Much like the previous hunt camp, High Caliber Hunt 004 (2023) was a major success in not only gathering men around one of the most primitive activities, but cultivating an environment where men who are seeking that pressure release as well.
It's such a powerful thing, men gathering. Especially when there is a mission. We rise to the occasion when there's a mission.... and so I asked myself; how come we have to be accompanied by other men to feel we have to get moving? Well, there are several answers I came up with, but the one that stuck out to me - relatability.
That's right. In this crazy world, we somehow fall to a misunderstanding that we have to pack it all in and not let anyone know what's going on inside. "Man the f*ck up." "Get over it." "Pull your bootstraps up." All great advice in the appropriate time and place, but not as a default. You see, just like the mighty brisket, we experience different seasons. Let's talk briefly about that.
In the preparation or trimming phase, do you think I tell the brisket to "Cow the f*ck up, trim yourself?" That's ludicrous, I know... but there's a process to all of it - from start to finish. If you know brisket, you also know that you can't just (by default) set it on the smoker and forget it. Internal temperature is a variable to consider.. time on the smoker is a variable... but texture... the physical state of it is what we look for. Oh and color too, but more so texture.
The picture you see above is a prime (no pun intended) example of what I mean. I operate mostly on "pull the brisket off around 200 degrees to let it rest". That brisket reached 203 degrees in certain spots, but felt very tough; not cooked all the way. So, I left it alone until I got that result. Note that I didn't keep looking at it, asking it when it was going to be done... I left it alone. I'd done all I could to prepare it for this season of the cook. The result proved to me that I made the right choice.
Ultimately - here's my takeaway. I was uncomfortable cooking this brisket the way I did. It was on a smoker I've never used before, so I didn't know hot spots.. I was concerned about the time/temp... all of the uncertainties. Low and behold - through the patience of those in control, managing the process (and with a little prayer) - the result was as intended.