You can smoke brisket on any kettle grill. Here's how.

Yes, you absolutely can smoke a brisket on a standard charcoal grill. People have been doing it long before fancy offset smokers existed.

The trick is indirect heat. Bank your lit coals on one side of the grill, put a drip pan filled with water under the grate on the other side, and place the brisket over the pan. Water pan isn’t just for drips — it helps stabilize the temperature and adds moisture. Use the grill’s top and bottom vents to dial in 225-250°F. Add wood chunks (soaked or dry, doesn’t matter much) right on the coals for smoke.

Biggest mistake people make: opening the lid. Every time you peek, you let out heat and kill the cook. Trust the vents and let it run. A brisket on a 22-inch Weber Kettle can take 10-14 hours depending on size. Plan for that.

You don’t need a $3,000 smoker. You just need patience and a six-pack.