Turkey

Beer-Brined Smoked Turkey

Name: Beer-Brined Smoked Turkey
Yield: 12–16 lb turkey
Cuisine: Barbecue
Ingredients: 1 turkey (12–16 lb); 2 cans Coldstream Clear Lager; 8 cups cold water; 1 cup kosher salt; ½ cup brown sugar; 2 apples, sliced; 1–2 blood oranges, sliced; 1 red onion, quartered; 6–8 garlic cloves, smashed; 1 tbsp dried thyme (or fresh); 1 tbsp dried rosemary (or fresh)

Whole turkey soaked 12–24 hours in a Coldstream lager brine with apples, blood orange, and herbs, then smoked over sugar maple on the offset.

TimeOvernight brine + smoke Yield12–16 lb turkey CategoryTurkey Watch4:47

Beer-Brined Smoked Turkey — watch on YouTube

Watch the full cook on YouTube

Method

1Heat 4 cups of water with the kosher salt and brown sugar until dissolved.
2Remove from heat and add the apples, blood orange, onion, garlic, thyme, and rosemary, letting the aromatics steep for 10–15 minutes.
3Add the remaining 4 cups of cold water and both cans of Coldstream Clear Lager, then chill fully.
4Submerge the turkey and brine for 12–24 hours.
5Pat the turkey dry and season lightly.
6Smoke on the offset smoker at 250–275°F using sugar maple.
7Pull at 160–162°F in the breast and rest until carryover brings it to 165°F, then carve and serve.

Watch it on YouTube

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