7 Things You Need to Know About Barrel Aging

Gunjan thakurSeptember 27, 2023

Barrel aging can add complexity to almost every type of alcohol. It is an effective way to create new flavors and layers of complexity in products like whiskey or wine. Brewers have long experimented with barrel aging techniques by storing fermenting mash in old barrels that previously housed wine or spirits. Barrels are one of the highly essential components of the distilleries and breweries.

Nowadays, breweries have access to various types of wooden barrels to add an extra touch of flavor, texture, and depth to their alcohol. Based on the age, size, and previous contents of each barrel, each spirit may develop unique qualities that help it stand out. To learn more about the right barrel for aging and where to get some good quality used barrels, reach out to a leading barrel-making company now!

Wood barrels not only shape the flavor of alcohol, but they can also have a significant effect on its color and texture. Charring during barrel-making gives brown spirits their distinctive, rich colors and textures that stand out. When it comes to barrel aging, it’s highly advisable to go for used rum barrels as they enhance the aging process, giving remarkable final results.

Below Discussed are the Seven Things You Need to Know About Barrel Aging:

1. The Barrel Style

The final product of barrels is influenced by a variety of factors, including the barrel type, aging duration, toasting and charring processes, extraction of wood phenols from the wood grain, and the presence of tannic acid in the oak. Toasting involves applying varying levels of heat to the barrel over a specific duration, resulting in chemical changes within the wood that contribute distinct flavors. For example, a dark malt beer-like stout may absorb these flavors from the wood, enhancing its color and incorporating these unique wood-induced notes.

The barrel is a crucial element that significantly impacts its contents. Whether new or used, the type of wood used in a barrel is fundamental in crafting its distinct flavors. Oak barrels, for instance, impart toasty vanilla and coconut flavors, making them a perfect choice for aging spirits. On the other hand, strong ales and imperial stouts benefit from the use of softer, mellow wood in barrels, helping to smooth out and soften any sharp alcohol notes that can be present in high-alcohol beverages like these.

2. The Barrel Size

A barrel is a wooden cask used for holding liquids. They may also be used for aging beer as well as other beverages and food products.. Barrels may be constructed out of oak wood, metal, or plastic materials – each shape and size plays an essential part in barrel aging processes. Furthermore, used wine barrels come in various sizes to serve various functions depending on the flavor and aroma desired in a drink. Their capacity can be measured in terms of volume held, length, and size of staves.

An ideal barrel for aging and brewing is one that was previously used for spirits, such as bourbon. This type of barrel is often reused across multiple distilleries, imparting its “oakiness” into beverages made in it. However, excessive wear must not detract from its ability to impart desired flavors to beverages made in it to maximize flavor transference and effectiveness of previous use.

3. Barrel Charring Affects Flavours

The extent of charring in a barrel can profoundly impact spirit flavors. Different toasting and charring levels produce unique flavor compounds within the wood, infusing distinct tastes into the alcohol through redox reactions. Hemicellulose breakdown forms wood sugars, imparting sweetness, toffee, and vanilla notes. Lignin contributes spice and smokiness, while tannins add astringency for an earthy finish.

But while booze in barrels absorbs flavor compounds, some are lost through evaporation as part of an angel’s share – usually 2-5 percent annually; this loss accounts for why older wines typically cost more. To learn more about the aging process and which is the right barrel for aging, reach out to a leading barrel-making company now!

4. The Right Temperature

Barrel aging allows spirits to absorb a range of flavors they would not otherwise pick up due to the interaction between wood and beer and microflora in the barrel itself. These interactions can soften the harshness of alcohol while adding complexity and depth to beer’s flavor profile, with their effectiveness depending on temperature and climate conditions in which its barrel ages. Temperature fluctuations within a barrel accelerate the aging process due to molecular movement.

In warm climates, alcohol in a barrel will expand rapidly as temperatures heat up, pushing it deeper into its pores and extracting more flavor compounds from its wood structure. When temperatures decline again, however, its contents will start seeping out gradually, losing these enhanced flavors along the way. Temperature plays a vital role in aging, irrespective of a big or small aging barrel you use for the process.

5. The Right Pressure

Before the widespread adoption of metal containers, barrels were a common choice for storing and transporting various liquids like wine, olive oil, rum, chili sauces, and fermented fish paste. Their rounded shape made them resistant to shattering, and their watertight seal made them ideal for long voyages on ships. This also assisted breweries in maintaining optimal pressure within the barrels, contributing to the perfect aging of the contents.

Due to wood being a porous material, beer aged in barrels absorbs its characteristics – particularly oak’s flavor – more quickly than when stored elsewhere. Furthermore, many breweries often prefer used rum and whiskey barrels for the aging process to get a smoother and more content spirit. They are widely used globally because of their perfect pressure and temperature conditions.

6. The Right Time for Aging

The length of time a barrel is used for aging can depend on the desired flavor profile of a beer, wood type, and toast level (light, medium heavy) of its toast level and temperature inside its chambers.

The temperature and the pressure inside the barrel play a critical role in extracting tannins from oak wood. At higher temperatures, more tannins will be extracted; at lower temperatures, less tannins and subtler flavors will be extracted from wood.

Another key consideration when purchasing spirits is whether the barrel is new or used. As more times it has been emptied and reused, more flavor will be lost; this phenomenon is known as an angel’s share, and one reason is that used rum barrels and used wine barrels cost more than the usual barrels that are mostly used for aging.

7. Racking of Barrels

Racking systems come in a range of prices and styles, but industry experts unanimously emphasize the importance of an effective system that ensures optimal warehouse climate control, prevents excessive barrel pressure, and manages inventory efficiently for optimal outcomes. Racking systems can range from simple steel tubes to more intricate designs incorporating agitators. Barrels stand as a remarkable means to enhance the flavor, aroma, and finish of spirits, wines, and beers.

Used barrels are popularly used for barrel aging, lending the nuances of whatever was stored in them previously, such as bourbon or maple syrup, to your beer aging experience. Selecting an affordable barrel rack system is important for better storage, transportation, and aging processes. Reach out to a barrel-making company to learn more about used barrels and fresh barrels.

Conclusion

By allowing beer to absorb as much flavor, aroma, and finish from its storage or barrel-aging wood container as possible, barrel aging is a method used to improve the flavor, aroma, and taste. It may be used to make almost any type of spirit and has developed into a crucial component of the brewing process. While most popularly utilized on strong spirits that benefit from its complex flavors gained through aging. Time truly is our friend when it comes to barrel aging – patience will lead to rich flavors such as caramel or coconut emerging as its beverage soaks into its barrel home and matures over time. If you want to learn more about barrel aging, contact a barrel-making agency or well-experienced aging breweries now!

Bio – Rachel Moore works as a Marketing Manager at RMBC. RMBC provides used wooden barrels for spirits, like bourbon barrels, whiskey barrels, rum barrels, and wine barrels. They are proud to partner with 1400+ breweries internationally.