BeerBorg

I found used 5 g barrels at decent price with decent shipping @ homebrewing.com ! I have been looking but found most are a bit more expensive then they slam you on shipping for another $60-$80, this shop has $129 plus flat rate of $20.
Will probably order one this week so it arrives at work when I am back to work (been on vacation this week working harder on vacation than @ work) rather have shipped to work than sitting in my driveway while at work.

I've been thinking about this for awhile but so far, have decided it's both too much and a space problem. Plus, it's getting harder in my old age to move heavy things around.
I'd just rather you do the work and send me some.

This barrel is now $99 + $20 shipping limited time. Pulling the trigger.

Sweet! Have fun with it and let us know what you brew.

Inkleg wrote:Sweet! Have fun with it and let us know what you brew.

Thinking a barrel aged "simple" stout recipe or would an Imperial be better aging in a barrel? Any tips or tricks you can impart?

If it's a fresh dumped barrel the spirit will come through quick on the first one. I only had my Stout in the barrel for 3 weeks and it came out good, ABV was 5.5%. As you use it more, less spirit and more oak will come through. If you plan to use it soon just keep it wet with what ever spirit was in it. I kept a liter of Rum in mine (10 gallon barrel) and would turn the barrel every so often. I kept it like that for about 8 weeks till I was able to brew, ferment the beer and rack into the barrel. I now have it filled full with a holding solution. I'll find my holding solution percentages and post back.

And thanks for the kick in the pants. I really need to fill my barrel again!

There's a few podcasts on Basic Brewing that talk about barrel fermenting. Check them out here. Just search the page for the word barrel and you'll see a few of them.
http://www.basicbrewing.com/index.php?page=radio

Thanks guys!

Inkleg wrote:I now have it filled full with a holding solution. I'll find my holding solution percentages and post back.
And thanks for the kick in the pants. I really need to fill my barrel again!

The barrel was fresh dumped whiskey end of October, pulled the bung, nose right in there for a whiff and rolled my eyes back in their sockets! Was considering pouring in a bottle of bourbon to keep it wet till I work out the Stout recipe and more importantly figuring out the water treatment to come close to Dublins water profile.
Back on track, the holding solution, is it with .5 oz citric acid and .75 oz of potassium metabisulfite per 4 gallons????

Sorry Steve, got side tracked and forgot about this. That sounds about right, but I'll double check tomorrow. I did put a liter of mid grade Rum in mine when I first got it. I would roll it every few days so the Rum was resting in a new spot. I did this for at least a month or longer till I got around to brewing.

Here's what I used as a guideline