Brisket and the FTC- if you use butcher paper at the end of the cook do you trade it for foil?

I stay with the paper until the end. However I will sometimes wrap the whole thing in foil just to keep the mess in the cooler to a minimum. But it certainly isn't necessary. And more often than not, I just go with the paper. 

This is actually akin to a shaved vs an unshaven pubic area. 

I ride the paper all the way through. I wrap the existing paper prior to placing in a towel, then place in the cooler.

after foiling I put it in a clean trash bag prior to the cooler so that i don't have to clean the cooler or towel. 

GoooDawgs said:

@SGH. With the butcher paper do you ever experienced the fat cap sticking to the paper?  My last couple were wrapped at 165 and when I went to slice after the resting phase the paper tore of the fat cap and the little bark that was on it....

I haven't. However, I am very, very careful when I unwrap. I slowly and methodically remove the paper. If you just snatch it off, it will certainly leave a blotchy spot. Just take your time and ease the paper off with care. This brisket was cooked in paper. As you can see, the bark remained fully intact and unaltered. 

GoooDawgs said:

Interesting...I'm thinking I may not be getting enough airflow between my PS, drip pan and grate.  With just a 1/8" between drip pan and grate, could that be the issue I'm having?   Or should I raise the grate? 

It certainly could be. A couple of questions. Is the bottom of your brisket ending up undercooked? Are you having to flip flop the brisket to get it to cook even? Or, does the top half of your brisket seem more throughly cooked than the bottom half? If your answers are yes, then you have a heat and air flow distribution problem. If no, then probably not. With that said, a large pan that is to close can certainly cause cool spots. 
Its kind of hard to diagnose an issue without being able to actually see the setup and the end result. However I will say this, I'm one of the ones who prefers not to use a drip pan in the BGE when cooking brisket or clod. Space is so limited and crowded that I seem to get better results without the pan when cooking real large cuts. Again, that is simply my opinion and what works best for me. Unless you are using the drippings for something, try it without the pan and see what you think. 

lousubcap said:

Dang @SGH -  you let all that rendered fat just roll on to the platesetter and then find its way to the lump?  But whatever works...  

Yes sir, I do. Never had an issue with it thus far brother Cap. 

Canugghead said:

Dumb question ... waxy side of butcher paper facing out?

Unwaxed butcher paper.

Thanks @DMW and @blasting , talk about embarrassment, glad I asked 

Dang @GooDawgs, that egg looks too clean to cook a good brisket - you even have your complete felt gasket!

Unwaxed butcher paper breathes - kind of like GoreTex(R), so you end up keeping a bit more moisture in the brisket. Using waxed butcher paper, the wax seals itself kind of shut so that keeps even more moisture in the brisket but fat renders away and soaks the paper just like unwaxed butcher paper. Foil, is like putting on the Helly-Hansen(R) rain gear - ain't nothin' getting past that barrier in either direction.

I've tried all three methods and in my experimentation and experience, I like the unwaxed butcher paper best, followed by the waxed butcher paper, and I do not like the results from the foil while on the BGE.

Once the brisket comes off the BGE, the foil does keep the towels and the cooler cleaner, but that never was a concern of mine.

My opinion is that you need to eliminate the drip pan and raise the grate.

JethroVA said:

after foiling I put it in a clean trash bag prior to the cooler so that i don't have to clean the cooler or towel. 

Thanks for that tip.  never thought of it.

I think that paper should be used along with a high temp cook. 275-300. Also, I don't wrap until the brisket is already getting that nice heavy brown/mahogany bark to it. Then, just throw it in the cooler in the original paper. 

The towel is used for insulation purposes.