Types of oak??

[Beerswimmer]

Hey all,
I live on an island and there isn't any white oak that I can find. The 1 hardware store that sells wood just had "oak", and the guy knew that it definetly was NOT white oak. Since it was all that they had I bought some to experiment with. It came in 1x2x36 inch pieces. I split some into 1x1x5 inch pieces, and some just cut into 1x2x5 inch blocks. I gave some an alligator har, and some a light char, some left raw. I tried all in a few different types of drinks. UJSSM, rum, aquavit, and UJSSM with peach halves. I like the different tastes that they they are giving, and am surprised at the speed of taste. But my question is this: what does white oak have that I'm missing out on?

[Dnderhead]

white oak has "tyloses" in the pores, when toasted/chard that turn to sugars that are caramelized,,
red oak has a lot of tannins, can make your hooch bitter. there is a bunch of other oaks some good some bad.

[Barney Fife]

Chemically, the heartwood of all true oaks is similar enough to be interchangeable. White oak was used for barrels primarily because it grew more slowly(tighter grain), very straight and large with little to no twist of the trunk(very stable and easy to quarter), and has smaller pores(better able to hold liquids). If the oak you have access to is true oak(IE: not one of the Australian "oaks" and such) and is all heartwood(no sapwood), then, well, enjoy it!

Edit: I have no clue what Dnder says is in the pores, but it isn't so.

[Dnderhead]

White oak is relatively rot resistant. It was a signature wood used in mission style oak furniture by Gustav Stickley in the Craftsman style in the Arts and Crafts movement. White Oaks have cellular structures called tyloses. Tyloses give the wood a closed cellular structure, which does not allow water to pass. Tyloses are cell ingrowths of living wood parenchyma into the cavities of xylem conducting cells. The white oaks, with tyloses, are used in making wine and whiskey barrels as well as outdoor furniture. Red Oaks do not have the tyloses, thus white oak barrels are used in wine and whiskey production to prevent leaking, which would be the result of using red oaks. It has been used for construction, shipbuilding, cooperage, agricultural implements, and interior finish of houses.[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_alba

if you read other articles,, you will fiend that white oak is much lower in tannins and can be eaten (acorns) other oaks can not and are poisonous
(because of high tannins) french oak is lower yet that is why it prized by wine makers.
came back to say white oak contain sugars that is "caramelized" when you toast/char them (this gives the flavor you want) other oaks do not
and will color (because of tannins)but not give the Caramel flavor.

[HookLine]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Oak ... nd_sources" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Barney Fife]

Ah, I see(he says, with a more sober outlook...). That's part of the cell structure itself, not part of a pore. At any rate, yes, that's why white oak is used for barrels, as noted. Red oak will hold water, but not nearly as well at thinner cross sectional sizes, and not as reliably. But that's all irrelevant, as the original poster is not making a barrel; he's going to make aging sticks, and for that, any oak will do. Yes, some will have more tannins, but the real world difference isn't enough to get worked up on, and any given sample of white oak can have more tannins than a given sample of red oak, though on the average, red will be a bit higher. Wood varies a lot even within its own sub-species, also; all specifications you will read are averaged for that species.

[Beerswimmer]

the original poster is not making a barrel; he's going to make aging sticks, and for that, any oak will do.

I hope so! I would have to get white oak shipped here, and that'd be crazy expensive!!! So far the UJSSM tastes like bourbon, so I'm happy. I just hope I'm not missing out on how much better it could be.

[kiwistiller]

which island are you on beerswimmer? if there are any wineries around, they are a great source of french oak.

[Dnderhead]

do they repair boats? maybe some scraps? Iv tryed different oaks and yes it makes a big difference.
sort like using maple syrup or molasses on your biscuits

[EuroStiller]

In Italy, the Oak of choice for making barrels and wine vats (fermenting vats) is Quercus Petraea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_petraea" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

The interior of the barrels are usually lightly charred for aging spirits (2nd or 3rd step to aging some finer Italian Brandy) and some wines. Most remain un-charred, vary in size and are used for storing raw spirit to wine.

Just thought I'd join chime in.

ES -The Doctor

[autotech]

I have a lot of pin oak on my land,and some white oaks has any one tryed pin oak to age

[Dnderhead]

pin oak is a relative to red oak,Id yes it could be used but you whould not git the nice vanilla flavor you will with white.
it will be much more tannic.

[autotech]

thanks for the info duderhead,i got some newly cut white oak,do i dry if for abit before toasting,and it looks like i use the heart of the wood right?

[Dnderhead]

yes hart wood, if you split it in small pieces (like kindling) , then just char as you wish.

[Beerswimmer]

Update-The oak I used was great for up to 3 weeks. After that it became disgustingly bitter. Should I keep some in the bitter oak and see if it will change, or is it permanent?

Damn, ruined some really good rum

[Dnderhead]

I keep saying that it is because of the tannin , ask any buddy that makes wine.(tannin is wanted in some wine much like hops is added to beer) and red oak is full of it. white is not, also white oak when
cut or dies the pores close trapping the sap.over time this turns to a jelly like mass in the pores. this gives it the nice caramel flavor when toasted. now some
like french/European oak has more tannin so they
split all the staves out, so the grain is not exposed. that way you do not git as much tannin.but their used for wine and not used for whisky ,(not that I know of)


(never tryed but egg white mite help)

[goose eye]

beer you military ? aint none of my business so dont tell but alot of the old furiture the military had
was made from oak. ole mans desk minus a leg will sit on a brick. ha ha
some of them ammo crates pallets check with cooks an supply so on an so forth.
you got it there. ole boys traded for a duce an a haf one time the rest is classyfyed. ha ha

so im tole