2 replies to this topic

[ncbeerbrewer]

I've got a question about barrels. I bought a used 5 gallon Whiskey barrel at the start of this year. I put an Imperial Stout 9% I brewed into that barrel. I am now ready to remove the beer and put it on tap. I have a Porter that I brewed 6 weeks ago that I plan to add to the barrel next. In addition I bought a bottle of Rum today too. Here is my plan and wanted to know if any of you have used a barrel multiple times and changed spirits within the barrel and if so what did you do when from one beer to the next. 

 

1. Transfer Impy Stout out of the barrel

2. Add bottle of Rum to Barrel and alow it to soak into wood, roll around barrel for 1-2 weeks

3. Transfer Porter into barrel and age for 4-8 weeks.

4. Transfer our Porter and put on tap

5. Move onto another Spirit and Beer to Barrel Age.

 

Cheers

 

 

 

 

[armagh]

I've never tried to change the spiritual (no pun intended) nature of a barrel and I'd be curious to know if such is possible absent filling it completely with a different spirit.  I would see it as a simple matter of volume.  A five-gallon barrel of whiskey would theoretically hold 640 ounces of fluid.  Even if one put a 1.5L bottle of run into a five-gallon barrel, that's equal to 3.17 pints, roughly 50 ounces, or about 12 percent of the initial volume.  Could work, but maybe Genesee Ted could weigh in, I believe he worked at a distillery and would have a better idea.

[Genesee Ted]

I don't know how much character the rum will add to the wood. Honestly, I would just refill the barrel and add the rum if you want rum flavor. The wood is going to be pretty full of beer, so I don't think the rum will really soak in all that much.