Non-expert opinion; your 3rd or 4th brisket is going to be your OMG experience. Don't quit because 1,2,3 didn't turn out great. My first few were spaced about a year apart because they were 'meh" - now I'm closer to one a month because I learned from the first few. Now it's something everyone looks forward to and it doesn't need to be drowned in bbq sauce like the first few attempts.