Cold aging

[Windswept]

I had a look through the archives for something to help, but couldn’t find anything really relevant.

I’m looking to get a full sized barrel, but storing it long term in the house is going to be a pain. I do have a large, in-heated shed!

My only concern is that we get massive temperature changes over the yeah, call it 30C to -30c. Anyone aged with these temps or have something I could read to convince myself I’m not going to ruin 50-some gallons of booze?

[Expat]

Temp swing is the key to barrel aging. I see no issues with those temps.

Just make sure the space is secure from prying hands!

[seamusm53]

Temp swing is the key to barrel aging. I see no issues with those temps.

Agree with Expat. The temp swings help with movement of product in/out of the wood of a barrel. Commercial rickhouses will move barrels up and down to expose barrels to these swings within the storage environment and seasonal temp variations from summer to winter. Even at -30 degrees you shouldn't see freezing of the barrel contents presuming it is at least 40-50 proof.

[CopperFiend]

Yep, as above, that should actually improve your aging. I move my barrels from the shed to inside the house occasionally to simulate that in miniature.

[nerdybrewer]

When you say "Full size" are you referring to a 55 gallon barrel?
Why do you want to age in such a large barrel?

[shadylane]

80 proof freezes at -23c

https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/etha ... d_989.html

[Expat]

Useful information Shady.

So if OP is barreling at 60-65% he should be good down around -40C, which is plenty for his general location.

[Windswept]

Yes, should have started with a chart like that. We do get swings down to -40, but not for extended periods, and they're becoming less common (thanks global warming!).

As to why I'm looking for such a large barrel, I'm hoping to go legit some day and I'd like the experience of a full-blown barrel at least once. Realistically though it'll probably be a 20ga barrel, 55ga will take forever with my 8 gallon boiler!

[nerdybrewer]

Also I should just point out a smaller barrel "ages faster".
There's an inner area to volume calculation somewhere here on HD that shows how much slower the larger barrels are at aging.
I have used 5 gallon, 8 gallon and 15 gallon.
It takes one hell of a lot of still time to fill a 15 gallon barrel, but my product really came out great after 3 years.
The 5 gallon barrel was finished to my liking at 1 year, but I have to admit I like the stuff from the 15 much better.
Some of this is due to my own improvement and some is due to the amount of time, hard to say how much of each.

[Windswept]

I'd read that. So far I've used 1/2 and 5 gallon barrels, and I agree, about a year is perfect for a 5 gallon (of UJSSM). A 55ga barrel would take me forever to fill, but would give me lots of runs to practice on... kind of a hard decision to make.

[zapata]

Go small. You might die before you fill the 55, or before it ages. And if not, you'll die of boredom drinking 40 gallons of the same spirit. And just like death, you can't take it with you when you go legit.

And.... 8 gallon boiler? Good grief man, might as well start building a boat and writing a novel. Because filling a 55 from an 8 gallon boiler is just another project that won't ever get finished.

[Deplorable]

Go small. You might die before you fill the 55, or before it ages. And if not, you'll die of boredom drinking 40 gallons of the same spirit. And just like death, you can't take it with you when you go legit.

And.... 8 gallon boiler? Good grief man, might as well start building a boat and writing a novel. Because filling a 55 from an 8 gallon boiler is just another project that won't ever get finished.

No kidding! Its taken me 4 weekends so far with a 13 gallon boiler and 23 gallon mashes and I'm less than half way to my target for a 5 gallon barrel. I'd never attempt a full barrel on a hobby level. At my age, I would never enjoy the fruits of all that labor.

[Windswept]

I'm upgrading to a 15 gallon if that will help...

I know it's a huge stretch, but I picked up 90 gallons of honey this fall and I have no idea what to do with the results. I'll likely save it up for a long time in glass and barrel it when I have almost enough.

Or I'll get fed up and buy a smaller barrel

[jonnys_spirit]

Honey is actually one of my favorite white but also very good on wood. Did you already ferment and distill the 90 gallons of honey? Expensive stuff so...

[Windswept]

Nope, working on it, it’ll probably take me all winter.

[Windswept]

I put a Tv and recliner in the drilling room and my father in law retired last year. I think he can handle stripping runs!