Barrel aged imperial stout

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Buck89, Jan 8, 2017.

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  1. Buck89

    Buck89 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,782) Feb 7, 2015 Tennessee
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I have an imperial stout in the fermenter right now (should be approx 11% ABV). My wife gave me a 5 gal used Bourbon barrel as a gift and I'm planning on barrel aging it for about 2 weeks, based on what I've read (I'll decide based on taste, etc). Ultimately planning on bottling these. My question is, would you bulk age in secondary before racking to the barrel, or should I just rack from primary to the barrel and then age them in the bottles? Thanks.
     
    #1 Buck89, Jan 8, 2017
  2. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,775) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    What do you hope to get from the bulk aging?
    Are you planning on adding chocolate, vanilla or some such? or just leave be, with the barrel aging.
    How long has it been in primary now, and when do you plan to rack over?
    Personally, unless adding extras, I'd probably think about leaving it a couple extra weeks in primary (don't have to worry about as much possibly oxidation and contamination)
    into the barrel, taste after a couple weeks or so, then go from there, and finish conditioning / aging in the bottle.
     
    #2 JrGtr, Jan 8, 2017
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  3. Buck89

    Buck89 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,782) Feb 7, 2015 Tennessee
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks, and that was my thought. No other additions are planned. It's been in primary for 7 days and is likely (hopefully) at terminal gravity (1.025). I was planning on leaving it in primary for another 2-3 weeks and than racking to barrel. Just making sure I'm not missing anything.
     
    #3 Buck89, Jan 8, 2017
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  4. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    2 weeks in the barrel seems short.
     
    #4 SFACRKnight, Jan 9, 2017
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  5. Buck89

    Buck89 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,782) Feb 7, 2015 Tennessee
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Could be. First time with beer in it and I've read that you have to be careful with the relatively large surface area of a 5 gal barrel. I'm planning on checking it by using a "Vinny nail" after about 2 weeks. Any advice is appreciated.
     
    #5 Buck89, Jan 9, 2017
  6. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Tasting is going to be your best bet. Two weeks may be a good starting point for those tastings, maybe keep some extra beer for topping off or blending down the road.
     
    #6 SFACRKnight, Jan 9, 2017
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  7. CADETS3

    CADETS3 Initiate (0) Dec 3, 2014 Texas

    I'm going to transfer my my 17.47% Imperial Stout into a Balcones a single malt Barrel this coming weekend. Where I plan to leave it for most of the year, to be consuming around Thanksgiving to a Christmas time.
     
    #7 CADETS3, Jan 10, 2017
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  8. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Hopefully @GUNSLINGER will provide some input here.

    Cheers!
     
    #8 JackHorzempa, Jan 10, 2017
  9. GUNSLINGER

    GUNSLINGER Initiate (0) Nov 18, 2013 Colorado

    No reason to secondary it in your case. Just let it sit in primary until
    You're ready to transfer to the barrel. I'd wait 4-6 weeks total before going to barrel.

    I always caution against having a specified duration of time for
    Barrel aging, it just doesn't work that way.

    You have to pull samples and determine when it is at its peak
    Flavor for your specific beer/barrel/palette.

    I have had a few beers finish in 3 weeks or so. So it is a good idea
    To take samples around the 3 week mark and judge where you want to go from there.

    People often get caught up in planning how long a beer will take to age in a barrel, but it is always different based on the beer/style, the individual barrel and our individual idea of how
    Much oak/barrel goodness is the correct amount for our individual palettes.

    Take samples until you are happy with it and then bottle or keg it.
     
    #9 GUNSLINGER, Jan 11, 2017
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