At what ABV is a sour barrel.....not sour?

[lakedawgs]

HI,
I have a buddy that ages port wine in 15 gallon bourbon barrels that had previously soured while aging beer. He says there is no issue with the bugs because his abv is 20+%. He has been doing this for years.

I have one of these 15 gallon barrels myself. Been sitting with water and a very very light sanitizor solution for a year or so. I have made a Utopias clone a couple of times and added soaked wood chips.
Would you trust, at 24+% ABV, the beer to not come out sour?
I know wine is different but wonder why it does not take on any of the barrel's 'funk'.

Thanks
Matt

 

[xico]

It's quite possible if you had the acid content tested you may be surprised. It may just be difficult to tease out. 24% ethanol will keep back all bacteria I work with but organisms can live inside the wood.