First Brisket, and first difficulties

bcmcmoose

New member
Hello all! After several cooks on the BPS drum, most of which I have posted pics of, I am extremely happy. Temp control has been easy for many hours at a time.

Today I decided to try a brisket for the first time, again using a recipe I found online at Amazing ribs. I got a good large piece of flat and I made up a rub, seasoned and let it sit for about 7hrs. I also injected it with broth. I put it on the smoker at 225.

And here is my problem, I am having trouble running hot! I have been using primarily lump, and adding chunk or chips for smoke. I am giving the comp kingsford briquettes a go, and I figured I could tame their extra heat by closing the vents at the bottom to just a sliver and go wide at the top. In the past a half hole on each side and the top open has held 225-235 for 9hrs. And when I have closed everything, the lump went out. The briquests seem to keep going even with the vents completely closed until the almost totally burn out.

It is warm out today, (90s will hit close to 100), and maybe this is part of my issue? Also my house is at about 3600 ft. So far I haven't let the tem spike over 255 on the gauge, and that was brief. I used a little water on the coals to cool them, and was hesitant to do so. Any ideas?

I started with a full basket, and have on every cook thus far, using a chimney and 5 coals to get started. Once I hit 210 I added 2large and 1 small piece of pecan. At the three hour mark I hit 152 internal, and was planning on crutching. I may just let it go without as I don't need it finished anytime soon. The brisket is a fairly uniform sized 7.3lb piece of choice.

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rockinshelby

New member
Ambient temperature seems to affect the way the drum cooks. I find that overcast days or cooler temps seem easier to control the heat. I have only used lump once and found it burned hot and was tougher to control than the good old K-blue. I am doing some bacon right now and I have one vent open about 1/4 hole. It's running about 180 on the BPS dial. Top vents always open full bore. All your posts look great by the way. I'm sure that brisket will turn out just fine!
 

scooter

Moderator
Staff member
When I lift the lid I always close my lower vents completely first for about a minute then I slowly lift the lid and slide it off sideways. This seems to minimize the spikes I used to get when I just simply lifted the lid off straight up. What you're doing by lifting the lid straight up with vents open at the bottom is pulling in a nice gush of fresh air which in turn stokes your fire a bit and in turn raising the internal temp of your drum.

Closing the vents prior and slowly lifting the lid then sliding it off sideways is reducing that fire stoking action and it dramaticaly cuts the time down for the pit to settle back down into your target cooking temp.

JUST REMEMBER TO REOPEN THE BOTTOM VENTS AGAIN WHEN THE LID GOES BACK ON....BEEN THERE, DONE THAT...

And yes, 100 ambient temps will have some impact on how hot your drum cooks. You will need to be more mindful of how long and how many times your drum is opened up to do things and check things.
 
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bcmcmoose

New member
Thanks for your responses. I ended up stabilizing a 235 on the gauge after dousing a bit. The drum held that temp wi th bottom fulll close and top at a quarter. Weird when full closed kills lump quick!
Meat came out at 5.5hrs, and a bit to hot at 205. Into oven at warm hold setting while I made garlic mashed taters and a mop style sauce.

End result; meat looked too done, but didnt taste so. Extremely juicy, and easily cut on plate with fork. My wife and I and youngest child found the smoke flavor right on with that amount of pecan. We all felt I went to extreme on the black peppern although I still really enjoyed the flavor. The sauce was nice, as was the juice from the crust.
The garlic taters are awesome. Boiled the garlic to make flavor more mild as recommended on the amazing ribs site.

Overall happy with result. Only changes are a bit less pepper next time and I think I will stay with lump!
I'll pos pics shortly as i am writing on my phone
 
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