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Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 8:33 am
by 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.

Re: Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:15 am
by tony b
Sounds amazing, Matt! Can't wait to sample them.

Re: Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:39 am
by czubak
Dang, we will have a good amount of "special" pours at this years fest!

Re: Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:46 am
by Matt F
I will probably brew another version of my triple IPA for our fest again too.

Re: Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 11:08 am
by Eric B
I need barrel samples. I'm thirsty!

Re: Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 11:13 am
by Matt F
Eric B wrote: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.

Re: Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:43 pm
by 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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Re: Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:54 pm
by daryl
mjhora52 wrote: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.

Re: Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 1:26 pm
by mjhora52
Yes, 10 gallon is the plan.


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Re: Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 4:27 pm
by 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.

Re: Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 9:05 am
by 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.

Re: Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 11:35 am
by tony b
Bummer, dude! Hope the water bath seals her up.

Re: Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 2:15 pm
by 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.

Re: Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 3:29 pm
by Matt F
That is the next step but I am hoping swelling should seal it. May try to refill tonight.

Re: Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 5:37 pm
by 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.