My barrel ageing experiment

[jayka]

Hi All,

I have read all the different feeds / heated discussions about barrel ageing and the risks of over oaking so I have decided to create a thread and post my findings.
full disclaimer: I am already partial to the idea that longer is better and the oak flavours will mellow, but I will try to not be biased with my review of the idea.

Yesterday I put 5lt of "The Naughty Forties" on oak in a semi virgin barrel. (lets just say it got to third base with some Port)

So here are the details:

The Barrel: New American Oak Medium char / Seasoned with Port for 4 weeks (That's how I got to third base)
Mash Bill: 50% Simpsons Golden Promise
25% Weyermanns Munich
25% Simpsons Imperial
Final Product: 5lt @ 55% and it tasted pretty nice straight

I will try to post on a weekly basis with a pic and a taste.

Wish me luck!

[ravi]

good luck buddy!

[Corn Crib]

Seen many photos of barrels, this is the nicest looking drip-catcher ever.

Good luck friend!

[The Baker]

Seen many photos of barrels, this is the nicest looking drip-catcher ever.

Good luck friend!

I agree.

Geoff

[Beerswimmer]

I'm sure that it's going to be delicious! Was the port overly oaked after being in the barrel?

[Durhommer]

So tell us how this goes I rarely touch my barrel stuff

[jayka]

Seen many photos of barrels, this is the nicest looking drip-catcher ever.

Good luck friend!

Yeh thanks, just don't tell my wife where her cheese platter plate went.

[jayka]

Well it's barrel testing Tuesday. Whiskey has been on oak for 1 week now. Nice colour but no major flavour changes

[jayka]

It's barrel tasting Tuesday again. Two weeks in and Colour coming through nicely and flavour starting to gain a little depth.

[ravi]

grt! keep going)))

[Durhommer]

Nice work

[jayka]

Thanks, I really want to test out the whole barrel "over oaking" issue so I'm wanting to push this out to at least a year and see how it goes.

[jayka]

Well I missed "barrel tasting Tuesday" but thank god for "whiskey Wednesday"
I can't believe how good this tastes! Real nice caramel flavour coming through. Colour fairly the same.

[ravi]

Well I missed "barrel tasting Tuesday" but thank god for "whiskey Wednesday"
I can't believe how good this tastes! Real nice caramel flavour coming through. Colour fairly the same.IMG_20200819_112846.jpg

keep it up~

[jayka]

Ok so I missed an update last week but I actually had to change barrels as my cheep ass made in china barrel started leaking so I decanted it into a new barrel.
French oak ex port barrel made local here in Margaret River wa
So I guess I have ruined the experiment a little by increasing the chance of over oaking. But oh well I'm still going to see it through.
It has been in this barrel for 1 week now and some nice red colour is coming through. Taste is nice. Quite warming to taste at 55% but still pretty smooth. No crazy over the top wood flavour.

[Tabucowboy]

How big are your barrels?

[ravi]

hello,
i am also planning to buy barrel form china because at my location barrel is not available...pls tell me if china made ass is not good at all then I will skip buying from there....

cheer! it looks good

[jayka]

Maybe I just had bad luck. When I tried to get a refund they said they test every barrel so maybe you might get better luck. Also it's not uncommon for a barrel to leak a little. I will go through the process they sent me on how to fix and let you know here if it works. Where are you located?

[jayka]

How big are your barrels?

This one Isa 5lt (fits 6lt) but I'm getting 10lt now. Just better value for money.

[jayka]

Top shelf is the 5lt bottom shelf are 10lt

[ravi]

How big are your barrels?

This one Isa 5lt (fits 6lt) but I'm getting 10lt now. Just better value for money.

i am also planing for 10 liter barrel. I am in south Korea

[ravi]

also pls share your link of seller

[jayka]

also pls share your link of seller

I just get it from my local brew shop.

[jayka]

They are $220 AUD for a 10lt $187530 KRW
How much is the made in china one?

[Saltbush Bill]

Also it's not uncommon for a barrel to leak a little.

Ive bought two brand new barrels from one copperage ....I know of many others who have dealt through the same company...I have never heard of a single one of them leaking.
I would suggest that its not uncommon for badly made cheap barrels to leak.
Well made ones don't leak or shouldn't...if they did I'd be asking for my money back.

[ravi]

They are $220 AUD for a 10lt $187530 KRW
How much is the made in china one?

with delivery to Korea in 125,000krw. did not ordered yet though....

[jayka]

They are $220 AUD for a 10lt $187530 KRW
How much is the made in china one?

with delivery to Korea in 125,000krw. did not ordered yet though....

Yeh that is similar to that my made in chine cost. What is your country like with importing wood? I could look into sending one over if your interested and don't mind paying a bit more for your barrel.

[jayka]

Also it's not uncommon for a barrel to leak a little.

Ive bought two brand new barrels from one copperage ....I know of many others who have dealt through the same company...I have never heard of a single one of them leaking.
I would suggest that its not uncommon for badly made cheap barrels to leak.
Well made ones don't leak or shouldn't...if they did I'd be asking for my money back.

Yes I probably didn't phrase that correctly. The ones I get from a proper cooperage are great don't leak and the guy even give you his number for a direct swap if they do. But from what I can tell about all the mass produced barrels you might need to put in a little work at the start that's why they come with barrel wax and instructions on how to deal with a leak.

[ravi]

They are $220 AUD for a 10lt $187530 KRW
How much is the made in china one?

with delivery to Korea in 125,000krw. did not ordered yet though....

Yeh that is similar to that my made in chine cost. What is your country like with importing wood? I could look into sending one over if your interested and don't mind paying a bit more for your barrel.

I am not very sure about rule and regulation. I never ordered wood before. how much it will be for barrel yo are talking about? which location you are from?

[jayka]

Ravi,
I got a rough price to ship you a barrel and it would cost $70aud with a 10lt barrel costing $230 I would expect it to cost $300 for the barrel. That's $262907 KRW. That's double the cost of the China one so it's up to you if you want to try. I know I would struggle to justify paying double but I'm definitely happy to help if you are interested. They are pretty nice barrels and professionally made.