Irish Stout Whiskey Aged

Whats the ABV on the stout? Low? Leave it in the barrel for 12 months and send me a bottle!

 

Let us know! I'd love to see a big time brewery take this to a larger scale. Irish dry stout barrel aged in Irish whiskey barrels( Jameson or Tullamore dew)...mmm.

My only question is how a lower abv stout would hold up to barrel aging?

 

That sounds great. Especially if you used something a little substantial like Cadillac Mountain Stout: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/347/3338/

 

It'd be fine, it would kick over 8% and probably not fall off depending on how long it soaks up that barrel. Id pour a little in, too.

 

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/646/107257/

 

That would definitely work. Someone get it done!

 

Balcones makes some good whisky. Good luck with the brew.

 

That's what I figured, but most every base for the BA stouts that I'm fairly familiar with are all in the 8% range already. I don't see the harm in aging a low abv stout, just curious. How long to age it though? 3 months? 8 months? I can't see a lower abv beer holding up for too long.

 

Depending on how low you go ABV and how long it sits in that barrel. What kind of smell, taste, aroma do you want? 10-12 months tends to be booze bomb, anything before that gives hints and subtleties and compliments. Do you know the ABV of the stout you brewed? (Initial gravity/final gravity)

Id say leave it in there until next Christmas and then bottle it, you'll be happy with it. It'll be cold in Texas and it'll cause a great warming sensation.

 

I did this as one of the first recipes i wrote myself after doing a few kits, an imperial stout fermented with Irish Ale yeast, and then aged on oak that I soaked in Jameson. I wasn't thrilled with it when it was really young, but its about 18 months old now, and drinking fantastically. I brought a couple bottles with me to some friends that own an Irish bar, and everyone that tried it loved it. I'll probably be brewing it again soon.

 

I wouldn't leave it in that long. It's a 5 gallon barrel. More surface area. The beer will be too oaky with a year in the barrel being the first run.

 

Balcones is good liquor, so the barrels work great.

If it was a fresh dump and not dried out, you'll get some good subtle bourbon/whiskey notes to the beer, some really nice vanilla and coconut like flavors in the aroma, and in the flavor. Melds really well.


First run, I'd not leave it in there for more than a month or two, myself.

Second and Third use, you can go longer, but I'd taste it as it goes..

 

12 months in a 5 gallon barrel will give you wayyyy to much character. Most smaller beers should be pulled when they are exactly where you want them, which is anywhere from 2-3 weeks to 2-3 months for first use barrels.