Brisket Beer Mop

Beer mop spreading sauce on meat on grill

StephanieFrey / Getty Images

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Yield: 3 cups

Thin and flavorful mop sauces are a variety of preparation used on tough cuts on meat while they are cooking to provide moisture and flavor and help develop a tasty crust on the outside. Usually containing vinegar, tomato, or beer, these sauces are flavored with dry herbs and spices and kept near the smoker or grill, typically applied with the help of a little mop that evenly distributes the juicy sauces all over the cut of meat. Our easy-to-make mop sauce combines the hoppy flavors of beer with umami Worcestershire sauce and tangy vinegar. A few spices complement the mixture and 20 minutes is all you need to have this ready. If making it ahead of time, allow it to cool down completely before placing it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Before using it, microwave slightly to warm up. The sauce is best when made and allowed to rest overnight in the fridge so the flavors can meld, but if needed it's pretty delicious right away, too.

Depending on the recipe and the cut of meat you're using, the process can take a little preparation ahead of time, as many methods suggest to rub the meat with a dry rub, let it rest overnight, then bring it to room temperature before placing it in the smoker or grill and mopping it with a sauce. For best results, plan the timing of your meal taking into consideration the needs of the meat you've selected. Our delicious mop sauce is great on brisket, a tough cut of meat from the breast of the cow that benefits from low and slow heat. Simply mop the sauce over your brisket every hour until it's done, or about 60 to 75 minutes per pound in a smoker at about 225 F.

As for the mop itself, there are many affordable mops easily found online and in specialty stores. A mop is what it sounds like, a little hand mop that absorbs the sauce from its container and transfers a generous amount of it onto the meat. Mops hold a lot of sauce so be careful when using them on the meat as they might splash everywhere if you don't control your movements. Many brands carry disposable mop heads that you can use and toss, while others have a removable head that you can clean in soapy water and rinse well, or rinse well and place in the dishwasher for a thorough cleanse.

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces (350 milliliters) beer

  • 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) cider vinegar

  • 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) water

  • 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) light oil

  • 1 small onion, diced

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon cayenne

Steps to Make It

  1. Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan over low heat.

  2. Cook until thoroughly dissolved.

  3. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 to 15 minutes. Use as needed in your recipe.

  4. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
152 Calories
13g Fat
5g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 152
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 16%
Saturated Fat 1g 4%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 420mg 18%
Total Carbohydrate 5g 2%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 2mg 8%
Calcium 15mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 88mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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