DaksBrew

Recipes 

I recently bought an 5 gal oak barrel originally for looks more than anything. I've brewed around 10 times and am starting to really get the hang of things. but I do not know if I could use the oak barrel for the beer?

Can I use the oak barrel to "Cask" the beer? If so, how?

hercher

Recipes 

Depends on what you want to do. Are you planning on age-conditioning your beer in it -- then sure. The key is going to be sanitizing the thing. Probably the easiest approach will be to fill it with 5 gallons of boiling water. I would absolutely not use any chemicals to sanitize or clean.

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Two Kids Brewery

Primary: nothing. :(
Seconary: Don't use one, generally
Kegged: A Midwife's Ale (Scottish Ale), Porter, Jenna Rose IPA
Planned: Belgian Brown Ale (loosely based on Corsendonk's Brown Ale)

"For a quart of ale is a dish for a king." - Shakespeare

DaksBrew

Recipes 

Would u clean it the same way as well? Like after I used it to age the beer?

Calder

Recipes 

You do know there are lots of folks on this forum that are jealous of you right now.

Use it! Clean it with Starsan (that will also check for leaks), brew a beer, and rack to barrel for secondary for a month.

bluemoose

Recipes 

Go big or go home with this. Brew a big barley wine or something that is going to need some serious time to mellow. Oak usually takes some time to help a brew.

hercher

Recipes 

I would clean it with a power washer.

__________________
Two Kids Brewery

Primary: nothing. :(
Seconary: Don't use one, generally
Kegged: A Midwife's Ale (Scottish Ale), Porter, Jenna Rose IPA
Planned: Belgian Brown Ale (loosely based on Corsendonk's Brown Ale)

"For a quart of ale is a dish for a king." - Shakespeare

1Mainebrew

Recipes 

Try filling it with apfelwein

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Bucket: ESB
Carboy 1: Vienna Lager
Carboy 2: Air
Carboy 3: Hard Organic Cider w/ 4184
Better Bottle: IPA (secondary)
Growler Fermenter:Pilsner
Keg 1: Crop Chopper PAL (left tap)
Keg 2: Simcoe Pale Ale-(right tap)
Keg 3: CO2
Keg 4: Summah Stout
Bottles: Hard Cider

In the Works: Something to pair with a Vienna lager

Favorite Recipe #1: Kate the Great Clone
Favorite Recipe #2: Crop Chopper PAL
Favorite Recipe #3: Curieux Clone

jeepinjeepin

Recipes 

Fill it with bugs.

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Walmart is about the only reason for open or concealed carry that I can get behind. -Randar

lumpher

Recipes 

just kegged an ipa from my oak cask today. put the beer in it, age it anywhere from 6 weeks to a year (depends on the beer), and bottle or keg as usual. make sure the beer you cask is very strong-flavored; otherwise the oak or remaining whiskey flavor will overwhelm it. next in the cask? speaking of bugs: flanders red

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Taps:
1: Belma Blonde
2: Toasted Pale Ale
3: Belma Pale Ale

Kegged:
Fermenting: Belgian Saison, Berry wine

In the fermentation chamber:

Fermenting: Toasted IPA

BullFrog

Recipes 

I know I am late to the party - but one more vote for bugs!

Did you end up using it?