So I have an Oak Barrel

Now I am trying to figure out what to put in it. I am thinking a BIG BEER but I am at odds with recipes. I am open to ideas.

What size is the barrel? New or used?

Barleywines are always a good choice. Old Ale. Imperial Stout

I am a fan of the imperial stout, which has been oaked with great results. It is a big beer, if your equipment does not permit the grain bill, ship the barrel to me and I will send you at least a six pack of the results.

Imperial Stout

A ProMash Recipe Report

Recipe Specifics
----------------

Batch Size (Gal): 5.50 Wort Size (Gal): 5.50
Total Grain (Lbs): 20.38
Anticipated OG: 1.100 Plato: 23.73
Anticipated SRM: 60.1
Anticipated IBU: 74.9
Brewhouse Efficiency: 71 %
Wort Boil Time: 90 Minutes


Grain/Extract/Sugar

% Amount Name Origin Potential SRM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
60.1 12.25 lbs. Pale Malt(2-row) America 1.036 2
14.7 3.00 lbs. Muntons LME - Light England 1.037 5
6.1 1.25 lbs. Crystal 80L America 1.033 80
4.9 1.00 lbs. Molasses Generic 1.036 80
4.3 0.88 lbs. Chocolate Malt America 1.029 350
3.7 0.75 lbs. Roasted Barley America 1.028 450
3.1 0.63 lbs. Black Patent Malt Great Britain 1.027 525
3.1 0.63 lbs. Victory Malt America 1.034 25

Potential represented as SG per pound per gallon.


Hops

Amount Name Form Alpha IBU Boil Time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.00 oz. Cluster Pellet 7.30 63.6 90 min.
0.50 oz. Centennial Whole 9.00 5.5 15 min.
0.50 oz. Northern Brewer Whole 8.00 4.9 15 min.
1.00 oz. Liberty Pellet 4.00 0.9 2 min.
0.50 oz. Liberty Pellet 4.00 0.0 Dry Hop


Extras

Amount Name Type Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.10 Unit(s)Whirlflock Fining 15 Min.(boil)


Yeast
-----

WYeast 1056 Amercan Ale/Chico

The barrel is a 5 gallon white oak and it is new. A fellow brewer picked up 3 of them and he gave me one at the pub last night. I still have to cure it, he also gave me all of the stuff for that as well.

Never used a barrel for aging so any words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated.

The oak character in a new barrel is going to be pretty strong. If you use it, use it only for a few weeks at first.

When the oak character has mellow, you funk that bad boy up with some lacto and brett!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that's a pretty tiny barrel! make sure you're keeping tabs on how oaky your beer is..it should be done really quickly. Also, make sure you read up on barrel sanitation or are willing to keep something in it at all times. Apparently it's really easy to get infections in barrels.

Yes, it is a small one. He gave me a few bags of sanitizer that you keep in it between uses. I think he got it from thousandoakbarrels.com. It is worth a shot anyways, free is good. Another brewer friend just found freshly emptied 31 gallon wine barrels from a vineyard in the area for like $60. I am getting the details today.