Bad wood??

[sjb]

First time with my Smokenator. Temp control was great, but when I tasted the effort of my first 7 hour smoke the meat had an odd acrid taste .
Living in Tucson, I have ready access to mesquite. In fact, the empty house next to mine has two nice trees in the front yard. I found two dry, dead branches and whacked them off.

I think that was problem. Dry wood, yes, dead wood that has dried, not good.

Oh well. Lesson learned.

[jerkylips]

not to say you're wrong, but that wouldn't be my first thought. It sounds to me more like just TOO MUCH smoke. How much wood did you use? You can relatively easily overdo it. When I use hickory, I'll use maybe 3-4 chunks in the coals for a long smoke.

[lsutiger]

I have heard that the bark on the wood will give the meat a bitter flavor.

[sheepdad]

I'm with jerkylips on this. Also any fungus on the wood could also mess with your flavor in a bad way.