Barrel brewing projects

As many of you are probably aware a number of us have been brewing some beverages (beers and meads) and aging them in used bourbon barrels. The barrels are large (over 50 gallons each) so a number of folks each brew the same thing (from the same recipe at least) and once it is fermented out we blend the batches into the barrel for some aging. This group is also expanding their range of barrels to include a used French oak wine barrel. To expand the opportunities for more people to participate in this type of experimental brewing I am going to make a barrel available for a group of folks to try this with. In this case the barrel is yet another 59 gallon used French oak wine barrel. The barrel cost $100 so following the model we have used on the other project the cost of the barrel would be spread over the individual brewers. Due to the size of the barrel 12 or probably 13 brewers each making 5 gallons of the recipe will be needed to fill the barrel and to reserve a couple of gallons to top up the barrel during the aging. For the other barrel team the interested brewers first meet to discuss and sample some candidate beverages for the barrel. Once the group selects a style the group appoints a leader to formulate the recipe that everyone will brew. The beverage is brewed and on the appointed date everyone meets at the location of the barrel to sample the batches and to fill the barrel. After the appointed aging time (determined by periodic sampling) the group again meets to remove the liquid from the barrel. At this point the group should also be ready with the next beverage to go into the barrel. I would be willing participate in the new group setup for this barrel and perhaps one or two folks from the other group would be willing to participate to help transfer the knowledge but the idea is to get yet another group started up. I would like someone on this new team to volunteer to provide a "home" for the barrel. A basement is good, an unheated garage is probably not a good idea in our climate. Realize the barrel really isn't very movable when full. It is also heavy when full, think 80-100# for the barrel plus the weight of 59 gallons of the beer/mead. The guidance for the supplier of this barrel says that as long as we take proper care of the barrel it should last at least 15 years. That means this barrel can be used to age many batches of different beverages and if you look at the recent issue of Wine Maker magazine they even have suggestions on how to recondition the barrel later on. Further, only $100 for a French oak barrel is considered a good price even if it has been used. If you are interested in participating in this project send me email and I'll coordinate the initial team creation and then transfer the barrel and control over to the team. -- Steve Piatz