Brined Pork Chops with Garlic and Sage

Name: Brined Pork Chops with Garlic and Sage
Ingredients: 3 cups (24 fl. oz./750 ml) water; 1/4 cup (2 oz./60 g) kosher salt; 1/4 cup (2 oz./60 g) sugar; 4 garlic cloves, crushed; 8 black peppercorns; 4 juniper berries; 4 fresh sage sprigs; 1 bay leaf; 2 cups (12 oz./375 g) ice cubes; 2 bone-in center-cut pork chops, each about 1 1/2 inches (4 cm) thick; Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper; 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil; 2 Tbs. unsalted butter; 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced; 15 fresh sage leaves; Flaky sea salt (optional)