Barrel aging

[eastbaybrewer]

I just got a 8 gallon barrel. I was just wondering how worried I need be about infecting my homebrew house. I haven't brewed any sours and have heard that sours infections can be very hard to remove from your brew house. As I just being paranoid?

 

[acidrain]

Is it a fresh barrel? Still have spirits in it? no worries. If not, you are going to need to hydrate it so it doesn't leak, and maybe with your choice of spirits to sanitize it.
As for infecting your brew house, I don't think I would worry about that too much.

 

[eastbaybrewer]

Still has a little bit spirits in it.

 

[acidrain]

Still has a little bit spirits in it.

Perfect! You can always StarSan the outside too. Are you going for a sour, or bourbon barrel aged?

 

[eastbaybrewer]

Bourbon barrel maple stout is the plan.

 

[acidrain]

Bourbon barrel maple stout is plan.

Sounds yummy!