Ingredients
1?(24-ounce) can?beer
6?
2?teaspoons?thyme
1/4?cup?brown sugar, divided
2?tablespoons?
1?tablespoon?salt
1?tablespoon?freshly?ground black pepper
2?tablespoons?ketchup
2?tablespoons?
2?teaspoons?hot sauce
1?teaspoon?cayenne pepper
1?(15-pound/7-kilogram)?whole turkey
Steps to Make It
Gather the ingredients.
Empty the can of beer into a container.
Cut off the top of the can and pour in 12 ounces of beer.
Add the bay leaves and thyme. Set aside.
Make the rub by combining 2 tablespoons brown sugar with the paprika, salt,?and pepper.
Make the turkey baste. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining 2 tablespoons?, the ketchup, vinegar, 2 tablespoons of beer, hot sauce, and cayenne.
Prepare smoker for a 6-hour smoke at 250 F.
Rub surface of the turkey?. Try to get as much as you can under the skin, particularly over the breast meat.
Stand beer can up on the smoker grate and gently set the turkey over the can so that the can is completely inside the cavity of the turkey. Make sure that the turkey stands easily and doesn't sway. The turkey needs to be stable.
Once you have the turkey in the smoker, let it cook for about 6 hours at a temperature around 250 F. Baste the turkey with the basting mixture every 2 hours during ?the?cooking process.?Check for an internal temperature in the thigh of about 165 F/74 C. This is when the bird is done.
When cooked, remove from heat and let sit for a few minutes before carving.
Serve and enjoy.
What kind of beer works best for beer can turkey?
Whenever you use any kind of alcohol in a recipe, it should always be something you would normally enjoy drinking. Beer is no exception, but if your favorite is something strong-flavored or quite distinctive, you may want to choose one that is more middle-of-the-road like a lager.
Tip
If you're worried about the turkey toppling over in the smoker, you can place the can in a baking pan (disposable is fine) and then place the turkey on top. Put the pan directly onto the smoker grates.