Balcones Whiskey Barrel

[6midgets]

Williams Brewing has these 5 gallon barrels for sale and I was curious if anyone has bought one from them? I've had good success dealing with Williams Brewing in the past, so no worries there. I'm curious about the barrel it's self.

https://www.williamsbrewing.com/USED-5-GALLON-OAK-WHISKEY-BARREL-actual-shipping-item-P4399.aspx

 

[Brewsncrabs]

Friend used one for a Porter from Balcones he got from Austins Homebrew. He also made another beer in it that I can't remember what it was. Beer was good and barrel was fine. Actually looks nice sitting on a small table in his dining room. Of course YRMV. That price is decent as well I think. Sometimes you can find them for $100, but that's usually at Xmas.

 

[DevilsCups]

I've used a Balcone Barrel in the past. Still have it in my living room, though it's no longer suited for filling/aging. Worked great and looks nice too.

 

[Shwagger]

How much whiskey flavor do they toss into the brew?

 

[DevilsCups]

How much whiskey flavor do they toss into the brew?

A good amount depending on how long you let it sit. We did 30 days and it was pretty mild but there. Smaller barrels means more surface area, which means shorter time for the barrel flavors to take hold.

I can say it smelled very strongly of whiskey when it arrived, and it was still very soaked. Good stuff.

 

[Dcpcooks]

Me and a buddy have used them several times over the past few years. Always had great results with the flavors for RIS and barlywines.

They are usually freshly dumped. Good price as well!

 

[6midgets]

Well you talked me into it. I'm gonna buy one.

 

[Shwagger]

I was hoping for less whiskey flavor. Thanks

 

[snowtiger1987]

The first beer you put in will have substantial whiskey flavor. It will diminish in subsequent fillings. Good barrels for homebrew though.

 

[mj1angier]

Just got mine on Tuesday so have not got beer in it yet. Nice looking and comes with the dump date and a small stand. Pop bung and it had pressure. Put a fifth of Jim in it to keep it moist till the beer is ready

 

[6midgets]

I got my barrel in today. It looks pretty good I filled it with water to swell the staves. Tomorrow I will sanitize it and fill it with an American Stout that ready.

 

[mj1angier]

Just pulled my barleywine out of the cask. Gave it 3 days in it. Did not want to push it over the edge with oak.
Gave it a quick rinse and put some Jim back in it to keep for the next brew

 

[6midgets]

Charlie Murphy oatmeal stout aka “darkness” is on its way to being bourbon barrel aged.

 

[Shwagger]

Just pulled my barleywine out of the cask. Gave it 3 days in it. Did not want to push it over the edge with oak.
Gave it a quick rinse and put some Jim back in it to keep for the next brew

That's seems like a lot of Jim to have on hand

 

[BeerBrewerTrain]

This is worth watching

 

[Dcpcooks]

Charlie Murphy oatmeal stout aka “darkness” is on its way to being bourbon barrel aged. View attachment 555031

Well played sir!

 

[mj1angier]

That's seems like a lot of Jim to have on hand

LOL, its not full, just about 1" in bottom. I turn the barrel every day to keep on new wood.

 

[FuzzyIguana]

My LHBS sells these. I know nothing about them or if this is a good price.

www.grapeandgranary.com

 

[6midgets]

@FuzzyIguana those prices seem really high to me. I paid $150 for mine with shipping from California to Alabama included.

 

[shoengine]

I paid $130 at my lhbs.

 

[deadwolfbones]

These are on sale for $109 right now at Atlantic Brew Supply. Free shipping over $125.

https://www.atlanticbrewsupply.com/5-Gallon-Whiskey-Barrel-Balcones-Distillery_p_2698.html

 

[FuzzyIguana]

I wonder why the ones at my LHBS are so $$$. I'll have to as the owner next time I'm in there. Are the barrels you guys posted charred inside?

 

[TANSTAAFB]

This is worth watching

That was really good information, thank you!

 

[6midgets]

I wonder why the ones at my LHBS are so $$$. I'll have to as the owner next time I'm in there. Are the barrels you guys posted charred inside?

To me it looks like the barrels at your LHBS are brand new. Maybe that’s why they are so expensive. The advantage to that is you could start out with a sour beer. The disadvantage is there will be no bourbon character to do a bourbon barrel aged RIS.

 

[shoengine]

I wonder why the ones at my LHBS are so $$$. I'll have to as the owner next time I'm in there. Are the barrels you guys posted charred inside?

Mine is. $128.99 seemed on par. At the time Amazon was $140 with free shipping.

 

[mj1angier]

These are on sale for $109 right now at Atlantic Brew Supply. Free shipping over $125.

https://www.atlanticbrewsupply.com/5-Gallon-Whiskey-Barrel-Balcones-Distillery_p_2698.html

Picking up one of these tomorrow. $110 out the door. It will give me a matching pair , lol

 

[6midgets]

@mj1angier that’s a good price on that barrel. Atlantic brew supply has great customer service and fast free shipping.

 

[mj1angier]

@mj1angier that’s a good price on that barrel. Atlantic brew supply has great customer service and fast free shipping.

Jamie, one of the girls in our brew club, works there. She put me one to the side. In fact, just got home from her house. Club filled a 55 gal barrel a few months ago and we got our share back today.

!0 gallon of BCBS clone is a nice thing to have!!

 

[mj1angier]

Got my second barrel yesterday at ABS. It is just as nice as the first one. With the the AHA discount it was down to $99.99. But I also am a member of their rewards program and had $30 rewards. So $69.99!!

Woot!!

 

[GnenieGone]

Blue Owl In Austin uses them on their tap room only beers. Since I just put an Imperial Stout in mine wanted to, 1st hand, see what the character would be like. I got mostly oak with little bourbon on theirs. However one sample doesn't mean much. They said 2 weeks tops for these because of the high surface to liquid ratio. It took alot of water to get mine to seal so hope the bourbon flavor didn't wash away. I know more in a few days. Got it for $90, but LHBS knows me pretty well so it was discouted. Cheers!

Edit: Took another sample tonight day 5. YES! The bourbon starting to come through!! Excited. Maybe another couple days, the Imperial Stout is hot also so this needs to age anyway.

 

[6midgets]

I transferred my Charlie Murphy stout aka Darkness to the keg. It had a great bourbon barrel character. I’m very impressed with my Balcones barrel.

 

[shoengine]

Anyone know a good technique to re-char it after using it?

 

[mj1angier]

Anyone know a good technique to re-char it after using it?

See post #15

 

[shoengine]

See post #15

Doh! Thanks...