Different Barrel Types

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by r0nyn, Sep 21, 2012.

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  1. r0nyn

    r0nyn Pundit (983) Aug 1, 2009 New York

    I searched the forums before making this thread, so I apologize profusely if this has been done already and I missed it!

    We all know about bourbon-barrel aging and a good number of us are in agreement that it makes certain types of beers really awesome. Stuff aged in barrels from Pappy Van Winkle and Elijah Craig are generally view to be pretty darn good. However, I've also seen some things aged in other types of barrels (mostly from that crazy Mikkeller dude) and I'm wondering what the general consensus is regarding the taste and quality of beers aged in other types of barrel.

    The different types of barrel I've been able to find are:

    Bourbon
    Oak
    Scotch Whisky
    Cognac/Brandy
    Wine (Red/White)
    Rum
    Tequila(?)

    Having only had bourbon and oak-aged varieties of beer, mostly imperial stouts, I can only comment on what kind of flavors I got from each of them. Bourbon barrels impart an obvious whiskey component most of the time, along with subtle traces of vanilla and sometimes molasses, cocoa and dark fruit. Oak barrels share a few commonalities with bourbon (sans the whiskey notes) like vanilla and cocoa, but they also impart a unique character; I'm not really sure how to describe it other than "oaky". I interpret it as a little bit roasted, a little bit hoppy, but I'm not really sure how to go beyond that.

    I'm interested in what other BAs think about the different types of barrel and the experiences you've had with them, especially the not-so-common ones. Feel free to let me know if I missed any!
     
    #1 r0nyn, Sep 21, 2012
  2. Shmeal

    Shmeal Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2009 Oregon

    Tequila is not good.
     
    #2 Shmeal, Sep 21, 2012
    Jnorton00 and thereal like this.
  3. immobilisme

    immobilisme Initiate (0) Nov 8, 2005 Illinois

    I love saisons in white wine barrels.
     
    #3 immobilisme, Sep 21, 2012
    superspak, libbey, JohnB87 and 2 others like this.
  4. Handle

    Handle Initiate (0) Mar 16, 2009 North Carolina

    Honestly, I feel it just depends on the beer. Not everything thrown in a bourbon barrel is going to be good, and I think that applies to other spirits and wine as well.
     
    #4 Handle, Sep 21, 2012
    BBThunderbolt, Bobator and PapaGoose03 like this.
  5. benetoh

    benetoh Zealot (536) Feb 2, 2008 New Jersey

    The tequila barrel aged Black Hole by Mikeller was actually very good. The tequila adds a very different dimension than a whiskey barrel; its kind of hard to describe the taste though
     
    #5 benetoh, Sep 21, 2012
    duketheredeemer and Kuemmelbrau like this.
  6. ShemRahBoo

    ShemRahBoo Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2010 New Jersey

    Wine barrels can be used very well. Also wanted to add, especially with firestone, you sometimes get a coconut type flavor from the barrel aging and it's amazing.
     
    #6 ShemRahBoo, Sep 21, 2012
  7. Shmeal

    Shmeal Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2009 Oregon

    Gosh I couldn't stand the tequila black hole. Had to drain pour my sample at a tasting.
     
    #7 Shmeal, Sep 21, 2012
  8. quirkzoo

    quirkzoo Initiate (0) Jul 7, 2011 Colorado

    Rumpkin is Avery's Pumpkin beer aged in Rum barrels. For me the Rum barrel adds a nice brown sugar note that compliments a pumpkin beer better than a whiskey barrel might. Of course I say that without tasting the rumpkin beer pre-barrel treatment so I have no idea if that flavor is actually coming from the barrel or not
     
    #8 quirkzoo, Sep 21, 2012
    denver10 and alexipa like this.
  9. FosterJM

    FosterJM Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2009 California

    Saison D'Erpe Zymatore is a blended saison from Gin & White Wine barrel.

    Cheers!
     
