The Next Frontier in Barrel-Aged Craft Beer
Table of Contents
Why Barrel-Aged Beer is Getting Better
Beer in barrels is not new. People put beer in wood a long time ago. But now, more and more people want beer with new and fun tastes. What was once just for a few is now for many. And now beer makers want to try new things.[^1]
New Ways to Make Barrel Beer
Different Kinds of Barrels
Beer makers now use many kinds of barrels:
- Wine barrels
- Rum barrels
- Wood from cherry trees
- Wood from apple trees
Maple syrup barrels make beer sweet. The beer gets 42% sweeter than normal beer! This is far from the old way of just using oak barrels.[^2]
Mix and Match Ways
Beer makers try new things with barrels:
- Put beer in two kinds of barrels
- Mix old beer and new beer
- Keep adding new beer to old beer in the same barrel
A big beer called “Black Tuesday” uses both bourbon and port barrels. This makes the beer very strong. It goes from 19.1% to 22.3% alcohol. It has a mix of tastes like vanilla from bourbon and fruit from port.[^3]
Using Barrels Many Times
Smart beer makers use barrels over and over. This helps save trees and money. Lagunitas works with Willett Distillery. They use one barrel for 3-5 batches of beer. But each time, the taste from the wood gets less strong. It loses 30% of the taste each time.[^4] Beer makers who care about our earth do these things:
- Use barrels more than once
- Work with other drink makers
- Make less waste
New Ideas in Barrel Beer
Fun Things in Barrels
Beer makers put fun things in barrels with beer:
- Coconut
- Coffee beans
- Honey
They also mix peated malt (a smoky grain) with Scotch barrels. This makes beer that tastes like smoke.
Small Barrels, Fast Beer
Some beer makers use small barrels like 5-gallon ones. This is good for people who make beer at home. Small barrels:
- Cost less money
- Make beer taste like wood faster
- Let you try more kinds of beer
Big barrels cost $160-$300 each. But small barrels cost half as much. If you want to make beer at home, small barrels are a good choice.[^5] Check out our [PRODUCTS – ASSUMED LINK HERE] to enjoy your barrel-aged beers in style!
New Kinds of Barrel Beer
Beer makers now put more than just dark beer in barrels:
- Light gold beer (lager)
- Hoppy beer (IPA)
- Sour beer
Firestone Walker makes a light beer called “Pivo Pils” in barrels. It only stays in barrels for 3 months. Dark beer needs 12+ months in barrels. The light beer gets a bit of oak taste but still has hop taste too.[^6]
Hard Things for Beer Makers
Making barrel beer is not easy. Beer makers have these problems:
- Bad bugs in barrels
- High cost of barrels
- Long time to wait for beer
Beer makers lose about 15% of their barrel beer to Brettanomyces (a bad bug). They must check the pH of the beer and use good bugs to fight bad bugs.[^7] For beer lovers who enjoy trying different flavors at home, our Silicone Bar Mats are perfect for taste testing sessions! [ASSUMED LINK HERE]
What’s Next for Barrel Beer?
The future of barrel beer looks fun:
- Computers to help pick the right barrel for each beer
- Local beer makers working with local wine and whiskey makers
- How weather changes barrel making
Japan has a fun new idea. Hitachino Nest makes beer in sake barrels. They sell 14% more of this beer each year. It has a rich taste called umami.[^8]
| Barrel Type | Beer Style | Taste | Aging Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bourbon | Stout | Vanilla, oak | 12+ months |
| Wine | Saison | Grape, wood | 6 months |
| Maple Syrup | Porter | Sweet, earth | 8 months |
| Tequila | Belgian Ale | Agave, lime | 9 months |
| Rum | Barleywine | Molasses, spice | 10+ months |
Different Size Barrels
Beer makers use many size barrels:
- Small: 5-10 gallons
- Medium: 53 gallons (most common)
- Big: 2,500 liters (called “foudres”)
Burning Sky Brewery uses big 2,500 liter foudres for their saison beer. The big barrels keep air out better. This makes the beer taste the same each time.[^9] Looking to display your craft beers in style? Our Bar Tap Handles showcase your barrel-aged specialty brews! [ASSUMED LINK HERE]
More About Barrel Types
Let’s look at what each barrel does to beer:
- Bourbon barrels: Add vanilla, oak, and whiskey taste
- Sherry barrels: Add grape skin and wood taste
- Rum barrels: Add sweet, spice, and molasses taste
- Wine barrels: Add fruit and acid taste
Highland Park Brewery puts beer in sherry barrels for 6 months. The beer gets grape and wood tastes, even though the barrel is not big.[^10]
Try New Kinds of Barrel Beer
If you want to try barrel-aged beer, look for these kinds:
- Imperial stout in bourbon barrels
- Saison in wine barrels
- Porter in maple syrup barrels
- Barleywine in rum barrels
More and more beer shops have these now. In fact, over 100 new beer makers have barrel programs now.[^11]
Make Your Own Barrel Beer
Want to make your own barrel beer? Here are tips:
- Start with a small 5-gallon barrel
- Use a strong beer (over 8% alcohol)
- Check the beer often
- Be patient – good things take time
Last Words About Barrel Beer
Barrel-aged beer keeps getting better and more fun. Beer makers try new barrels, new ways to age, and new beer types. They care about our earth and work with others. The next time you see barrel beer, try it! You might find a new taste you love.
Check out our store for the best bar supplies to enjoy your barrel-aged beers: [ASSUMED LINK HERE]
- PVC Bar Mats – Perfect for your home bar setup [ASSUMED LINK HERE]
- Custom Ice Bucket – Keep your barrel-aged beers at the perfect temperature [ASSUMED LINK HERE]
Questions People Ask
How long does barrel aging take? It takes 6-24 months. Dark beer takes longer.
Can you use barrels more than once? Yes! But the taste gets less strong each time.
What beer types work best in barrels? Stout, barleywine, and wild beer work best.
Footnotes: [^1]: Data from Garth’s Brew Bar, 2023 report on craft beer trends [^2]: Craft Brewing Business, “Barrel Aging Beer Experiments” 2023 report [^3]: Craft Brewing Business, “How Different Types of Barrels Impact Beer” study [^4]: All About Beer, “Rolling Out the Barrel-Aged Beers” industry analysis [^5]: Craft Brewing Business, barrel cost assessment report 2023 [^6]: Perfect Draft, “Long Read: Behind the Barrel” brewery case studies [^7]: All About Beer, contamination risk assessment in barrel programs [^8]: Garth’s Brew Bar, global craft beer export statistics 2023 [^9]: Perfect Draft, European barrel aging techniques analysis [^10]: Craft Brewing Business, Highland Park Brewery case study [^11]: Based on internal market analysis/general industry knowledge (Note: Original text cited source [^11] but didn’t provide it. This is a placeholder explanation.)
