Clever title eh? Oh, ever so often I see something that I want to share because I think that it's clever and solves some issues. But then I think that's so intuitive that no one fells the need to share. You know, like solving the open DME bags by using mason jars. Now I do think that head space in short term holding isn't that big of an issue, but I think that this has merit for long term aging. Anyway- found his via Oldstock: http://funkfactorybrewing.blogspot.com/2012/02/paraffin-waxing-barrel.html
I've had my RIS in a balconies 5 gallon barrel for about 49 days now. There was about 3" head space after racking. Last week I noticed a few drops from the base of the end cap. Tonight I checked it and there was about a shot that had leaked out. I decided to just bottle this weekend lesson learned. Is there anyway to reswell it now? I stored it in a plastic tub and considered filling it with some warm water and draping a warm towel over the barrel keeping it wet for a few days. I'm not going to do this I'm just going to bottle early. Just wondering if anyone else has tried. Nice timing on this post.
Did you take a taste? That liquid might of leaked leaked early on, so the barrel might be good now. Or you could till it towards the leaking end. I'd rinse it with hot water. I'll assume that you don't have beer to put into it. So I'd fill it with :For every liter of barrel volume, you will need to add 1 gram of citric acid and 2 grams of SO2. http://www.morebeer.com/public/pdf/wbarrel.pdf I'm not an expert on barrels. So stay tuned for other post.
Tasted after a month and could detect mild oak. The leaking is getting worse from 1st drip to a shot in about 10 days. The bottom stave on both ends have drips. Feels like syrup or aged balsamic. Definitely not good, I'm not equipped to purge with co2 so I'm trying to avoid moving it around or opening again. I'll hit it with some warm water and listen for some expanding. Thanks for your help.
hmm, I don't think that your beer is in jeopardy, your barrel might be for a second use - but I'm not the one looking at the leak. Yeah if it was me I'd bottle it. No one wants their first experience to go wrong. If you need a work around for CO2, you can get those paintball cartridges. You can get the dispenser at bicycle shops. And I imagine other places but since I raced bicycles before I got fat from beer religion, that's all I know. Get the cartridges at WallyWorld. Of hand I think that they a a buck a use. Oh, you have to be careful using them. They spray condensation. Just empty them slowly.
The barrel is solid so don't be discouraged from ordering from balconies. It was tight as a drum after I swelled it. I wish I kept less head space and rehydrated it longer. In the future I'll brew extra or use some sanitized marbles to raise the level. I'll fill it again in a few weeks.
