Well, today the brisket burns, and so far I feel that it is going badly, as I don't believe it has risen above 175 degrees in my pitt the entire time. I don't think that's hot enough to actually cook it, and if it is, it's certainly not going to be anywhere near ready by the time I get home. Maybe I'll finish it off in the oven, or maybe I'll start some more coals and throw some wood in, last time chuck looked, he said it looked just about burned out to him, which means it probably wont stay 175 for the next 4 hours. May mean a high heat finish, I'll just have to check it with my meat thermometer to see how it's doing.

But if it does badly, you heard it here first.

Anyway, I'm not teeeeeeeerribly worried, it's my first one and I'm learning a lot from it. I told my coworker, Larry, about cooking my brisket and he instantly shook his head and started telling me what was wrong with what I was doing. Then, he linked me to one of the greatest BBQ sites I have ever read, wait, scratch that, THE greatest BBQ site I have ever read, and probably will ever read.

The BBQ FAQ. It is simply the most comprehensive collection of questions and answers for all kinds of barbecue, how it's done, how it's done best, what is and isn't personal taste, how to do it, what to do it on(anything), and how to serve it. Larry wins the coolest link of the day award.

This brisket may come out really bad, or needing a lot of work before it's ready, but I will know much better what to do next time, and I will do it while I'm there to check the fire. But I still have small hopes for this one.