to brine or not to brine a pork roast?

[hockeybamba]

I was given a 4 lb pork roast by a neighbor to smoke.  I was initially going to butterfly, stuff with dressing, spinach and cheese, roll, wrap with a bacon weave and smoke.  Unfortunately, the roast is too small.  I still would like to do the bacon weave.  My question is, would you brine the roast before smoking? and if so, what type of brine, and for how long.  Thanks all for the responses.  I love this forum and have really learned so much from all the posts.

[ragweed]

I don't brine, just rub with Jan's and smoke, but that's just me.

[Ka Honu]

I'd brine it - anywhere from 3-4 hours to overnight.  Something like one of the following (both pork brines, both probably twice or more what you'll need but I'm not going to do the math for a smaller roast)...

    3 cups water
    1/4 cup smashed garlic
    1/4 cup amber agave syrup
    1/2 teaspoon crushed red chile flakes
    1 tablespoon peppercorns
    1/3 cup kosher salt
    6 cups ice, or enough to yield 10 cups total liquid

OR

    9 large garlic cloves
    3 quarts water
    1/2 cup kosher salt
    1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons black peppercorns
    3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
    1 1/2 tablespoons dried thyme, crumbled
    1 teaspoon whole allspice
    1/2 bay leaf

[beefmann]

I'd brine it - anywhere from 3-4 hours to overnight.  Something like one of the following (both pork brines, both probably twice or more what you'll need but I'm not going to do the math for a smaller roast)...

    3 cups water
    1/4 cup smashed garlic
    1/4 cup amber agave syrup
    1/2 teaspoon crushed red chile flakes
    1 tablespoon peppercorns
    1/3 cup kosher salt
    6 cups ice, or enough to yield 10 cups total liquid

OR

    9 large garlic cloves
    3 quarts water
    1/2 cup kosher salt
    1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons black peppercorns
    3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
    1 1/2 tablespoons dried thyme, crumbled
    1 teaspoon whole allspice
    1/2 bay leaf

for a  little  different taste, and the  one i prefer change only the water to apple juice or apple cider