Multiple used red wine barrel?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by MetalMountainMastiff, Sep 13, 2013.

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  1. MetalMountainMastiff

    MetalMountainMastiff Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2012 California

    I was able to get a spent red wine barrel. That had been used over 25 years from one of my family members in spain who owns a winery....As far as beer goes what does it mean? Should I assume it's infected? Could I make a stout and age it in there, or would I be best to go the way of just making a sour?

    Or is there no way to know?
     
    #1 MetalMountainMastiff, Sep 13, 2013
  2. drgarage

    drgarage Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2008 California

    I would definitely assume it's infected -- wine isn't strong enough to kill many bacteria, and brett can certainly go for decades, even living in the wood. It's also likely to have leaks, so you should definitely condition the barrel with water -- Patrick Rue talked about how to do that. Should be great for a sour, though!
     
    #2 drgarage, Sep 13, 2013
  3. bgjohnston

    bgjohnston Initiate (0) Jan 14, 2009 Connecticut

    I am using a used wine barrel for my lambic. When I was cleaning out the inside of that thing, I was convinced that would be the only thing I would make in there.

    Even so, I did the soaking in the solutions along with the sulfur stick to condition the barrel as well as I could first.
     
    #3 bgjohnston, Sep 14, 2013
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