Lesson learned in Barrel aging

Discuss everything about oaking and aging here

Lesson learned in Barrel aging

Postby Psykamaholik » Sat Oct 08, 2016 3:57 pm

So today was the day I was due to take my 4 and a bit litres of bourbon (TPW + HBS essences, don't judge :teasing-tease: ) out of a 5L barrel that has been aging for 6 months, had a sneaky small sample the other day that was tasting great! 4.45L went in and I figured the angels would take a bit of that but should have at least 4L left.

Then out comes 2L :crying-blue:

The lesson here is make sure you do prep your barrels with water for a day or 3 before putting in your spirits to allow the wood to swell. While there were no visible leaks, the barrel most certainly absorbed a good 2L of what I put in there because I very much doubt the angels would be that greedy in 6 months.

oops! 8-}
Psykamaholik
 
Posts: 199
Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2015 12:27 pm
Location: Brisneyland
equipment: Fusel express super reflux still

Re: Lesson learned in Barrel aging

Postby Redux » Sat Oct 08, 2016 7:26 pm

was the brew hella woody? seems like a long time and a lot of wood....
Redux
 
Posts: 879
Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2014 7:08 am
Location: NZ and no longer homeless!
equipment: 5 plate bubbler with 500mm packed section on a 50lt gasser keg ...
set up in a wee shed....

Re: Lesson learned in Barrel aging

Postby Psykamaholik » Sat Oct 08, 2016 7:56 pm

Yeah it was a bit once I emptied it all out into a glass demijohn and resampled, the sample I took a week ago seemed ok, but it must be at different consistencies at different depths in the barrel. Add a bit of ice and it goes alright :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Refilled the barrel with 4.45L DWWG + single malt essence, I don't think I'll lose quite as much volume this time around but I may actually monitor it this time instead of just sealing it and leaving it.
Psykamaholik
 
Posts: 199
Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2015 12:27 pm
Location: Brisneyland
equipment: Fusel express super reflux still

Re: Lesson learned in Barrel aging

Postby bluc » Sat Oct 08, 2016 8:49 pm

Whoa massive loss :-B
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Lesson learned in Barrel aging

Postby Bumper » Sat Oct 08, 2016 9:06 pm

From what I have read 25l is a minimum size, smaller is a crap shoot. Dominoes are the go for smaller batches in glass or kegs. barrel soaking should be done with hot water first, and then fill and drain over a couple of days until water tight, drain and leave for a day before adding your spirit or beer. Got into barrel aged sour beers a while back.
Bumper
 
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2015 6:36 pm
equipment: ------

Re: Lesson learned in Barrel aging

Postby Carbonator » Sun Oct 09, 2016 12:08 am

I would assume chips in glass bottles, although less trendy, could be a safer option?
Carbonator
 
Posts: 99
Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2016 12:57 am
equipment: Nothing at this stage - just looking for ideas.

Re: Lesson learned in Barrel aging

Postby Zak Griffin » Sun Oct 09, 2016 5:46 am

You want dominoes, not chips, but yeah. Most of us use dominoes in glass jars or stainless kegs. I've got a fire extinguisher full of brandy :laughing-rolling:
Zak Griffin
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 6832
Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:34 pm
Location: Radelaide
equipment: "The Heart of Gold" - 4" Bubbler - finally bubbling!
"Zaphod" - 3" Pot - retired
"Agrajag" - 6" Bubbler - midlife crisis build?

Re: Lesson learned in Barrel aging

Postby dogbreath vodka » Sun Oct 09, 2016 7:38 am

Cupcake/canetoad doesn't visit here much anymore.
He filled a couple of 200ltr barrels some years ago.
Would be interesting to know how that turned out.

He was looking at ten years as the ageing time. :think:
dogbreath vodka
 
Posts: 1396
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2012 5:10 pm
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
equipment: "Steampunk 2 - 6" Bubble cap
"Jimmy" the 4" Carter head

Re: Lesson learned in Barrel aging

Postby bluc » Sun Oct 09, 2016 9:10 am

200l barrel now thats dedication :handgestures-thumbupleft:
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Lesson learned in Barrel aging

Postby warramungas » Sun Oct 09, 2016 11:09 am

Zak Griffin wrote:You want dominoes, not chips, but yeah. Most of us use dominoes in glass jars or stainless kegs. I've got a fire extinguisher full of brandy :laughing-rolling:


Remember not to try and put out any fires with that one. :laughing-rolling:
warramungas
 
Posts: 1436
Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2015 9:38 pm
Location: Nor Perth
equipment: 180 litre fermenter x 2
30 liter boiler
PDA-1
2" four plate modular bubbler
2" one meter long LM column
110 liter boiler with 25 liter (max) inline thumper
4" x 4 plate bubble cap still

Re: Lesson learned in Barrel aging

Postby Psykamaholik » Sun Oct 09, 2016 8:00 pm

I know how passionate some of you are about dominos for small batches, I just want to do my aging in barrels. Plus I already have a few now so I might as well keep using them! :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Just hoping this will prevent someone else making the same mistake of not preparing the barrel properly
Psykamaholik
 
Posts: 199
Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2015 12:27 pm
Location: Brisneyland
equipment: Fusel express super reflux still

Re: Lesson learned in Barrel aging

Postby Zak Griffin » Sun Oct 09, 2016 8:06 pm

Are your barrels varnished?
Zak Griffin
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 6832
Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:34 pm
Location: Radelaide
equipment: "The Heart of Gold" - 4" Bubbler - finally bubbling!
"Zaphod" - 3" Pot - retired
"Agrajag" - 6" Bubbler - midlife crisis build?

Re: Lesson learned in Barrel aging

Postby bluc » Sun Oct 09, 2016 8:39 pm

I would like a 20l barrel for rum with a revolving volume. Take some out put some back :handgestures-thumbupleft: :dance:
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Lesson learned in Barrel aging

Postby Cheersbigears » Sun Oct 09, 2016 9:34 pm

Yes I was looking at the same thing just have to get it to about the 6 months and start. But so many to choose from. As well if you do fill them up to many times the wood only has so much flavor so may be double oak so to speak in a bottle first.
I was looking at a french oak port or sherry barrel for whisky around the 16-25 lts. Or in bottles with the french then into the american oak barrel.
Cheersbigears
 
Posts: 143
Joined: Sat May 07, 2016 1:43 pm
Location: Nth QLD
equipment: Built up to a FSD 4" Eliminator and a homemade boiler


Return to Oaking and Aging



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 19 guests

x