Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

[Matt F]

I made an imperial stout and it is now sitting in a 10 gallon used brandy barrel. Smells wonderful. I see three versions coming out of this barrel. One is the straight barrel aged stout, the other is coffee, chocolate and maybe some peppers like Prairie Bomb. Last will be blackberries and raspberries like BCS Bramble Rye from years ago. All three of these beers will be at our homebrew festival this year. OG was 1.099 and it went in to the barrel at 1.020 so 10.37% ABV right now. It already tastes really nice. I have been brewing for 14 years now and this is the first imperial stout I have brewed except for when the club did an imperial stout club barrel years ago. I am excited to taste the end results.

[tony b]

Sounds amazing, Matt! Can't wait to sample them.

[czubak]

Dang, we will have a good amount of "special" pours at this years fest!

[Matt F]

I will probably brew another version of my triple IPA for our fest again too.

[Eric B]

I need barrel samples. I'm thirsty!

[Matt F]

I need barrel samples. I'm thirsty!

Give it time. Has been in less than a week. May have to be a preview at some point. I will bring some to the meetings before the fest so guys in the club get to try before the fest. I may bottle a few to sit down for a bit too.

[mjhora52]

I'm getting a 10 gallon whiskey barrel at the end of the month. I'm doing a barrel aged Scottish ale. We will have all kinds of good stuff.


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[daryl]

I'm getting a 10 gallon whiskey barrel at the end of the month. I'm doing a barrel aged Scottish ale. We will have all kinds of good stuff.

Will you fill it with a 10-gallon batch? Because I do 5-6 gallon batches, I have been looking at the 5 gallon whiskey or bourbon barrels.

[mjhora52]

Yes, 10 gallon is the plan.


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[Matt F]

Best fill the barrel full or the top will dry and start to crack letting in even more O2. Good call on a full fill.

[Matt F]

My barrel has had a slow leak for a week now. Thought it would seal up after a few days but now luck. Racked out of the barrel into kegs and now it is sitting in a water bath with the leaking end submerged. Try to refill tonight. Bummer though. FYI, I purchased this barrel through Farmhouse Brew Supply who I have always had great customer service from. When contacted about cracks in the barrel I got from them they basically told my that is the risk of buying a barrel and not their problem. I would not say don't buy stuff from them, but DO NOT get a barrel from them. The barrel is not leaking at the cracks though, just the one end right now. I think the water bath will take care of it. If not it is on to some silicone or wax.

[tony b]

Bummer, dude! Hope the water bath seals her up.

[mjensen52402]

Whittle some thin oak shims. Tear some paper towel stri0s. Stuff some of the paper towel in the crack. Gently pound the shims in behind the paper towel. This is kind of a mash up of ideas I read on the BN's forum.

[Matt F]

That is the next step but I am hoping swelling should seal it. May try to refill tonight.

[whitedj]

Wonder if it had some rough handling due to shipping?
Got a plane. That's a good way to make some thin shims of oak.