Rauchbier (smoke beer) tastes of barbecue. Could it have been that?
Rauchbier can be very good stuff. I am partial to Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier from Bamberg, Germany. It is available in the US at well-stocked beer and wine places.
First had it at a German restaurant in Stafford, VA on the advice of an Internet pen-pal who lives there- we were having a text conversation over dinner and she suggested it.
The beer I had tasted like someone had taken real bad pepperoni and Hamm’s and mixed them in a blender.