Crayfish

Recipes 

Hello,

My wife surpised me with a medium char American oak barrel for my birthday. Unfortunately, she accidentally ordered a 1 liter barrel (great for whiskey around our dog's neck but not so much for aging beer). Thankfully, she has asked me to pick another one out. She meant to get a 3 gallon, but now I am debating 3 vs 5 (anything larger is seems to be out of price range). My thinking is I will use it to age a couple of big stouts and when the oakiness starts to go, use it for sours and dedicate it for that for the rest of its days.

Should I go with a 3 or 5 gallon? If I fall shy of 5 gallons, will head space be detrimental?

Should I get the version that is airlock capable or not?

Thanks for any input.

dcp27

Recipes 

the smaller the barrel, the higher the surface area and thus more oak & angels share quicker. you want as big as you can handle

head space is very detrimental

Crayfish

Recipes 

Thanks dcp27.

BryanThompson

Recipes 

I would also buy a used one if you can. New oak would be overpowering in any beer. Used liquor barrels show up in the vendors showcase every so often.

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Brute Brew Works
Primary: Three years of Lambics about to be blended for a Gueuze, Sour Brown Ale from Black IPA second runnings, Epic Flemish Brown waiting to go into a bourbon barrel
Secondary:None
Bottled: Traditional Mead aged on Maker's 46 soaked oak
Kegged: Nothing