Time for Iowa Guy's Initiation

[iowaguy]

Ok, so I'm getting into this smoking thing pretty seriously, and from what I've read, you don't get your wings until you pull an all nighter, so here we go. I've got two 7.5-8lb butts that've been rubbed down with Jeff's recipe, and been sitting in the rub for about 2 days. I also had to throw some turkey legs on for good measure. The meat went on about 7:30 or so, and depending on whether it cooperates or not, we should be done before the sun comes up.

Hopefully I have enough beer to last me...as of now it's 10:00, and the turkey legs are looking good, pork has a LONG way to go...gonna try to post some links to the qview, but I'm not that tech savvy...here goes nothin:

Prep work's done

Turkey Too

Hittin the grill

 

[cowgirl]

Sure lookin good so far, good luck with the smoke!

 

[white cloud]

Lookin good so far, good luck and hope your beer hold out for ya

 

[bbqgoddess]

Great job! If your butts hit temp at the same time you owe the forum a round!! Be patient! and have fun plenty of peeps will be on line with you,
looking forward to your progress.

 

[iowaguy]

Turkey's going strong, pork's still got another 40 degrees to climb...haven't hit a plateau yet, but the beers are going down EASY. Could be rough trying to stay awake...and sober. Or at least awake.

3 hours in

 

[smokin365]

IAguy, good luck w/ the first all nighter! Seems to be a good night to do it. i dont know the exact weather in ia, but in south central il, it is a beauty of a night. The smoke is about 260*, the air is about 65* and the beer is about 33*

 

[iowaguy]

Smokin365, you got it, air's about 65 and clear moonlight, smokes hoverin around 225 or so, and the beer's nice and cold.

I forgot to mention in my original post that I'm using my CharGriller Pro with a few slight modifications (extended chimney tube, home made damper, upgraded thermometer), and I'm also using a hickory/apple combination on the smoke. Thin and blue so far...great night for it.

Thanks for all the encouraging words, and Goddess, if these things finish at the same time, I'd gladly pour the next round...so far only about 5 degrees apart...but we're getting close to plateau time...

 

[ronp]

Good luck with the smoke. We're cheering you on.

 

[iowaguy]

If anyone's still awake (2:07am my time), we're about 7 hours in, and things are coming around quite nicely. Turkey's darned near done, sitting a little over 160 degrees.

The smoke gods are smiling on me tonight, as my two butts are within about 3 degrees of one another, in the 152-155 range right now. I think it might be plateau time, as I haven't seen a jump in 15-20 minutes...pictures are below:

Spread

And for the turkey fans

Thanks again for everyone's comments, that's what makes this process and forum fun.

 

[smokin365]

7 hrs, looks great! mine are at the plateau also, and im outta beer

If ya got a few minutes a spare block of cheese and a kettle grill, do some speramentin. i smoked a block of cheddar a lil while ago and it is great. a good way to pass the time and stay awake. Got a qview in the cheese forum.

 

[ronp]

Looking really good.

 

[bbqgoddess]

Keep it up! looks good so far...
are you at the plateau yet??

 

[iowaguy]

Thanks everyone, got past the plateau, it was a relatively short one, or maybe I'm just so tired that it didn't SEEM like a long time. Got 'em up over 165, and got them foiled with the temp cranked up to 250-275...should be to the promised land in no time!

But I think there's still a good chance I'll see the sun come up over the beautiful rolling hills of Iowa...wow, starting to ramble like a guy who's been drinking and smoking all night...I'll be sure to share when the butts are done!

 

[iowaguy]

I forgot to post the final product for the turkey legs...they smell delicious...more to come, butts are moving up SLOWLY. Thanks again to all you crazy folks who are still awake (and to those who recently went to sleep)! (4:15 am Iowa time)

 

[iowaguy]

Pulled it off just in time to watch the sun come up...hit a strange plateau at the 190 degree range...oh well, more pictures to come...maybe after I nap...good times. It was completely worth the lack of sleep...g'night everyone.

 

[iowaguy]

Here's the final product, what a long night that was.

The meat came out amazingly tender, and really just fell apart with the forks.

In the end, it was all worth it.

Thanks again to all the kind words of encouragement...now I gotta find a way to sneak a nap in...

 

[smokin365]

NICE! Didnt the sun give ya a second..err 10th wind. i got mine off and letting it sit till this evening and am off to a pull. gonna go try to make a different kinda smoke. iffin ya get a nap, enjoy

 

[dingle]

After pullin an all nighter, there should be no need to sneak a nap. Well deserved! Great looking butts!

 

[bwsmith_2000]

Good looking smoke there Iowaguy! And by the way, congratulations on getting your wings. Now how about a brisket. (Thanks for the post and the pictures.)

 

[ronp]

Nice job. How were the legs? I want to try them some day.

BTW thanks.