strongarm

Recipes 

My 5 gallon bourbon barrel came with a bung. I assume I just use that since fermentation is done?

Irrenarzt

Recipes 

Plug that bung

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In Queue: Sour Blonde, Kriek, DIPA, Wee Heavy, Dubbel, Double Nelson, Milk Stout

Fermenting/Crashing: Session Porter, BDG, Cream Ale, Cider, Munich Helles, Baltic Porter, Wheat Wine, Sour Quad, Apricot pLambic

Kegged/Bottled: Flanders Red, Hopped-Up Saison, Brett Saison, Bourbon Barrel Milk Stout, Bourbon Barrel-Aged on Montmorencies Quad, Tripel, Raspberry Melomel, Rye Barleywine

strongarm

Recipes 

Done

Irrenarzt

Recipes 

Piece of cake.

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In Queue: Sour Blonde, Kriek, DIPA, Wee Heavy, Dubbel, Double Nelson, Milk Stout

Fermenting/Crashing: Session Porter, BDG, Cream Ale, Cider, Munich Helles, Baltic Porter, Wheat Wine, Sour Quad, Apricot pLambic

Kegged/Bottled: Flanders Red, Hopped-Up Saison, Brett Saison, Bourbon Barrel Milk Stout, Bourbon Barrel-Aged on Montmorencies Quad, Tripel, Raspberry Melomel, Rye Barleywine

Sacdan

Recipes 

Make sure you taste the beer every few days to make sure it doesn't get over oaked. I have been obcessed with barrel aged beers, especially RIS. I think I have 4 versions so far.

strongarm

Recipes 

I was going to do my first sample after 2 weeks then every week after that. Do you think I should sample sooner? This beer is big and I added no flavors like coffee, vanilla, etc. so I desire to pick up a decent amount of flavors from the barrel.

phoenixs4r

Recipes 

Heh heh...you said bung.

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Cabikegorator - the cabinet refrigerator project.

strongarm

Recipes 

I know, and technically I plugged the bung hole

Sacdan

Recipes 

How new is the barrel? How many batches of beer have gone through it? If it is new, and 5 gallons, it will impart a lot if oak flavor. It won't need more than 2-3 weeks and that might be too much. A 5 gallon has more surface area than a full size barrel. Every time you use it you will get less oak flavor. They are usually good for 4 or 5 batches. After that you will have to add oak chips, cubes, or spirals.

strongarm

Recipes 

It was used to make bourbon from a distillery in Texas. They did 2 batches with it starting the first batch about 8 months ago dumping then doing 2nd batch about 2 months ago. It was sealed after they dumped their 2nd batch. I did not sanitize the inside because I didn't want to loose any of that bourbon flavor. How do you recommend storing the barrel in between batches? It will probably be another 4 weeks after dumping this first beer before I do another in it.