Injection question... Beer?

[ctbeerbq]

I've never done an injection before, but I was thinking about giving it a shot. Has anyone ever used beer as an injection, straight or as part of a mixture? I have a hickory porter homebrew that I was considering using on a couple of butts next week, probably just straight. My wife seems to think that the beer will make the meat bitter, but she thinks that all beer is bitter and couldn't tell the difference between a stout and a pilsner anyway.:roll: I think it would be ok, but since I've never done any injections before, I thought I would ask the experts.

Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated!!

 

[Norcoredneck]

I have used beer, some like it (usually those who like beer), and some don't. Lately I mix an au jus (sp?) with beer and inject my brisket. I like it.

 

[Papa Tom]

Since you've never injected before wouldn't it make more sense the first time to do something a bit more conventional and create a basis for comparison? How about making a bit of "tea" from your favorite rub and using it?

 

[ctbeerbq]

I could do that anytime, but like I said, I have this Hickory Porter right now that I was thinking about using for a work party. I'm looking to impart some of the flavor of the beer that I will be serving. And I want to try something a little different... a lot of the injection recipes that I see are some combination of fruit juices, sugar and spices. Haven't seen too much using beer. And don't beer and BBQ go hand in hand anyway?

 

[QansasjayhawQ]

And don't beer and BBQ go hand in hand anyway?

Well, one hand for the beer and one hand for the BBQ anyway . . .

:wink:

 

[ctbeerbq]

I'm also planning on adding the beer to the BBQ sauce that I make.

Maybe for this event I'll do one butt with beer injection and one without any injection and we'll do a taste test. If it doesn't work out then I'll try the "rub tea" that Tom suggested for my July 4th bash... 2 more butts. God I love the summer (too cold and snowy in the Nor'east to keep those temps up in winter)!!

 

[FatDad]

Sounds like a yankee thing to me !
You seem to have your mind made up and determined to do it.
So, go for it.

Just kidding about the yankee thing.....down here we just DO IT
and talk about the results later.
You will find out.

 

[ctbeerbq]

Yea, I think I will do it... :smile: just wanted to see if I could gather some sort of expectation for how it will turn out. I'll definitely post pics along the way and let y'all know how it turns out!

 

[ipls3355]

If it doesn't work, will you be more upset about losing butts or the beer?

 

[D.F. Expat]

I have injected the last 2 chickens I did with Beer/garlic mixture, everybody loved it. I say go for it and let us know how it goes

 

[ctbeerbq]

If it doesn't work, will you be more upset about losing butts or the beer?

That's a tough one, since I work so hard on both ....
probably the butts, since this is my first smoke of the season
I'm getting off to a late start this year.

 

[Rookie'48]

Sounds like a yankee thing to me !
You seem to have your mind made up and determined to do it.
So, go for it.

Just kidding about the yankee thing.....down here we just DO IT
and talk about the results later.
You will find out.

Mark, you misspelled the proper term yankee "thang" :biggrin: .
Dave

 

[Puppyboy]

I have marinaded several cuts of meats in beer over night before smoking them the next day.

 

[Smokin Gator]

There are too many other things I could inject/spray/mop my meats with than to waste perfectly good beer/liqour!!! I've been wanting to say that for a while now... sorry it came in your thread!!!!

Now that I've said it... have at it bro and let us know what you think

 

[vr6Cop]

I could do that anytime, but like I said, I have this Hickory Porter right now that I was thinking about using for a work party.

I can tell you from experience that trying out new things is always better done at home. I've used my coworkers as guinea pigs before and it wasn't pretty on one occasion. :shock: So my recommendation would be to stay conventional with them until they tell you that you made the best bbq they've ever eaten, and then spring something new on them. :biggrin:

You mentioned in one of your above posts that you've worked hard on both... I'm assuming that you meant the bbq and the beer. Are you a home brewer? There are several other hb's here as well. :eusa_clap

 

[Scrooge Fan]

I've never done an injection before, but I was thinking about giving it a shot. Has anyone ever used beer as an injection, straight or as part of a mixture? I have a hickory porter homebrew that I was considering using on a couple of butts next week, probably just straight. My wife seems to think that the beer will make the meat bitter, but she thinks that all beer is bitter and couldn't tell the difference between a stout and a pilsner anyway.:roll: I think it would be ok, but since I've never done any injections before, I thought I would ask the experts.

Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated!!

As a former homebrewer myself, I would say go for it. Since porter has slightly smokey taste itself it would seem to me it would work well. And you said yours is a hickory porter. Better yet! I would add that if it has too much of a choclate taste I'd be careful. My thoughts would be to go easy with the beer. Perhaps you could cut it with some broth. Just my two cents worth. I've never tried it. But remember, two cents is important to me. :wink:

 

[ctbeerbq]

I can tell you from experience that trying out new things is always better done at home. I've used my coworkers as guinea pigs before and it wasn't pretty on one occasion. :shock: So my recommendation would be to stay conventional with them until they tell you that you made the best bbq they've ever eaten, and then spring something new on them. :biggrin:

My coworkers have already had my Q... I've brought in some leftover pulled pork and BBQ beans a couple of times, and we had a potluck lunch that I brought ribs and beans to. They have already told me that mine is the best they've ever had. :biggrin:

You mentioned in one of your above posts that you've worked hard on both... I'm assuming that you meant the bbq and the beer. Are you a home brewer? There are several other hb's here as well. :eusa_clap

I got a Mr. Beer homebrew kit for Christmas, and have done three batches so far, with another fermenting right now. It turns out pretty good beer, and only takes about an hour prep time, and another hour come bottling time. I typically drink German beer, but this gives me a good variety vs. store bought... there are 170 something recipes on their site.

 

[ApronGuy]

If you are going to inject a butt with beer, I wouldn't go with a porter on the first time. Too dark and too robust. Possibly too sweet. I just can't see injecting a butt with a really dark beer like that.

I would go with a summer ale ... something tangy. No lagers .... too skunky.

That's just my opinion.

 

[bbqbull]

Sounds like a yankee thing to me !
You seem to have your mind made up and determined to do it.
So, go for it.

Just kidding about the yankee thing.....down here we just DO IT
and talk about the results later.
You will find out.

FatDad has a yankee thing. Please pass it along.

 

[swamprb]

I inject Turkeys with a beer, garlic olive oil and paprika mix and like the results. Got the recipe from Smoke and Spice.

Brian