Jeff

Does Cascade Winery sell used barrels? My buddy and I are in the middle of a bourbon barrel project and are looking to do a straight lambic this fall in a wine barrel. Any leads would be welcome. We can throw some finished product your way in about 2 years.

we actually don't use any oak barrels at the winery...everything is fermented in plastic actually, and then oak chips are added as necessary. i believe that hill orchards (or something like that) up on 10 mile towards sparta does a bunch of barrel distribution, so you may want to contact them. honestly, i really don't think that any of the wineries in the area actually still use barrels...its fairly cost prohibitive these days...

Hill Brothers is where I got my bourbon barrel. I will give them a call to see if they have wine barrels.

Yeah, they are who I've been told to get ahold of. Actually, if you get prices from them, could you pass them on? I've been meaning to contact them, but have been too busy...

Those barrels seem like a PITA to me.

BB

Barrels are pretty easy to work with and a lot of fun. We built a simple stand for our bourbon barrel so you can get a bucket under the spigot on the side. Once you get it in place you fill it and never move it. Because we have a spigot on the side we can take samples anytime we want. This is important since we are souring our barrel. It is the coolest beer project I have done and why I am doing another.

..a little off topic here but, Fighting Brewer, I dare say your brewing level is a little higher than "intermediate"

I'm with FB. barrel projects are cool.

They just need a decent amount of logistics... depending on your barrel size. We had a 53(?) Gal jack daniels barrel that we filled with a RIS. Just making that much RIS is a challenge in itself, but the end result was more than worth it.

If I was to do it again (we let the barrel die ungracefully), I would funk the barrel and pour out 5G at a time into a keg and then top it off with 5G of new beer. The initial fill would be a challenge, but then it should coast along fairly easily.

I'd consider pushing the beer out of the barrel with CO2 or some inert gas. Siphoning was somewhat a pain.

Bryan, we are doing exactly what you suggested. Pulling 5 gallons every 3 months or so and topping off. It is called the Solera Method. We also had a spigot installed so pulling out 5 gallons is easy.

Paulie, I don't have the knowledge as some others on here so I consider myself intermediate. I just have a passion for brewing, imagination and a good job that finances as much brewing as I want.

Jeff, I called and left a message at Hill Brothers. I also called St. Julian and they have a three year waiting list for barrels.

Wow, 3 years...that's crazy...you should have good luck with hill bros, I believe they actually deal quite a lot of barrels. I think founders even gets theirs from hill. Keep me updated if you hear back from them though. Thanks!

Did you try to bribe them with beer?

I assume most people are just going to cut them up and use them as planters or tables. Maybe if you grease the wheels...

I assume St. Julian is selling them to people who use them for beer or other alcohol products. Bourbon barrels are pretty easy to come by and that is what most people use for planters.

Jeff

Talked with Hill Brothers and they only have bourbon barrels. They occasionally get brandy barrels but not wine. They are heading down after Halloween for new barrels so I might follow up to see if they get a brandy barrel. Let me know if you hear on any place that has wine barrels.

Anyone in the New Jersey area looking for wine barrels should call Cricket Hill Brewery in Fairfield, NJ. They just finished a barleywine and are selling their barrels for less than $100 each. I think they are 50+ gal.

I saw a nice bar table made with a lager barrel and a round piece of 1/2" glass for the table part. I wouldn't ming making one if the right barrel came along. New Jersey is a bit of a drive for me.

Jeff,

Found a place that should have a few available in December. They are $100. If you are interested let me know and I can shoot you the info.

Very interested...If you want to shoot the info to my work email that would be great. jeff@hopcatgr.com. thanks man!