Page 41 - Beverage Master December January 2020

Craft Beverage

99% of them coming in already cleaned and sani- at used barrels, so always follow your nose.”
tized. But we’ll look at, inspect and grade them, giv-
ing them a wine or beer grade. If they don’t qualify Moe’s Barrels keeps all of its inventory inside a
for that, we can use them as furniture or décor warehouse and available for buyer inspection.
grade. A trend that has grown recently is to sell the
parts of used barrels to the artistic community, sell- “We want to recycle these barrels and give them
ing the individual staves, barrelheads or barrel rings another life in the business, whether it’s for addi-
for creative endeavors.” tional distilling and brewing, for use as furniture
and décor or ultimately selling the parts to the
Wilson told Beverage Master Magazine that his artistic community. It’s a way towards sustainabili-
formula for success is to try and follow the season ty.”
for selling a certain type of barrels.
Kentucky Bourbon Barrel:
“We get a lot of first and second use barrels at The Name Says It All
harvest time, which is very good for cross-utiliza-
tion. White wine barrels are excellent for reuse What better place to source local Bourbon and
with wine, Belgian style beers, Cognacs and more. whiskey barrels than in Kentucky, the birthplace
The barrels we get immediately following the crush of Bourbon and home to the renowned Kentucky
are great matches for repeated wine and bourbon Bourbon Trail. Noah Steingracher is the man to talk
use.” to for North American and international craft sales
at Kentucky Bourbon Barrel, a full service used bar-
Wilson gets his used barrels delivered with blue rel cooperage, offering used Bourbon and exotic
painter’s tape over the bunghole. The tape covers spirit barrels.
the hole for sanitary reasons but still allows the
barrel to breathe. If they sit around too long with Being right in the heart of the Bourbon Trail in
the bung in, there’s a chance for mold growth. If Louisville, Kentucky, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel pri-
the barrels are left with the openings uncovered, marily sells Bourbon barrels sourced locally from
they could dry out and start to split. Moe’s does all of the familiar names. When Steingracher joined
the rest, performing sanitation, rehydration, steam the company, he brought his international sourcing
cleaning and hot water rinsing. experience with him, so exotic and international
barrels are now in play as well. He has sourced
“Communication is key for customers looking to used barrels from spirits distributors, breweries,
purchase used barrels,” said Wilson. “The buyer meaderies and wineries for use in finishing and
needs to be comfortable in the relationship with aging a potential customer’s product.
the supplier. First and foremost, look for quality,
but be comfortable enough to ask for what you “We do it all,” said Steingracher. “We sell the used
need. Know what flavor profiles you’re looking to barrels from barrel to stave, depending on every
build. Use your nose and trust your smell when customer’s unique needs. We have contracts with
inspecting the barrels that you are buying. Some reputable and well-known distilleries to empty and
staining and minimal hairline cracks are fine, but ship their used barrels directly to us. We inspect
larger, deeper cracks around the bunghole can be a them using our stringent guidelines for acceptable
sign of a problem, and it’s always best to stay away and unacceptable issues, including the size of any
from any hardened purple stains. Check for holes distinguishable cracks. If needed, our experienced
or damage that could be related to borer beetles. team of coopers repair the barrels and make them
We invite all buyers into our warehouse, where you fit to fill. We fill the used barrel market for custom-
can completely inspect the barrels you’re looking to ers that may not have the time, expertise or source
purchase. Inspect them from head to head, inside to fill it on their own, and our experience and rep-
and outside, noting the year on the cooperage. utation are such that we have customers world-
Know the barrel’s origin, exactly what it was used wide. I’ve shipped to islands that I’ve had to find on
for and how many times it’s been used. A quality Google Maps. I’ve delivered barrels to the base of
supplier will know and willingly share this informa- the Himalayas. There’s nowhere we won’t deliver.”
tion about the barrels they’re selling. Cleanliness
and smell are your two biggest assets when looking Steingracher told Beverage Master Magazine that

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