Beer Can Chicken, or Chicken on the Throne

No matter what you call it, beer can chicken is amazing. My brother called me one day and asked if I’ve ever had “Beer can up the butt chicken?” You can make this without a beer and chicken holder, however it would be much safer to have one. They are about $3.00 each, unless you get an expensive one. Get two and cook two chickens at the same time.

Chicken rub, BBQ sauce, beer can holders and beer

GRILL: Set up your grill for the indirect cooking method with an aluminum drip pan under the chickens to catch the drippings.
INGREDIENTS 
2 whole chickens, roasters
2 small onions, golf ball size, peeled
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tbsp. chicken rub, your choice
2-12 oz. cans beer, pop-top, plus 1 extra hole
Serves: 4 (1/2 chicken each person) 
NOTE: You’re going to have to dispose of 1/2 of the beer in each can so that they are half full. It's a dirty job but somebody has to drink it. You can also use a soda can. Root beer or Dr. Pepper works. Pop the top and add a second hole with a good old fashioned beer can opener. You remember those? 

Prep them chickens

Set up grill for indirect cooking

DIRECTIONS Soak some apple of hickory wood chips in water for about 1 hour before grilling the chickens.
Remove the giblet packets from the chickens. Rinse out the chickens and pat dry with a paper towel on the outside. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the chicken rub into the cavity of each chicken.

Mount that chicken

Drink or throw out 1/ of the beer or soda in the can. Mount each chicken on the 1/2 empty beer or pop can in the holders. Put the peeled onion into the neck cavity of each chicken. Massage the chickens on all sides with the remaining rub. The onion will cry all over the chicken while roasting. Hey you'd cry too if somebody put a beer can up your butt.

Add the onions to the neck cavity and press in

Once the grill is hot add the soaked wet wood chips to a smoker box, or aluminum foil packet punctured with vent holes and place it over the hot side of the grill. Place the beer can chicken stands over the center of the grill so that the coals will be on either side, but not directly under it. Put the grill top over the chickens with the vent hole in the center, allowing the smoke to be drawn over the chickens.

OMG! Can you smell that?

Check the charcoal and wood chips after 45 minutes and recover the grill. This should take a total of 1-1/2 to 2 hours to cook. The internal temperature of the chicken should read 180°F at the center of the thigh. Make sure the temperature probe is not on the bone or the beer can.

The BBQ sauce takes this chicken over the top

Once the proper internal temperature is achieved, remove the chickens from the grill and let rest for 5 minutes before carving. If using BBQ sauce it should be added in the last 5 minutes of cooking time.

CAUTION: Be extremely careful when removing the chickens from the stands. The beer inside is extremely hot and the can is full again. It will burn! Use rubber gloves or pot holders to remove the stands. 
So there you have it, beer can up the butt chicken, or Chicken on the throne. If you have ever made this before please leave a comment on rubs that you use, or barbecue sauces you slather on yours. What do you do with the beer and chicken juices left in the can?
Finally if you have any recipes for retro  comfort foods, or ideas for future posts pass them along.

© TMelle 2014