Trim your brisket of any excess fat. Season both sides well with salt and pepper.
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over high heat. Add the brisket and sear both sides until brown, approximately 5 minutes per side. If your slow cooker has a browning feature like mine, you can sear the brisket there instead.
Transfer the brisket to your slow cooker. Scatter the sliced onions evenly over the top.
In a medium bowl, whisk together tomato paste, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon, garlic, and brown sugar. Season with salt and pepper and mix until smooth.
Pour the sauce over the brisket and onions.
Pour the root beer around the brisket.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours.
Once the brisket is fork-tender, turn off the slow cooker and let it rest in the sauce for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, transfer the brisket to a baking dish if you'd like it to look nice for serving. Spoon the onions and sauce over the top. Slice the brisket against the grain or shred it with two forks. Serve and enjoy!