Gifted a 1L Oak Barrel

[brewbob]

I was given a 1L oak barrel about a month ago. I've done research on them before and while they look cool I think they are to small to be practical for the intended use. I tested this one and lost about 30% of fill volume over 2.5 weeks. Last night I had a great idea while shopping for oak staves, just take the barrel apart and toast the outside of the staves for aging in glass. The 1L barrel had 29 staves at 6" long and 3/4" wide and toasted up nicely, they have a light char on the inside already.

I'll report back in a few months how using 2 of these in a half gallon of 55% worked out.

I kinda like the look too.

[Deplorable]

Thats not stain on the outside of them staves is it?

[brewbob]

Thats not stain on the outside of them staves is it?

Nope, bare oak. The pic is after toasting them.

[Deplorable]

Thats not stain on the outside of them staves is it?

Nope, bare oak. The pic is after toasting them.

I love the color. should give you some interesting barrel notes.

[Twisted Brick]

Bob, you might even scrape the old char off a few of them and re-char the fresh oak underneath.

You'll be able to assess their goodies more after 9-12mo's.

[brewbob]

Thats not stain on the outside of them staves is it?

Nope, bare oak. The pic is after toasting them.

I love the color. should give you some interesting barrel notes.

415°f for 2.5 hours in the oven. The curve of the staves gave it some cool variation.

[brewbob]

Bob, you might even scrape the old char off a few of them and re-char the fresh oak underneath.

You'll be able to assess their goodies more after 9-12mo's.

Not a bad idea. The char on them is probably a #2, they are just starting to get a little gator skin. Maybe I'll scrape a few and put a heavier char to compare.

[Bradster68]

Bob, you might even scrape the old char off a few of them and re-char the fresh oak underneath.

You'll be able to assess their goodies more after 9-12mo's.

+1. Iv used some old charred barrel staves before and a jar turned black. I now wire wheel the old char off and retoast or rechar Accordingly

[tombombadil]

I have one on my counter that I use for pouring cocktails.
I just fill out with whatever whenever is gets low.
I guess its an infinity barrel?

[Demy]

If I had it I would put it back together and then use it as a dispenser or to flavor some spirits in various ways... for example with medicinal herbs. I would hate to destroy it and then insert it into the glass.

[The Baker]

I tried to put a barrel together again.
Didn't come out well.

Geoff

[brewbob]

Bob, you might even scrape the old char off a few of them and re-char the fresh oak underneath.

You'll be able to assess their goodies more after 9-12mo's.

+1. Iv used some old charred barrel staves before and a jar turned black. I now wire wheel the old char off and retoast or rechar Accordingly

It was a new barrel when I received it. Ive only had water in it to seal (well, try too) and check loss over a couple weeks.

I have one on my counter that I use for pouring cocktails.
I just fill out with whatever whenever is gets low.
I guess its an infinity barrel?

I thought about this. I have an infinity rum that has gotten pretty interesting. Problem is I'd have to wipe the counter every time I walked by, this one leaked alot, even after soaking for a week.