Beer Can Chicken

[Eapples]

OK, this should be an easy answer.  But, if it was that easy I wouldn't be asking, now would I?  I'm a bit thick, what's called in Italian "capa tosta" (dialect), and that's why I'm asking the question.  Anyway, I will be "officially" christening my kettle tomorrow if the weather holds up.  I'll be doing beer can chicken.  I have my recipe.  The question relates to the type of set-up for the coals.

Do I bank the coals off to one side, or do I split the coals on either side?  And do I use a water pan if I'm using one of those "beer can" gizmos to prop up the chicken on the grill?  I figure that I won't need the water pan because the gizmo will catch any drippings.

Thanks for the info.

[1buckie]

 This starts out to be about turkey, but has a MacEggs setup for chicken at the end.....

http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/grilling-bbqing/thawing-turkey-for-saturday-cook-help-please/


Drip pan would be OK, in case the gizmo won't hold everything that drips........

Just a personal prederence, but I like coals on both sides, seems to get a more even cookup that way.....upper grate or down in either way..........

[MacEggs]

What Ken said ... ^^^^^^^^ ... works great. Done it this way a few times.
I haven't tried it on the upper (cooking) grate. Not sure if there is enough room. 

[Eapples]

What Ken said ... ^^^^^^^^ ... works great. Done it this way a few times.
I haven't tried it on the upper (cooking) grate. Not sure if there is enough room. 

Thank you for your response.  I have the Weber Poultry Roaster.  And the chicken is around 3 1/2 pounds.  I was able to use it on my Weber 1000 (gas grill), and the dome clearance on the kettle seems the same or higher than the lid clearance on the gas grill.  I think that it'll fit.

I know my recipe works on the gas grill.  Tomorrow we try it on the kettle.  Photos to follow.

[Eapples]

 This starts out to be about turkey, but has a MacEggs setup for chicken at the end.....

http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/grilling-bbqing/thawing-turkey-for-saturday-cook-help-please/


Drip pan would be OK, in case the gizmo won't hold everything that drips........

Just a personal prederence, but I like coals on both sides, seems to get a more even cookup that way.....upper grate or down in either way..........

Thanks.  See my response to MacEggs.

[MacEggs]

I like these holders, and I prefer to use tall cans (16 oz). Probably why I need to put them on the charcoal grate.
I don't use beer in the cans, just water - not quite full. All the beer gets poured into a mug ... then promptly consumed. 

[MartyG]

Busch beer. Water. Same thing. 

[MacEggs]

Busch beer. Water. Same thing. 

Thanks, Marty! I got a good laugh over that. 

I say the same thing about most massed produced ............. American beer. 

[Johnpv]

I've done it with Murphy's Irish stout, and you can definitely taste the stout flavor in the meat.  I've also done it with water, and soda.  The soda definitely sweetens things up a bit.

[Eapples]

I like these holders, and I prefer to use tall cans (16 oz). Probably why I need to put them on the charcoal grate.
I don't use beer in the cans, just water - not quite full. All the beer gets poured into a mug ... then promptly consumed. 

I used Sam Adams.  Your set-up is probably easier, i.e. no extra clean-up as with my Weber Poultry Roaster.  We're going to try a different beer next time.