    #9 FosterJM, Sep 21, 2012
  10. r0nyn

    r0nyn Pundit (983) Aug 1, 2009 New York

    Mikkeller's Black Hole set seems more of a novelty than anything else. I wish they weren't so expensive, because I can't really justify buying something for $15+ when it gets such lackluster reviews.
     
    #10 r0nyn, Sep 21, 2012
  11. dc55110

    dc55110 Savant (1,116) Oct 24, 2010 Minnesota

    Almost all barrels are Oak barrels. There are different varieties of Oak: French, White, American. Occasionally Cherry, Walnut, Chestnut, Pine & Redwood have been used.
    Typically when you see other wood varietals mentioned, they are chips added during secondary fermentation.
     
    #11 dc55110, Sep 21, 2012
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  12. alexipa

    alexipa Initiate (0) Oct 7, 2011 Colorado

    I'd have to agree that I would attribute that flavor to the rum barrel. It also gives it a nice boozy character (and rum scent) that fits well with a strong pumpkin ale.
     
    #12 alexipa, Sep 21, 2012
  13. quirkzoo

    quirkzoo Initiate (0) Jul 7, 2011 Colorado

    http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/15711/52414

    HaandBryggeriet makes a porter aged in Akevitt (Aquavit) barrels. It is a spirit very similar to Gin. I liked the herbal components that it added to this beer, though I probably won't buy it again.
     
    #13 quirkzoo, Sep 21, 2012
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  14. YumYumGumGum

    YumYumGumGum Zealot (578) Jul 25, 2011 Virginia
    Trader

    Tequila Barrel-Aged Black hole is delicious.
     
    #14 YumYumGumGum, Sep 21, 2012
  15. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    To be correct, those are vats, and the really big ones are called Foudres.
    http://www.newbelgium.com/community/blog.aspx?BlogTagID=f17ec7c2-702b-4747-b1dc-ba516ccbcac8

    Bells will be doing beers in large vats made of Cypress. These are reclained from the old Stroh brewery, and will be lined with brewers pitch to keep the wood flavors or contamination out. This is the way it is done on the Continent. Bell's Bohemian?
     
    #15 hopfenunmaltz, Sep 22, 2012
  16. VncentLIFE

    VncentLIFE Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2011 North Carolina

    Barleywines in Red Wine barrels usually turn out well. Heavy Seas Below Decks Cabernet is an easily available one that tastes pretty damn good. Who wouldve thought that Red Wine accented barleywine would taste fantastic?

    Olde Hickory in NC aged a Imp Pils in Chardonnay barrels (Eiraphiotes--turned out amazing) and a saison in white wine barrels (Saison Gee--also good).

    I thought Goose Island did a Gin aged beer.
     
    #16 VncentLIFE, Sep 22, 2012
  17. SamuelJackson45

    SamuelJackson45 Initiate (0) Jul 19, 2010 Pennsylvania

    With Breweries today any barrel and some imagination nothing is possible.
     
    #17 SamuelJackson45, Sep 22, 2012
  18. LiquidDegenerate

    LiquidDegenerate Initiate (0) Nov 22, 2011 Florida

    CCB in Apple Brandy Barrels FTW
     
    #18 LiquidDegenerate, Sep 22, 2012
  19. jaminjohnson

    jaminjohnson Initiate (0) Jul 3, 2012 Canada (YT)

    dont forget scotch and bourbon's weak cousin, canadian whiskey, couple beers use them, boris royale?

    has any brewer that uses scotch barrels ever came out and said if they used fresh balvenie barrels? its my favorite scotch and would like to get a beer thats barrel'd in them
     
    #19 jaminjohnson, Sep 22, 2012
  20. matthaslaservision

    matthaslaservision Initiate (0) Aug 18, 2012 Canada (BC)

    ^^^

    innis & gunn canada day edition! sooooo good. canadian rye barrel aged
     
    #20 matthaslaservision, Sep 22, 2012
    jaminjohnson likes this.
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