Page 42 - Beverage Master December January 2020

Craft Beverage

the used barrel market is affected by the same sea- reason than to associate their brand with that of a
sonal changes that affect all brewers and distillers, particular distillery.
as well as how the barrel will be used.
“A mindset of only looking towards a brand name
“A used barrel can function as either a vessel or rather than filling your flavor profile defeats the
an ingredient,” said Steingracher. “As a vessel, used purpose of striving for reliability and availability of
barrels are just the holder for the product. For your product offerings. Craft distillers and brewers
example, if a brewer wants to offer chocolate, por- can always run into a situation of not being able
ter or coffee stout, a used bourbon barrel fits the to find that particular distiller’s used barrel for the
need and will provide the expected stone fruit and next batch. Frankly, they usually don’t even have
vanilla notes. But if you want to put out the best the marketing rights to use that particular distiller’s
coffee stout, you should use a rye barrel so that the name in their marketing. Jim Beam can release up
unique flavor from the barrel imparts a distinguish- to ten thousand barrels a week, with Buffalo Trace
able, peppery infused difference. The right barrel releasing around six thousand a month, and then
will be a noticeable and valued ingredient in your others like Pappy are obviously extremely limited.”
formula.”
“Relationships matter when discussing that reli-
ability and availability,” said Steingracher. “You
need to know the type, origin, and age of the bar-
rel you’re getting. With all the variants and com-
bination spirits being distilled these days, what
specific type of Bourbon was the barrel last used
for? Was a char put on it? What level? Was it toast-
ed? Repaired? How many years has it been used?
Barrels can last a hundred years or more if used
and maintained properly. The oldest is probably in
Scotland, but I’ve personally seen some from aged
before World War II. We do buy some back from
the distillers that we know care for them the right
way, and having access to our cooperage allows us
to be able to make the repairs necessary to keep
them in circulation. You can certainly come through
and check on barrels yourself, but with our regular
buyers, they know that the barrels we send them
are fit to fill.”

The flavor and use options for used barrels are
indefinite. With many craft distillers and brewers
now openly sharing their barrels between multiple
brewing cycles, with proper use and care, barrels
can last indefinitely. It’s what you can do with them
after extensive uses and fillings that become limit-
ed.

The Barrel Mill’s Infusion Spiral Technology Offers
More Flavor Options While Decreasing Aging Time

Options for those barrels, whether new or exten-
sively used, have gotten much greater due to
Steingracher noted that brewers and distillers Infusion Spiral technology from The Barrel Mill, a
sometimes become too easily attached to the central Minnesota-based cooperage that specializes
brand stamped on the barrel rather than going with in premium new oak barrels.
barrels that fit their actual needs, if for no other

40 December - January 2020 BEVERAGE MASTER

BM120120 Main Pages .indd 40 11/15/19 2:59 PM