Pete's Cut-up Beer Brined Apple Smoked Turkey
- 13 pounds fresh turkey, cut up like a chicken, giblets removed
- 750 milliliters Belgian ale
- 4 tablespoons sea salt
- 3 tablespoons mixed peppercorns, (white, green, black and red)
- 1 tablespoon allspice berries
- 6 bay leaves
- 4 cup cold water
- 15 pounds charcoal, with 5 pounds in reserve, if necessary
- 5 pounds bag Apple wood "chunks"
- Several sprigs fresh rosemary
- Rinse the turkey pieces off and towel dry.
- In a large saucepan over a medium-high flame heat the ale to a simmer.
- In a mortar and pestle bruise the peppercorns and allspice and add to simmering ale.
- Add the salt and stir to dissolve, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the bay leaves and simmer some more.
- Shut off heat and continue to stir, adding the water to cool slightly.
- Arrange the turkey pieces in a large plastic or glass, (non-reactive), bowl and pour the cooled brine over the meat.
- Turn the meat once to completely coat with brine, cover and refrigerate for 12 hours.
- Turn the meat over once after 6 hours in the brine.
- I use a large converted oil drum BBQ with a chimney vent.
- For a kettle BBQ you should use a smaller turkey.
- Make a pile of charcoal on the left side of the BBQ, nearest the bottom vent and arrange the grill racks on the opposite side.
- Insert the metal probe for the digital thermometer so that it is suspended over the area where the meat will be smoking.
- Place a large heavy-duty aluminum hotel pan filled with water directly under the grill racks.
- Light the coals and get them plenty hot.
- Meantime, put the wood chunks on to soak, along with the rosemary sprigs.
- When the coals are good and white spread them out flat, rearranging any black coals on top of the white ones.
- Add about 1/2 of the wood chunks to the coals being careful not to put the fire out!
- Place the rosemary sprigs on top of the wood chunks.
- Blow on the coals to get the smoke going, close the lid and open up the flue and chimney vent.
- When the temperature inside of the BBQ reaches 200 degrees F, open the top and arrange the turkey pieces on the grill rack.
- Close the top and start the smoking process.
- Do not open the top unless absolutely necessary for at least 45 minutes.
- Add more fresh coals and the other half of the wood after 45 minutes of smoking.
- Turn the turkey pieces over to get smoked on both sides.
- You should only have to smoke the turkey about 45 to 55 minutes more.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness.
- About 155 to 160 degrees F for the breasts, and 145 to 150 degrees F for all the other pieces should do the trick.
- Remove the turkey to a cutting board and tent with heavy duty foil for 10 minutes before carving.
- Serve with a homemade cranberry sauce.
fresh turkey, salt, mixed peppercorns, berries, bay leaves, cold water, charcoal, apple wood, rosemary
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/petes-cut-up-beer-brined-apple-smoked-turkey-recipe.html (may not work)