I did my first brisket about 3 years ago
I've since done a couple dozen (using several different Traegers as well as SawTooth pellet grills)
I've found my method to be nearly foolproof and I get consistant good results
(my biggest issues to date were running the hopper out of pellets overnight and poor connectivity with my bluetooth thermometer, neither have caused a poor product)
prep,
I normally get my briskets at Costco, they have PRIME PACKERS for a decent price
I do my smoking portion of my cook overnight, so I start my prep the afternoon before serving
I like to trim my briskets pretty tight, as well, I split the point from the flat before cooking (I save about 1/3-1/2 of the fat that I trimm off to go back onto the briskets for the CRUTCH)
first, I make a very complicated rub and rub heavily with SPG (Salt, Pepper, Garlic) 1:1:1
sometimes, I'll do this early in the day and place the brisket back in the fridge for a few hours before smoking
place on the traeger (or your preferred pelleg smoker) on SMOKE overnight (if you trust your pit)
I have a bluetooth thermometer with multiple probes, I place one in the flat and one in the point so I can monitor temp without getting out of bed. I set the alarm for 155* (I've never had this go off before I got up)
top off the hopper before bed (normally 11pm for me)
check IT in the morning, it'll likely be 140-150 (normally 7am for me)
bump temp up to 225/250 till IT hits 155-160
then CRUTCH and return to grill till IT hits 200/205 (this is normally around noon or so for me)
I return some of the thin/flat pieces of fat that I trimmed, this will add moisture to the crutch as it renders
if I'm making burnt ends (which I normally am)
I pull the point when the IT is about 185-190
cut into 1.5x1.5" cubes and place in a tin pan, add brown sugar, cayanne, and a bottle of store baought bbq sauce (as well as the drippings from the point)
stir about every 30-45 min while the point is coming up to temp
when the brisket reaches 200* IT
I pre-heat a cooler with hot water and tumble a couple bath towels (I have special BBQ towels) on high for about 10 min or so
then dump the water from the cooler, line with a towel, place brisket (still in crutch) in the cooler, and add another towel, and the lid (I leave my thermometer in the brisket)
I wait till IT drops to 180/185 before slicing and serving (this could take 2-4 hours)
this works out well for me to serve around 4-5pm
good luck
Edit:
sorry, I dont have any good pics here at my work computer
maybe I'll get some this weekend
