SRF Black Brisket: Is it me or I just have the wrong calculus/mojo?

YukonRon

The last 3 SRF briskets of approximately 15 pounds have not been worthy of the premium price to pay. 

Even worse, doing two briskets (one Costco Choice the other the SRF Black) on the BGE XL, the better of the two, by far, was the Costco brisket. 

I trimmed both as I always do, the SRF lost 1/3 of its weight in hard fat, with the eventual cooking weight of being just more than half of the original shipping weight. 

This has not been uncommon with the last 3 briskets purchased from SRF of about the equal weight.

The flat was not paper thin, but I think the thickest part was maybe an inch thick, and the point was remarkably thin as well. It was by my judgment and about 20 others that the Costco Choice was a better result. 

The SRF remnants were chopped up and used for Cottage Pie. It was good there.  But not as a sliced serving. The choice actually was really good. The image below represents the parts that were tossed and could not be used after the cook. The image is the after cooking pieces that could not be used in anything, due to being too tough and too dry. That was a significant portion too.

Has anyone else had this issue, of low quality with SRF Black Grade Brisket? 

Any suggestions of other suppliers?

Thank you for any input

DoubleEgger

I recommend calling SRF directly. 

JohnInCarolina

DoubleEgger said:

I recommend calling SRF directly. 

Does Bruce work there now?

lousubcap

Talk about timing-I just this evening cranked out a SRF Black grade brisket for the small staff at the non-profit I volunteer for every Tuesday (they were closed Xmas eve).  I thought of @YukonRon and his post of several weeks (months?) back about the excessive trimming required.  This one rolled in at 13.7 lbs and rolled out at 9.9 lbs.  Lots of hard fat but the proportions were solid and like prior SRF briskets. No issues with the final product once cleaned up.
Cooked great, rendered well and was a home-run finish.  Poor pics below:

I hosed the lighting with a maga light source.

At the point/flat seam-sweet eats on the opening slice.

Slices of the flat getting ready to be separately zip-locked for tomorrow along with a separate bag of the point for each.  (One lean, one moist is how it goes.)
The texture and flavour (nod) were right there as always but there was the noted excessive trimming required.
Regarding other suppliers, their shipping charges are quite impressive compared to where SRF landed after excessive charges as well years ago.  Some I use when shipping is moderated Creekstone Farms and Heartbrand Beef, although Heartbrand hasn't had a decent shipping discount in a few years.  
@YukonRon -I'm guessing you get your Costco briskets at the Bardstown Road location?? I have not found any worth buying out at the Norton's location in several months.  (But then I tend to avoid it dang near at all costs due to the continuous crowds.) Perhaps the Bardstown location wins the luck of the draw as the sourcing is the same.  Enough from me.
Happy New Year to all-
Cap

Legume

Ron, pulling a Raichlen and stealing one of doubleeggers own pics of his legendary garbage can is despicably brilliant.

dbCooper

@YukonRon - As for other suppliers, give a look at Oak Barn Beef.  I've bought from Hannah for the past six years, never been disappointed.  Farm to table operation.  https://oakbarnbeef.com/

*note that I'm lucky to be near the source, so no shipping $. 

DoubleEgger

Legume said:

Ron, pulling a Raichlen and stealing one of doubleeggers own pics of his legendary garbage can is despicably brilliant.

I think you have me mixed up with Focker. 

QDude

lousubcap said:

Talk about timing-I just this evening cranked out a SRF Black grade brisket for the small staff at the non-profit I volunteer for every Tuesday (they were closed Xmas eve).  I thought of @YukonRon and his post of several weeks (months?) back about the excessive trimming required.  This one rolled in at 13.7 lbs and rolled out at 9.9 lbs.  Lots of hard fat but the proportions were solid and like prior SRF briskets. No issues with the final product once cleaned up.
Cooked great, rendered well and was a home-run finish.  Poor pics below:

I hosed the lighting with a maga light source.

At the point/flat seam-sweet eats on the opening slice.

Slices of the flat getting ready to be separately zip-locked for tomorrow along with a separate bag of the point for each.  (One lean, one moist is how it goes.)
The texture and flavour (nod) were right there as always but there was the noted excessive trimming required.
Regarding other suppliers, their shipping charges are quite impressive compared to where SRF landed after excessive charges as well years ago.  Some I use when shipping is moderated Creekstone Farms and Heartbrand Beef, although Heartbrand hasn't had a decent shipping discount in a few years.  
@YukonRon -I'm guessing you get your Costco briskets at the Bardstown Road location?? I have not found any worth buying out at the Norton's location in several months.  (But then I tend to avoid it dang near at all costs due to the continuous crowds.) Perhaps the Bardstown location wins the luck of the draw as the sourcing is the same.  Enough from me.
Happy New Year to all-
Cap

The brisket looks awesome!

