I won a bbq/smoker at a raffle table this past weekend and it didn't come with any real instructions other than to say get the charcoal burning until it's ashed over & add mesquite chips if desired. Don't have any real experience smokin' meat, but I've eaten smoked fish & like it.

Any smoker-chefs out there? I need some technique tips. Can you smoke whole chickens? What else cooks up good in a smoker other then fish? Someone mentioned in passing that I should put a small bowl of my favorite beer in the bottom when smoking anything?

It's gonna' be trial & error enough as it is, any suggestions are greatly appreciated, .

Yes, you can smoke just about everything. I prefer beef smoking. It is also a good idea to soak you chips over night then put them on the coals. now, don't take them out of the soak and put them straight on there; it will kill the coals.

Smoking meats is a trial and error type of thing. one that I have not perfected myself.

Never thought about smoking beef, thanks! Makes me think about trying to smoke some pork as well. Haven't even used my smoker yet and I'm already branching off into other meats and looking at the electric smokers in BassPro, .