I got my hands on a couple of briskets, a growler of Draught Works Last Rites Mexican Chocolate Porter, and the weather is warm and clear. What to do, what to do? Let’s make a kick-ass pastrami with a little flavor kick. Adding the Last rites to the brine imparts a subtle chocolate/roast flavor to the brisket and smoking with apple wood chunks ties the entire production together.

Last Rites Pastrami Smoked Ingredients 1 5 lbs beef brisket, the more fat it has the better

2 pints Last Rites Mexican Chocolate Porter

3/4 cups kosher salt

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp pink salt (sodium nitrite)

2 TBSP pickling spice

1 TBSP hot chili powder Instructions Combine 1 gallon of water with kosher salt, sugar, sodium nitrite, hot chili powder, and pickling spice Bring to a simmer, stirring until salt and sugar are dissolved Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled Place brisket in brine and add the Last Rites Mexican Chocolate Porter Refrigerate for 3 days Remove brisket from brine and rinse thoroughly Refrigerate uncovered for 1 day Preheat Big Green Egg or lesser grill to 225°F Add 2 handfuls of apple wood chunks Smoke the brisket until internal temperature of 190°F Remove from smoker and allow to rest for an hour or more Slice thinly to serve 6.1.5 RaddCooking.com