Maybe the wood you were burning was green. (Not dry enough) The smoking wood should be seasoned(dried for about 6 mo or better) than soaked in water for about an hour. Dry wood would burn and give a harshtaste,I use apple chunks that are about the size of half your fist. Also your main fire wood to start with should be a hard wood notsoftwood such as pine or spruce whitch will produce creasote.