Haputanlas

Recipes 

Hey Guys,

I haven't Oak-Aged a beer yet and was concerned about Sanitary methods affecting the outcome of the beer.

What I am planning on doing is sticking the Oak chips into the oven at about 300 degrees F for about 30 minutes. However, I will be soaking the Oak chips in Bourbon for a couple of weeks before I do this.

Since the chips will be soaked in Bourbon, I'm worried about losing much of the Bourbon characteristics. Would there be a loss in flavor?

And I guess the next question would be, can I add the chips into secondary without the oven option? Would the Bourbon chips be already be sanitized due to the fact that they have been in contact with Alcohol for that long?

__________________
"There is no strong beer, only weak men"
"Pretty women make us BUY beer, ugly women make us DRINK beer" - Al Bundy
"Give a man a beer, he'll drink for a day. Teach a man to brew, he'll be drunk for the rest of his life."

Primary: Hoppy Wheat, Porter
Kegged: Reaper's English Mild (OO), BBK Jr., Lagunitas IPA, Fireman's #4
Bottled: None
Notable Empties: Oaked Black IIPA, BBK I, Red IIPA, Burning Bush, Apophis "The Destroyer", Vanilla Porter
On-Deck: The Titan BW, Ale of Olympus

liljimmynorton

Recipes 

It is my understanding that soaking them in the bourbon for about a week does the job and putting them in the oven is not necessary.

Tread82

Recipes 

Just soak the oak. If you want bourbon characteristics add bourbon to taste. Just 6 oz. Or so bourbon won't really impart much.

SumnerH

Recipes 

I'd give them a quick boil to cut down the tannins a bit, then soak them in bourbon for a few weeks, then pitch them directly into the beer without heating again.

__________________
On deck: Little Bo Pils, Bretta Off Dead (Brett pale)
Secondary: Oude Bruin, Red Sky at Morning (Sour brown ale)
On tap: Saison Duphunk (sour), Amarillo Slim (IPA), Earl White (ginger/bergamot wit)
Bottled: Number 8 (Belgian Strong Dark Ale), Eternale (Barleywine), Ancho Villa (Ancho/pasilla/chocolate/cinnamon RIS), Oak smoked porter (1/2 maple bourbon oaked, 1/2 apple brandy oaked)

Haputanlas

Recipes 

Thanks, I'll give it a shot

__________________
"There is no strong beer, only weak men"
"Pretty women make us BUY beer, ugly women make us DRINK beer" - Al Bundy
"Give a man a beer, he'll drink for a day. Teach a man to brew, he'll be drunk for the rest of his life."

Primary: Hoppy Wheat, Porter
Kegged: Reaper's English Mild (OO), BBK Jr., Lagunitas IPA, Fireman's #4
Bottled: None
Notable Empties: Oaked Black IIPA, BBK I, Red IIPA, Burning Bush, Apophis "The Destroyer", Vanilla Porter
On-Deck: The Titan BW, Ale of Olympus