I haven't tried this in the OBS yet, so I'm speaking from a traditional smoker background....No reason it won't work in a BS though.
As some background, I grew up in San Antonio and Austin Texas. Lockhart, Texas is between the two, and there are two BBQ joints (Blacks and Kreuz Market) there that are rated some of the best BBQ in the state (Trust me...If you are passing through venture off the highway to visit one or both). Great places, (I prefer Blacks, myself, but....)
Anyway....The secret to Texas style Brisket:
Smoke your Brisket with OAK!!, and NEVER serve your brisket with BBQ sauce on it - it's a condiment, and it's served on the side (if at all).
I'm sure there are other Texans on this site who cook a darn good Brisket with Mesquite, but honestly....that stuff is generally used for Mexican foods. I like it too, and have had many a Brisket cooked over it (some I did myself), but Oak gives a much better flavor. Hickory is a good choice too, but is a distant second to Oak. Mesquite follows with a VERY distant 3rd, 4th, or 5th place.
After reading this again (cuz I can't spell fer sheet ;) ), this might seem a bold post in these parts from a newbie to the forums. Only trying to save people from thinking Texas Brisket is done with Mesquite :D Like a Chupacabra - better heard of than seen. (Damn them things is ugly).
Edit: Forgot to add - choose your rub, but simple Salt and Pepper works great too.
uh oh. WTS? ???
Gutsy call JGW.
Welcome to the forum JGW. I'm sure you know you have most likely offended the mesquite god don't you? ;)
KyNola
Quote from: KyNola on September 02, 2009, 08:06:40 PM
uh oh. WTS? ???
Gutsy call JGW.
Welcome to the forum JGW. I'm sure you know you have most likely offended the mesquite god don't you? ;)
KyNola
Ouch....Naw, welcome to brisket nirvana! I promise you in Texas, everyone has their own rub and wood to smoke with...this temp that temp! The only key to any of these is LOW and SLOW..And you will get an amazing brisket!! I total agree..no sauce, thats on the side!! Welcome to the forum JGW!
C
I'm thinking a brisket duel at 20 paces. What do you say JGW? You up for it? How 'bout it WTS? Ready to take on the young contender? Here is what I propose. You each smoke a brisket in your particular method and wood. Post pics of the preparation, the smoking/cooking method and the finished product. The winner will be all of us who still haven't perfected doing a brisket benefitting from your knowledge.
In the words of Bobby Flay...."Are you ready for a Texas style brisket throwdown?".
KyNola
;D I love it. Welcome to the forum JGW. I have to agree with you - oak is better. The M wood is great on steaks, but brisket is better with oak or pecan which is similiar. I have been to Blacks. I think I may have been to Kreuz - the name is familiar. My wife and I spent 2 weeks in the San Antonio area a couple of years back.
I do not smoke brisket often but when I do I rub with olive oil then apply salt, pepper, garlic and onion.
Welcome to the forum. Would love to see a Brisket throw down. ;)
Welcome to the fun
I'm with you on the rub and wood for brisket
Now the brisket show down would fun to see
Welcome aboard..
Ditto what the others said. And I think there should be video, as well as the still pics.
Welcome aboard and I would love to see the outcome.
WTS take on the rookie and lets all have some fun.
HR
JGW may be new to this forum but I sense he is far from being a rookie when it comes to Texas style brisket. I think we have two experienced veterans that would be fun to see their similarities as well as their differences in style.
So what about it WTS and JGW, Are you ready for a Texas style Brisket Showdown?
KyNola
Sign me up!
C
Now we're talking! In this corner weighing in a 15 pound brisket and wearing the mesquite smoke scented Bradley T Shirt..........W...T...S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KyNola
Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeettttttttttttttttttttttsssssssssssssss Get Ready to Rumbllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess I now know what I'm smoking this weekend! ::)
C
The reigning champion is ready! Now let's here from the challenger in the opposite corner. ;D
Wow. Ok, I guess the 'throw down' is on. ;D
I just happen to have a brisket in the fridge :D Store didn't have my preferred size or cut, but we'll make do with what I could get.
I think Labor Day slimmed down the selection.
For me, Saturday will be "Smoke On" Day. I'll take some pics along the way and post the final result.
Good luck, kid!
A motivational movie quote, to cheer on the underdog..
