My first high heat brisket on the WSM 22 1/2

[jeffsipes]

I picked up a 7# trimmed flat at HEB on my way home last night along with a 8.6# Boston Butt. I lightly dusted the Brisket with TexasBBQRub before I went to bed and put it in the fridge. This morning I got up and gave the brisket a good rub of TexasBBQRub Brisket Blend. I slathered some mustard on the butt and coated it with Brisket Blend too. I filled the charcoal ring on the WSM with B&B oak lump and lit a full chimney to get the show started.

The brisket (it's a little more trimmed than I think optimal it but very flexible, like I have any idea what I'm talking about):

Light Dusting of Rub:

Fired up the WSM (a couple of hickory chunks and some apple chips around the perimeter):

I started the WSM with the vents wide open and put the meat on with the grill cold. The butt is in a pan on the top rack. The brisket is on the second rack. No water in the pan, just foil. The smoker came up to temp pretty quickly.

A quick summary of the early temperatures:

Lid Gauge/2nd Rack of WSM/Brisket Internal

0745: assembled smoker

0800: 275/205/65

0810: 340/275/91

0840: 305/282/141

0900: 305/297/156

I plan on foiling when the brisket hits 170ish and letting it go until probe tender. I will finish it out of the foil for 30m to try and firm up the exterior. I'm going to do the same when the butt hit 190-200. I'll let them rest this afternoon and slice them later. I'm cooking them for the freezer so we can make some quick dinners for the kids and ourselves during the week.

I'll follow up with some more photos as this progresses.

 

[Gary H. NJ]

Everything looks great. Why is the butt in a pan? I don't do a lot of high heat smokes, so I'm guessing it's to avoid burning...? Just asking. Let us know the end results, and enjoy the day!

 

[jeffsipes]

--LIVE ACTION UPDATE--

The brisket got to 170 at around 2 hours. I pulled the brisket and the butt and foiled the brisket. I switched the temp probe to the butt and will follow up on the brisket in another two hours.

Brisket at two hours, 170ish internal temp:

The butt in standby mode waiting to get back on the smoker.

Update on the temp chart:

RACK PROBE/MEAT INTERNAL/LID INTERNAL
0745: Assembled Grill
0800: 205/65/275
0810: 275/91/340
0840: 282/141/305
0900: 297/156/305
0930: 304/173/315
0950: 309/137/305 (Probe switched to pork butt)
1025: 317/153/310

I plan on foiling the butt at 160ish. Looks like it will hit right around 3h. I'll start probing the brisket around hour 4. More to come.

 

[jeffsipes]

....well when we last left our story....

Around 3 hours in, I pulled the butt when it went over 160. Here's a picture of it before I foiled the pan.

The bone was already pulling away from the meat pretty well

At four hours on the money, I probed the brisket and it had a winning texture. I pulled it from the smoker, wrapped it loosely in foil and towels and put it in the cooler to rest for an additional hour.

I unwrapped and sliced the brisket after an hour's rest:

I was very happy with the brisket. It had good moisture and great taste. The bark was soft because of the foil but the rub really came through. Texasbbqrub Brisket Blend is a flavor profile I really like.

I pulled the pork butt at 5 hours, it's temperature got to 195 before I pulled it. Here's a shot of it before I wrapped it and put it in the cooler to rest.

I'll follow up with another shot or two once I've pulled the pork. I could get used to this high heat thing. My technique needs some more work but I can't complain about the results - or the night's sleep.

 

[K Kruger]

Bravo.

 

[Gary H. NJ]

Great story Jeff. With pictures -- my favorite! Really great job. The shot of the cut brisket brought a tear to my eye. Just beautiful.

 

[Mark Stallard]

Yup, HH brisket is really the way to go. Great looking stuff. I've done 3 HH briskies and havent looked back.

 

[jeffsipes]

Just to finish the story....

I got the pork butt out of the cooler about 5:30p. I had planned to take it out earlier and pull it but got tied up running errands and such. I pulled it a little over 5 hours after I put it in but the internal temp was still 140ish. The meat was warm & moist.

Here's a photo of the pulled pork:

My helper likes his Daddy's Q:

Thanks for the kind comments. Y'all have a good weekend.