What Is The Best Wood For Smoking Brisket?

Few cuts of meat that are more synonymous with barbecue (or iconic in barbecue) than brisket. If you’re from Texas, brisket is the king of barbecue. And a big part of smoking brisket is choosing the right wood. 

For me and all of us at Angry BBQ, the best wood for smoking brisket is oak. I’m a traditionalist when it comes to brisket the vast majority of the time. That means salt and pepper (with some garlic powder thrown in if I take the time) for the seasoning and oak wood for the smoke. 

Brisket is the biggest cut of meat that I smoke in my backyard. It takes a long time to smoke both because of the size and the fact that it has so much connective tissue and tough muscle to break down to get that juicy, tender end result. So I factor in how long I’m smoking both in terms of the amount of wood I need as well as how much smoke exposure the brisket is going to get when I’m choosing the best wood for brisket.

So what makes oak the best wood for smoking brisket? And what are some of the alternatives?

Why Is Oak The Best Wood For Smoking Brisket?

There are two main reasons why oak is perfect for smoking brisket. One, it’s got a strong enough flavor to impart plenty of smoke into the tough, beefy cut. All types of beef and especially brisket can take on a lot of smoke flavor while still delivering a lot of beef flavor when you bite into it. So you want a strong wood like oak. Plus, I’m not going to rebel against the Central Texas tradition of using oak. Everything in Texas is bigger including oak trees and anger.

Second, oak burns for a long time. When you’re using an offset smoker for such a long cook, you don’t want a fast-burning wood that requires you to throw more wood into the firebox every 20 minutes to half an hour. That’s a lot of work and a lot of wood. 

So when I’m smoking a brisket in my backyard, I want oak wood to deliver the best experience possible.

But is oak the only option?

Alternatives To Oak For Smoking Brisket

Now I may be a traditionalist when it comes to beef brisket, but that doesn’t mean I always follow the rules. Here at Angry BBQ, we even have a Kansas City-style brisket dry rub (that also works great on pork). That sure as heck isn’t traditional. 

So what are some other types of smoking wood that you can experiment with when smoking brisket?

• Mesquite – If you’re looking for the ultimate wood smoke experience, mesquite will deliver the most wood smoke flavor you can find. This will give you a more West Texas-style barbecue experience. It burns hot and fast, so you need to be even more careful than usual with an offset smoker. Mesquite is also notorious for oversmoking meat which leads to a bitter taste. Now brisket can stand up to a lot of smoke so it’s not a huge risk, but you do need to be aware of that. You definitely will want to wrap your brisket to help it get through the stall while also protecting it from extra smoke.
• Hickory – If you want to experiment with a sweeter brisket by using our Kansas City rub or are really looking to make some burnt ends, hickory is a great option. It’s milder than mesquite but still delivers plenty of wood smoke flavor. It also has a bit of a nutty flavor as well as bacon. It’s quite often used to smoke bacon, too. So if you’re looking for a lot of smoke flavor but adding some sweet elements, use hickory.

• Pecan – Now I wouldn’t necessarily smoke a brisket just using pecan wood. But you can mix pecan with oak or mesquite to add an extra dimension of sweetness and nuttiness. 

What Kind Of Wood Do I Need For Smoking Brisket?

Not only do I need to figure out the flavor of wood I want for smoking brisket, I need to figure out the right form of wood. What the heck does that mean? Well, if I’m using an offset smoker, I’m going to use either oak logs or splits. That just depends on the size of the firebox. 

Now electric or propane smokers may not be very traditional, but don’t let that stop you from smoking brisket. The majority of these smokers are designed to use wood chips, so make sure you’re well stocked on oak chips. Check out our breakdown of the differences between wood chips and wood chunks to learn more!

And obviously wood pellets are going to be the fuel for pellet grills and pellet smokers. So I always make sure I’ve got a bag of Bear Mountain BBQ oak pellets in reserve to make sure I’m ready to go for a nice long brisket smoking session.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to smoking a brisket, I almost always turn to oak wood. For me, the combination of smoke flavor and long burning time makes it the best wood for smoking brisket. And oak works great when smoking some brisket substitutes like chuck roast as well. 

But don’t be afraid to give some other woods like mesquite or hickory (or mixing pecan with oak) a try. Our goal here at Angry BBQ is to help you make the best barbecue in your own backyard for you and your family and friends. I don’t determine your flavor preferences. 

Do you have a favorite wood for smoking brisket? Or what about a blend of woods? Let us know in the comments!