You can get that bitter creosote taste with even charcoal, if you don't pay attention. A smoldering fire that puts out rather thick smoke from the stack is one to avoid. If the stack is putting out kind of thin grey/blue smoke, then you're looking good. One of my boss' first attempts at 'Q led to him asking me why his tasted bitter. I said that his smokestack was probably belching out a thick cloud. He replied that it had been, and HTH did I know? Simply that I've BTDT. Don't forget to season that new pit before you put meat in it, BTW. Scorched paint fumes are not a preferred flavoring agent.


Wayne