What would you brew to put in here?

[Shwagger]

https://www.austinhomebrew.com/American-Oak-Barrel--5-Gallon-_p_9023.html

Seems like a great price. But also seems like an oak bomb of a beer on the first use.

I'm thinking cheap red wine soak and then lambic, flemish, oud, sours etc. Or a big barleywine?

 

[bucketnative]

According to their site, for $14 more you could get a used whiskey barrel which solves your issue of using cheap wine (that will probably cost you the $14 right there).

https://www.austinhomebrew.com/Used-Whiskey-Barrel--5-Gallon_p_7865.html

 

[Shwagger]

Indeed. Looked at those. But not a fan of whiskey or bourbon (rum is better) and not a fan of liquor aged beers. I'd love a used 5 g wine barrel, though.