Ozzie_Isaac

I’m just not good enough to coax anything out of an SRF more than a Costco prime grade brisket.  Those who swear by them, I completely trust so I just chalk it up to my inability to smoke brisket.  I stick to beef plate ribs.  All the amazing flavor with no skill required.

Foghorn

I have not had SRF recently, but I did have a similar experience with a wagyu brisket from my local HEB.  I cooked it how I usually do and at the end of the cook, the drip pan was nearly dry as it had only a few drops of brisket juice in it.  It tasted OK, but was not up to my usual standard.  I'm going to stick with HEB Prime 1 going forward.

Stormbringer

@lousubcap the pictures are great. 

YukonRon

DoubleEgger said:

I recommend calling SRF directly. 

I did. We will see. 

YukonRon

Legume said:

Ron, pulling a Raichlen and stealing one of doubleeggers own pics of his legendary garbage can is despicably brilliant.

I can’t. I did go to Costco yesterday, they were out of prime. 

YukonRon

dbCooper said:

@YukonRon - As for other suppliers, give a look at Oak Barn Beef.  I've bought from Hannah for the past six years, never been disappointed.  Farm to table operation.  https://oakbarnbeef.com/

*note that I'm lucky to be near the source, so no shipping $. 

Thank you. 

YukonRon

lousubcap said:

Talk about timing-I just this evening cranked out a SRF Black grade brisket for the small staff at the non-profit I volunteer for every Tuesday (they were closed Xmas eve).  I thought of @YukonRon and his post of several weeks (months?) back about the excessive trimming required.  This one rolled in at 13.7 lbs and rolled out at 9.9 lbs.  Lots of hard fat but the proportions were solid and like prior SRF briskets. No issues with the final product once cleaned up.
Cooked great, rendered well and was a home-run finish.  Poor pics below:

I hosed the lighting with a maga light source.

At the point/flat seam-sweet eats on the opening slice.

Slices of the flat getting ready to be separately zip-locked for tomorrow along with a separate bag of the point for each.  (One lean, one moist is how it goes.)
The texture and flavour (nod) were right there as always but there was the noted excessive trimming required.
Regarding other suppliers, their shipping charges are quite impressive compared to where SRF landed after excessive charges as well years ago.  Some I use when shipping is moderated Creekstone Farms and Heartbrand Beef, although Heartbrand hasn't had a decent shipping discount in a few years.  
@YukonRon -I'm guessing you get your Costco briskets at the Bardstown Road location?? I have not found any worth buying out at the Norton's location in several months.  (But then I tend to avoid it dang near at all costs due to the continuous crowds.) Perhaps the Bardstown location wins the luck of the draw as the sourcing is the same.  Enough from me.
Happy New Year to all-
Cap

Thank you Cap. It is the Bardstown road Costco, early access provides great finds, which is another story I will share later. 

I appreciate the alternate suggestions, and will give them a go for my next. 

This is extremely unusual with my 10 year plus experience with SRF briskets. Previous to the last 3, I have always had exceptional experiences with my cooks.
I will give them a shot and see what happens, before sticking my finger in the socket hoping for something different. 

YukonRon

Ozzie_Isaac said:

I’m just not good enough to coax anything out of an SRF more than a Costco prime grade brisket.  Those who swear by them, I completely trust so I just chalk it up to my inability to smoke brisket.  I stick to beef plate ribs.  All the amazing flavor with no skill required.

I absolutely agree

YukonRon

Foghorn said:

I have not had SRF recently, but I did have a similar experience with a wagyu brisket from my local HEB.  I cooked it how I usually do and at the end of the cook, the drip pan was nearly dry as it had only a few drops of brisket juice in it.  It tasted OK, but was not up to my usual standard.  I'm going to stick with HEB Prime 1 going forward.

This is where I am at. Tried the SRF Gold, and it was much too fatty for my taste. Prime is fine. 

shtgunal3

+1 on the suggestion of Oak Barn Beef. I smoked a brisket from them on Christmas Day and it turned out to be one of my best yet. 

YukonRon

shtgunal3 said:

+1 on the suggestion of Oak Barn Beef. I smoked a brisket from them on Christmas Day and it turned out to be one of my best yet. 

Thank you, will try. 

gonepostal

When I first got on this forum, I purchased online from every company that I read about on this site, and several more that I found on my own.  At some point I realized that I just suck at cooking brisket.  Or maybe I just don't like it that much.  I'm not totally sure about that one.  But I can say that I have always been underwhelmed with any restaurant offering that I have had.  I guess that's why Austin is still on my bucket list.  That should answer that question when I finally make that trip. 

So with that being said, I end up grabbing a CAB at the local grocery store, or a Prime at Costco/Sam's these days.   And at $3.99/lb I can justify playing around with a cook.  And they are always fun. 

Hope all is well with you Ron. It's been a few years!