Beer Mop

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Beer mop. A barbecue basting sauce made with beer. Sounds like a match made in heaven to me.

Beer and barbecue just go together, kind of like eggs and bacon. Actually, beer goes great with a lot of things, especially spicy food. So why not make a beer baste to barbecue with? Sounds like a fantastic idea!

This is a mild, savory basting sauce. It has a little oil in it so it's good for meats that need a bit of moisture when cooking. It works fantastic on beef brisket and beef ribs. It also works well with chicken. You can use it on just about anything you like.

Things You Should Know

A few things you should know about using mops for barbecue:

  • Always keep it hot. This keeps the temperature of the meat from falling and kills any bacteria that may be transferred from the meat to the mop.
  • Don't baste too often. Every time you lift the lid, you lose precious heat and time. Also, when the meat is wet, the surface temperature is cooler, like when you sweat to cool down. This happens to your meat as well. A cooler surface temperature means a longer cook. Let the mop evaporate before applying more. You don't want the meat to be wet the whole time you're cooking it. It will take longer to cook and will not develop a bark.
  • Don't baste poultry that has the skin on it. The skin will be chewy and gummy. Only use a mop on poultry that has had the skin removed.
  • Using a mop (See picture below) will help you work faster. This basting brush holds plenty of liquid so you can work quickly, close the lid and get back to cooking.

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Beer Mop

The inspiration for this recipe comes from a book called Smoke and Spice, written by husband and wife pitmasters Cheryl and James Jamison.

  • 1-12 oz bottle of beer
  • 1/2 cup cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 Tbsp barbecue rub (Use the same rub that you used for your meat)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  1. Combine all the ingredients in a medium non-reactive saucepan.
  2. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
  3. Cook until rub is fully dissolved, about 2-3 minutes.

Store any leftover mop in a covered container in your refrigerator. Keeps for about 2 weeks.

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