John And Erins Beer Butt Chicken Beer Can Recipes

BEER-BRINED BEER-CAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make the brine: Combine the beer, brown sugar, salt, orange zest, orange juice and cardamom pods in a bowl; stir until the sugar and salt dissolve.
• Put the chicken in a gallon-size resealable plastic bag and add the brine; seal and refrigerate 2 hours.
• Prepare the grill: For a charcoal grill, pile 3 to 4 pounds briquettes in the grill; ignite and let burn until the coals are ashy. For a gas grill, preheat to high.
• Prepare the chicken: Remove from the brine and pat dry; reserve the orange zest and cardamom. Rub the olive oil all over the skin. Loosen the skin on the breasts and legs with your fingers; rub 1 garlic clove under and over the skin. Combine the brown sugar, coriander, cumin, paprika, allspice, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper; rub under and over the skin of the chicken and inside the cavity.
• Pour half of the remaining beer can into a disposable 8-inch-square pan. Add the reserved orange zest to the pan. Poke 3 or 4 holes into the top sides of the beer can using a paring knife. Add the remaining 3 smashed garlic cloves and the reserved cardamom pods to the can.
• For a charcoal grill, bank the coals to both sides in two piles; nestle the pan with the beer between the coals and replace the top grill grate. For a gas grill, reduce the heat to medium on one side and turn off the burners on the other; place the pan under the grate on the unlit side.
• Set the chicken over the beer can, inserting the can into the cavity so 1 inch of the can is exposed. Set on the grill grates over the drip pan so the chicken balances on the can and legs like a tripod. Cover the grill and cook until the chicken is golden brown and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F. If using charcoal, this will take about 1 hour 20 minutes; add a handful of briquettes to each bank of coals every 30 minutes to maintain the heat. If using gas, it will take about 1 hour 5 minutes; carefully rotate the chicken halfway through.
• Remove the chicken from the grill, discard the can and transfer to a cutting board; let rest 10 minutes before carving.

ED'S FAVORITE BEER CAN CHICKEN RUB

Steps:

• Stir brown sugar, dry mustard, granulated onion, paprika, kosher salt, garlic powder, coriander, cumin, black pepper, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl.

ULTIMATE BEER BUTT CHICKEN BEER CAN

Steps:

• Rinse chicken well inside an out.
• Pat bird completely dry with paper towels.
• To make the rub: mix 4 tbsp paprika, 2 tsp salt, 2 tbsp black pepper, 2 tsp cayenne pepper, and 1/4 cup brown sugar in a small bowl and set it aside.
• To make glaze: mix together 1/4 cup brown sugar, 4 tbsp ketchup, 3 tsp frank's red hot sauce, 4 tbsp white vinegar, 4 tbsp beer (save remainder in can and set it aside), and 2 tbsp of the spice rub you just made in a separate bowl; set aside.
• Pour beer can out (or drink it down) until it is just a bit over half way full and then add crushed bay leaves and 1 tsp of rub to the half full can.
• Loosen the skin on the breasts, legs and thighs of your chicken.
• Massage the rub into the meat under the skin and then all over the outside of the bird's skin as well as inside the cavity.
• Place beer can in the "butt" of the bird making the bird stand upright.
• Preheat grill with all burners on high until grill is heated and ready to cook.
• You must cook indirectly; so if you have 2 burners on your grill, turn one off (for 3 burners turn 1 off, for 4 burners turn 2 off, etc.).
• Place the standing bird on the cooler or "off" burner side of the grill with the breasts facing the hot or "on side of it (you grill should remain at about 375 degrees during the entire cooking process).
• Close lid and cook for 30 minutes, then rotate bird so that the opposite side (the back) is not facing the heated side of the grill and then continue cooking with the lid closed for 30 more minutes.
• Rotate bird back to original position with breasts facing the heat and glaze the entire bird thoroughly with the pre-made glaze; continue cooking 30 more minutes until cooked, brown and slightly crisped.
• Transfer chicken carefully off of beer can and onto cutting board.
• Let rest 5-10 minutes and then carve and enjoy!

JOHN AND ERIN'S BEER BUTT CHICKEN / BEER CAN

Steps:

• Mix dry ingredients together and rub chicken inside and out.
• Open can of beer, pour half into a spray bottle and add orange juice, olive oil and vinegar to spray bottle.
• Insert the can into the cavity of the chicken.
• With the chicken resting on the can, cook for about 2 hours over medium-hot grill with grill cover on spray chicken with the basting spray while cooking.
• When done, carefully lift the chicken off the grill and remove the can-- be careful, liquid is HOT!