Concrete or Clay Containers for Aging Spirits

[Alcojack]

Hi distellers,
last month I visited a craft distillery in Germany and saw that they are aging their spirits in special containers rather than in wood barrels. They claim that these containers "breathe" like oak barrels, but would not tell more details.
It looks like painted concrete or clay tanks.
I would like to buy/make such tanks but couldn't find information on the web either.
I'm attaching a photo of these tanks.
Any information on such non-wood aging tanks woud be appreciated.

Happy Distilling
Jack

[fizzix]

Here's an article that about halfway through talks about the earthenware casks.

[Alcojack]

Thanks a lot!

[Birrofilo]

Merzadro, an Italian distiller, produces a grappa called "Anfora 43°" which, as the name suggests, is seasoned in clay amphoras, for 10 months.
Amphoras are supposed to have twice the gaspermeability of wood casks, without the transfers associated with wood aging, so if you want to season a transparent spirit while avoiding any wood flavour, clay seems to be a very good choice.

Some more information about this grappa here: http://www.italiaatavola.net/bevande/di ... otta/41071" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
A video of the "cooking" of the amphoras here: http://www.marzadro.it/video-anfora/ANFORA-bassa.mp4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Clay is much older than oak casks for the transport and seasoning of alcoholic beverages, nihil novum sub sole, humanity goes on reinventing wheels .

This is an example of a producer of wine amphoras:
http://amphoraeforwine.com/our-amphoras/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

As you can see they produce large containers but I suppose you can find also other producers who maybe produce smaller containers.

I suppose that the use of clay for wine never really ceased, even after the affirmation of wood casks at the end of the Roman Empire. Clay for spirits is a logical consequence of that.

[Alcojack]

Thanks Birtofilo. Great information!

[DAD300]

Concrete fermentation tanks.
http://www.concretewinetanks.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Concrete.jpg (7.54 KiB) Viewed 1653 times

My only fear is that the ferment would eat it up!