of approximately 225 degrees Fahrenheit inside the cooker. This is suitable for almost any form of barbecue, including brisket, ribs and pulled pork. Place your meat on the cooking chamber's rack, and close the lid.

Slow-cook the meats until they're fork-tender. This typically takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours for back ribs, and four to five hours for spare ribs, with pork shoulders and briskets sometimes needing 12 to 14 hours. Refill the firebox as needed with hot charcoal throughout the cooking time, starting the coals in your chimney starter and then transferring them to the firebox once they've developed a coat of ash.

Remove the meats from your grill and let them rest for five to 15 minutes before serving.