You're gonna eat lightnin' and you're gonna crap thunder!
I can hear it now, listen (http://www.entertonement.com/clips/qlmcpccmcm--rocky-theme-song)!
It just dawned on me. JGW has owned his OBS for exactly one day. Since I'm the guy who started this, it seems to me that it's unfair to thrust JGW into this using equipment that he is totally unaccustomed to using. I think it's only right to allow JGW the opportunity to learn how his OBS works as it is totally different to his charcoal burner. JGW, say the word and we'll postpone the Throwdown until you've had the chance to work with your OBS for a while. I know WTS would want a fair competition as well.
Tell you what, let's postpone the Throwdown for a month or so and then I'll call the contenders to the ring for the first ever Texas Style Brisket Throwdown.
JGW, you're a good sport. I threw you right in the fire before I remembered you had just got your OBS and you responded admirably so stay tuned. Unless of course you say it's game on and we'll go now. Let us know your preference.
KyNola
Nah, let's do it. I've been cooking Briskets for years now. ;) Some better than others, but all very edible. :D
I may not get the results I want due to inexperience with the equipment, but the basic concepts remain the same. I do appreciate the offer, but I'm eager to fire this baby up. Smoking some ribs tomorrow, so I think I'll get a feel for the OBS enough to do the brisket.
Regardless of the winner - Me and WTS will be doing BBQ, drinking beer, telling lies and having fun (That's my plan for the weekend, anyway). :D
I've already decided to use a basic Dalmatian rub - perhaps with a bit of paprika and garlic powder to kick it. Since I alluded to it in the first post, I'll stick with the basics.
Planning on rubbing the meat tomorrow, letting it set overnight (in the fridge, of course), smoking it @ 205-215 or so for about 1.25 to 1.50 hours per pound, and letting it rest (wrapped in foil, then a towel) for about an hour before slicing. Hopefully, I won't have any problems keeping those temps with the OBS.
I'm kind of a traditionalist when it comes to brisket. It goes on the rack, it comes off to rest, slice it up and it's time to eat.
If anything, it'll let me know the limitations of the OBS. I'll make adjustments with other stuff down the road. Just hope my oak bisquettes come in tomorrow, LOL. If not, I'll be using Hickory and a few SB's to do it.
If WTS had other plans, we best might delay it, but if he's game - I am.
This is weird... I'm glued to the computer like it was a UFC title fight.. Maybe pay-per-view brisket cook-offs are the next big thing!!! ;D ;D
Wish I could be at both places to watch the fun.
Quote from: classicrockgriller on September 03, 2009, 11:00:22 PM
Wish I could be at both places to watch the fun.
I would rather be there to test the results
HR
Ladies and gentlemen the Throwdown is on! I'll start a new thread titled Texas Style Brisket Throwdown in this section of the forum.
KyNola
Quote from: JGW on September 03, 2009, 09:37:05 PM
If WTS had other plans, we best might delay it, but if he's game - I am.
Game on!
C
I think it is only fair to tell the new guy that he won't need smoke for the whole cook since he wants to leave it in the Bradley since it is his first smoke.
This sounds like it will be something to stay tuned to
10.5 - I'm not planning on using smoke more than 4 hours or so. I'll see how it goes tonight with the chicken I'm smoking :)
Been away cooking for a large group of youth for the weekend (including 8 briskets) and just noticed this posting. JGW from my neck of the woods. San Antonio, Sequin, and a lot of family in Bandera that own large ranches (20,000 acres of so). With you on the oak, but hard to find the live oak and post oak I prefer now that I am in Nashville - so usually use oak lump and hickory in my sickburners and oak or hickory pucks in the DBS. Learned to cook "beef" - not just briskets, watching my hill country ancestors using salt and pepper and beer/mustard mops over open pits fired with post oak along the banks of the Medina River - and/or watching, Dad, Granddad, and Great-Granddad on their Texas Hibachis with the same salt/pepper rub and beer/mustard mop. Wish I could have a few hours in the Lockhart pits to learn how they do it over high heat.
Antithetically, I'm working on a rub that includes coffee, cocoa, and chilis. Yeh, not traditional and not me, but around here people expect something other than salt and pepper on their meat. Still some work on it to do, but getting close. Not really me, but does give a very nice bark, some great juices, a little heat, but also leaves you wondering - what is that flavor?