You're on point for sure. I've done many briskets. My experience is 225 range as long as you can handle to get tender but 1hr/lbs is min from my experience. 20lbs/5hrs and tender seems like magic talk to me.I have to note, I don't have a WSM, I just have a plain Weber kettle. That means I have to tend the fire, and keep an eye on it. I would PREFER not to have to cook the brisket for 12 to 14 hours, but if I have to, I will. I've been reading a ton and watching a bunch of YT videos and I see there's also a "hot and fast" method where the one vid I saw the guy did a 20lb brisket at over 300 to super tender in 5 hours. I'm not too familiar with too hot though and I'm afraid of burning, so I'd rather do it a bit slower, perhaps around the 250 mark.
If I'm going to lose half the brisket I'll definitely go for 10lb. Two people aren't big meat eaters, but at least three of us really are. My plan is as follows:
1. Trim brisket the night before so it's ready the next morning. I usually also pack the Weber kettle with the snake method at this time, as it saves a lot of time the next morning.
2. Next morning, rub it up with salt and pepper. I'll be doing a slightly more BBQ thing so I'm considering cutting it with a BBQ rub.
3. Start fire.
4. When fire is ready, get brisket on. Leave for 2 hours and start spritzing. I intend on spritzing with my Vienna lager. The flavour is awesome.
5. Spritz on the hour until I hit the stall on the thickest part, between 150 and 160.
6. Double-wrap with the rest of the Vienna lager. I have to add here that I'm not the biggest fan of the thickest bark, so I'll not mind to have a more tender outside finish with more liquid to make a sauce with on the end.
7. At this stage, I'm planning on rinsing the pan under the brisket and I want to add a bit of roast veggies under it so it can roast in the Weber for the last two hours or so. Stir on the hour.
8. Remove from heat when I hit the 205 mark, set in cooler box to rest until serving.
On point 8 - the juices in the foil packet I really want to retain. I want to thicken it up a bit on the stove into a jus, so I'm wondering, do I rest the brisket in the juice or do I take it out? I've seen arguments for and against both, so I don't know.
I smoke to 160 then put in pan/double foil with onions/garlic and your favorite beer. In oven at 250. Pull at 200.
I've used Oak, Oak/mesquite combo, and hickory/cherry combo. I like the HC combo best. Oak and definitely mesquite can get heavy on smoke. Depends on your preference. Apple wood is a possibility if you want a lighter smoke.
As far as rub, I put a light coating of mustard then use Tony's Creole Original for the rub. Put more then you think. There is no mustard flavor after.
I know there's debate on this but I've decided that placing the mustard/dry rub on 24hrs and sitting is better tasting then brining. I get more flavor it seems and moist comes from covering at 160 as stated above.
The pork butt I made yesterday was beyond fantastic and thinking of switching to these for our normal family get together. They want $3/lbs these days for the cheapest brisket.
Good luck and keep us informed!
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