My brisket stalled at 152 and I panicked, then a guy at the Texarkana contest showed me the foil boat
I was cooking my first real competition brisket at a small contest in Texarkana back in April and hit the stall hard at 152 degrees with only 4 hours left before turn in. I wrapped it tight in foil right away because that is all I knew, and the bark turned to mush on me. A pitmaster two spots over saw me sweating and told me to try the foil boat instead, leaving the top open so the bark stays crisp while the bottom braises. I tried it on my next cook and pulled it at 203 with way better bark, but I still wonder if I should have just rode the stall out naked. What temp do you all actually boat yours at, or do you skip wrapping altogether?
Mine usually hits the stall right around 150 to 155, and that is where I boat it too. I let it ride naked until the bark sets hard, usually around 165 to 170, then I slide it into a foil boat with the top wide open. The flat braises in the juices down in the bottom while the top crust stays dry and firm. Best of both worlds, really. I tried skipping the wrap once and the flat came out dry as a cracker, so I have stuck with the boat ever since. Just keep a probe in the thick part of the flat and pull when it slides in like soft butter, not by a number on the clock.